The Retro Play We Deserved…

As wrestling figure collecting children we all dreamt of so much that, at the time, had no chance of existing. Take Hasbro for example. We had the wrestlers, the rings and a few items that didn’t fit with the figure line but were fun anyway. We were very pleased with what we did get, but we wanted more. Managers, announcers, referees, more championship belts, a cage. These items were essential to our “Federations” and we didn’t officially have them. Aside from a cage (it had to have been on the drawing board at one time or another) Hasbro never intended to bring us any of this. Nor did they plan on expanding play environments. Any wrestling fan knows that the action isn’t limited to the ring, it’s all over the place. Just as boutique companies, Mattel and even customizers are filling in the blanks on the figures we wanted, another provider is bringing us some accessories that our figures so desperately needed.

Enter Wrecollect Retro Creations. The Wrecollect products first came to my attention when I kept seeing this amazing playset of Brutus Beefcake’s Barber Shop showing up in photos. It looked like it could’ve been produced by Hasbro! Eventually I found them on social media and their website, wrecollect.com. Not only do they produce the playsets and accessories that we all wanted for our Hasbro figures in what’s currently referred to as the “retro” scale but also some sets for modern figures.

Cages, entrances, Piper’s Pits and Barber Shops are just a few of the sets they’ll do, but two caught my eye so much that I had to check them out. Those would be the retro scaled Locker Room Playset and Entrance Throne. Old school WWF fans will recognize these as figure sized representations of the classic locker room interview set on WWF television in the very early ‘90s and the throne (or “sedan” as the WWF liked referring to it) used by King Haku, Macho King Randy Savage and others.

The first thing you notice upon sight is how these boxes look so much like something Hasbro actually would’ve produced. Wrecollect goes out of their way for the full retro feel. The fonts are exact, the logos are as close as anything unlicensed is going to get and there’s even an adapted Hasbro logo. The figures shown in use with these playsets are a nice touch as well. I especially got a kick out of the retros of more modern stars being used to carry the throne as the “enhancement talent” used to do. Very fitting.

Opening the boxes yields even more attention to detail. The seat itself on the throne is made to look as if it’s made from actual wood. It really adds to looking just how the real one did. The rails to carry it have small arches cut into them so that it can nicely fit onto the shoulders of the wrestlers carrying it. If you just want to display it a post/stand is included. That way your King or Queen can stand alone in all of their royal splendor.

The locker room has even more amazing attention to detail. You didn’t think that every locker room in every arena looked the same back then, did you? Of course you did. We all did. Now we can continue that childhood innocence. The famous blue lockers are there complete with opening doors. The pay phone (grabbed by The Macho King himself!) is ready for calls and the receiver can be held in a figure’s hand. Even the bulletin board is full of detail with some very recognizable ads from the era. Hasbro or ICOPRO, anyone?

The locker room also connects to two other playsets by Wrecollect from the same era, those being the WrestleMania interview area and the WWF entrance way/curtain. It’s a sturdy material and truly looks like an item produced by “the big guys.” Hey, since they’re not giving us everything that we want let’s help out someone who’s dedicated to the craft. Be sure to check these guys out on their aforementioned website and on all the socials under the name of their company.

Also be sure to check out J\/\/’s Wrestling Memorabilia VLOG which is getting pretty active again. I’ve done three new videos in the past few weeks to some good, and encouraging, feedback which is making me want to produce even more content down that route. Check them out here on YouTube and be sure to let me know what you want to see in an upcoming video. Keep it clean, I’m a gentleman!