>>49552182The name is a pun on ōnyūdō (big monks), large Japanese monks who inflict illness on travelers and can inflict death. Weasels can transform into them. Sneasel are partially based on weasels, so they are Onyula, which can also mean “big Nyula.” This is why Sneasler are almost just larger Hisuian Sneasel in appearance, with few significant changes to the base design.
If you read One Piece, then the character Onimaru is based on an ōnyūdō, as a fox who ate a Mythical DF based on this yokai.
There is no equivalent to this in English which is why TPCI chose wrestler instead. Sneasler might also mean Sneasel + larger/bigger (the er suffix showing more), hinting at the larger size and greater power.
This explains the typing and evolution mechanic as well. Monks are sometimes associated with martial arts, aka the Fighting type. The ōnyūdō inflicting illness references the Poison type. Fighting is primary since ōnyūdō are monks first that just so happen to inflict illness. They are solitary in nature, reside near mountains and spiritual locations, and mostly act in the daytime.
They are not meant to be wrestlers but monks.
