In this episode, it is revealed that Hamato Yoshi mutates into Splinter much like how it was in the original Las Tortugas Ninja (1987) cartoon.
Space Heroes is a fictional science fiction cartoon series that appears throughout series and is Leonardo's favorite show; it is a parody of Star Trek: La serie animada (1973). Each time it's shown, Space Heroes foreshadows something that will happen later in the episode. The turtles also have a Space Heroes pinball machine, which Raphael can be seen playing in the opening and in some episodes.
When Master Splinter retells the origin story of himself and the turtles Michelangelo interrupts him saying that was us. This is a direct homage to the Las Tortugas Ninja (1990) movie.
April O'Neil screams upon first seeing Donatello, causing him to scream back, a tradition started in the first live-action Las Tortugas Ninja (1990) movie.
April O'Neil and her father are first introduced walking in front of the Second Time About Antique Store, which April inherited from her father in the original Mirage Studios comic book as well as the live-action film Las Tortugas Ninja (1990) and the Las Tortugas Ninja (2003) animated series.