An Epic Flashback To Hasbro Glory

Recently on the vlog I’ve taken a look at some new retro wrestling figure releases. I’ve been very pleased with a lot of the product that we’ve been hit with but I felt that at least one set deserved an extra bit of detail that I can give in a traditional blog review. That set ended up being one that’s full of extra bits of details itself – Epic Toys Wrestling Megastars Series 4. Formerly Chella Toys (don’t ask me the history…I don’t tune in for the drama, I just know that it cleared up), Epic has positioned itself as one of the top boutique retro figure manufacturers with a combination of quality product and dedication to getting product out without making boatloads of promises. How many others could take lessons there?

The fourth series of Wrestling Megastars brings us a much improved version of a legend from the original Hasbro line, two stars who wouldn’t have been in that line and one who by all rights SHOULD have been in that line. In order I’m speaking of Ric Flair, Barry Windham, Dr. Death Steve Williams and The Barbarian. All four are packaged in, what I first seemed as such over twenty years ago, “collector friendly packaging.” As it was explained back in the day, “collector friendly packaging” means that you can open the figure up, remove it and then replace it with no one being the wiser. No seals, stickers, horrendous clear plastic bands or anything else. It causes some controversy among collectors as to what is truly “mint” and what isn’t, but we’re not here to discuss it. My only rule is that if it has some sort of seal, even ever so small (as a few of the Mattel WWE Retro releases have), I won’t get the one that I’ve opened autographed. For figures like these, where removing the figures and replacing them causes no harm, I actually prefer to slide out the card back and just get that signed. Personal preference.

Looking at each figure individually we’ll start with The Nature Boy. If I had to pick “worst Hasbro WWF figure” I don’t think I could pick anyone but Naitch. From the use of the Rick Rude body to the awful head (when I initially saw the “Undertake ‘Em All” ad I actually thought Flair was Dino Bravo) it was easily Hasbro’s worst “effort” of the line. I think I may have “worked” him a handful of times before I went back to the great Galoob figure. Have things finally been made right? In a nice touch by Epic this figure is actually based upon his WWF run, specifically his 1991 Royal Albert Hall match against Tito Santana. A great one to seek out or watch again.

Decked out in a soft goods green robe and green trunks, Naitch is stylin’ and profilin’. Even if we wouldn’t have seen elbow movement like this in a Hasbro, everything else about the sculpt matches up. I’m mixed on so much soft goods being used in retros since Hasbro did it so sparingly but something about this robe looks like it could’ve been done back then. I think it’s actually the gold trim. I can see this figure hanging in a store in the early ‘90s and that’s the effect we want.

Next up is Steve Williams. The good doctor is also decked out in a soft goods robe and is completely covered in red and white throughout the figure as he often was. The sculpt here is even a bit “softer” than Flair and it’s right in line with Hasbro. Of course he was nowhere near the WWF in that era but we’ve long since passed just getting then-current WWF talent in this scale. A retro Terry Gordy would go absolutely amazing next to Doc.

Another who didn’t have much of a chance to be a Hasbro (they were being planned during his brief stint as The Widowmaker) but did have a great Galoob is Barry Windham. “The Lone Wolf” was one of my favorite Galoob figures and definitely one of my most used back then. He had a great pose and I can honestly see a lot of that influencing the figure here. Once again the sculpt is on point for Hasbro authenticity. I’m still undecided on how I feel about the soft goods vest and the extra “claw” hand. Hasbro definitely would’ve sculpted the vest on or left it out completely. The torso sculpt is actually so good and Hasbro-esque that if I were ever to display the figure I may not even keep the vest on. Swappable hands have never been a favorite of mine with the few retro figures that have had it but I do understand the inclusion. It’s a feature of modern figures that’s been integrated.

Last but certainly not least we have The Barbarian. It’s baffling that it’s never even been rumored that Hasbro had him in the works back then. He’s a toy…he has fur and antlers…he’s a barbarian! Epic knocked it out of the park with their Powers of Pain version and this singles effort is no different. Some are calling this “Figure of the Year.” It’s absolutely amazing that this look has never before been done as a figure. The embarrassment put out by Jakks that was completely devoid of accessories and detail does NOT count. I will say that the detail here is a bit more than Hasbro would’ve done but how can it not be excused? We’ve wanted this look as a toy for thirty-five years. Barbs has come home to The Heenan Family.

It's a great set. Any or all of these would be right at home in any retro collection. My ultimate retro “test” is if you placed the figure in question among a smattering of original Hasbro releases and showed them off to someone without a clue as to who made what. If the new figure blends right in it’s obviously good to go. I think Flair, taking all factors mentioned in his individual review into consideration, would pass best. Windham would be second if the casual observer was less savvy on real world wrestling time lines. As far as modern retro wrestling figures go there isn’t a loser in the bunch.

As mentioned earlier I’ve done some quick reviews of some other recent retro releases on the vlog so be sure to check them out here.That platform has admittedly become my focus these days but I appreciate any and all who still come here to the blog for the occasional read. It keeps me going in all forms of coverage any time that I hear someone say that they’ve enjoyed any of my content. As always…thank you! And as I also always like to think, the best is yet to come!