while watching youtube I noted a Melle on the NES" video and i looked it up and it turns out there was a smash like game on the nes called kart fighter.
http://www.siliconera.com/2006/07/05/before-super-smash-brothers-there-was-kart-fighter/
http://www.siliconera.com/2006/07/05/before-super-smash-brothers-there-was-kart-fighter/