While any numbers have yet to surface, New Japan Pro Wrestling's WrestleKingdom 9 got quite a bit of buzz here in the United States. That buzz was, in part, due to Jeff Jarrett's Global Force Wrestling presenting the show on American pay-per-view with Jim Ross and Matt Striker on commentary. It seems that NJPW may finally gain a wide audience in the US with a new television show in the states as well. I would love to see a WrestleKingdom 9 Blu-Ray release as well as a new line of NJPW figures. I don't think that there has ever been a better time for the latter.

TNA is still a great unknown. Although the company is back to regularly taping television, it still feels as if nobody is at the wheel. Is their relationship with Jakks continuing? Time will tell, but more waves of repainted figures won't satisfy anyone. Now that Awesome Kong is back with the company, it's time to get her a full-sized figure. Rockstar Spud and his act seems to scream "action figure," as well.
Of course, nothing stops the WWE merchandising machine. Even though they no longer have a monthly magazine, I counted four different publications in January that featured WWE talent on the cover (The Authority and Eva Marie each on a different version of Muscle & Fitness, Brock Lesnar on PWI, and The Undertaker as shown). One of those was the annual WWE Photos Of The Year issue. That, coupled with the release of a WrestleMania preview magazine in recent weeks, shows that the company is still producing in-house specials.
Mattel seems to be churning out more product than ever, just in time for WrestleMania season. Hulk Hogan, Rusev, Doink the Clown, Paige, Bo Dallas, Emma, and Razor Ramon are just a few of the names making their Mattel debut in the next few months. The upcoming unveilings at Toy Fair should only add more exciting names to that list.

We're only into February yet already have a ton of new wrestling merchandise to look forward to. Our wallets can share in the excitement, as they look to lose more and more weight as the year progresses.
Speaking of new things for 2015, I now have a second blog! Josh Culture is an off-the-top-of-my-head look at the things that I enjoy, adventures, food, and yes, even wrestling. This week, my first wrestling story, a trip to Abdullah The Butcher's House of Ribs & Chinese in Atlanta, debuts on the blog. For the many of you who have wanted to hear my stories interacting with wrestlers, trips, events, and more, this is where they will be posted! Don't forget to follow the blog's twitter @JoshCultureBlog, as well! Now there's two times the blogging fun! Check #JoshCulture out at http://joshculture.blogspot.com!
No comments:
Post a Comment