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!

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!

Mattel Declares For The Royal Rumble

Do they really do that? My joke in that title, that is. My modern viewing has been limited to putting the Rumble and parts of Mania on my iPad while I watch entertaining stuff on the real tv, but all I ever see in headlines is that such-and-such “declared” for the Royal Rumble. Do they come out and say “Well, I declare!”? It just seems so absurd to me.

So, anyway, Mattel has decided to attempt to make some thirty-plus-year-old dreams come true in their latest venture into the retro wrestling figure universe. A Hasbro-sized Royal Rumble ring? Brother Love? Sherri and Liz? All here. Shortly after I took it I texted several folks the “glamour shot” of the entire set that you see above. As a kid I truly had dreams of finding a lot of those items in stores. The Brother Love card back, in particular, is exactly how I’d always envisioned it using the same image. If we look at that picture and not much further, it truly is a dream come true. It’s also a company banking on nostalgia. I have no problem with that if it’s done right. Was it? Well, some of it.

Both sets are available at Mattel Creations. Brother Love and the ring clock in at $40 while the four-pack of Hulk Hogan as Rip, Zeus, Miss Elizabeth and Sensational Queen Sherri is priced at $60. There’s also a bundle option that saves you. Priced at $100 the bundle saves you from having to click twice to add both items to your cart. Yeah, that’s all that it saves you. Not even $5. I’ll tell you a pretty likely way to save more, if you don’t feel the need to jump the gun as I did, at the end of the entry. Are the bootlicker reviewers who are all the rage giving you tips like that? Of course they aren’t. That’s why their “influencing” is coveted by the companies and my true reviews are ignored in this day and age. Ah well, I had my moment. All of fifteen minutes.

Let’s take a look Brucie and the ring first. These are the items that mostly came out as closely as I imagined them had they existed in the Hasbro line. The ring is another reuse of the standard Mattel retro ring, but you know what you’re getting into here. Like last year’s WrestleMania ring release you can choose which sticker is in the middle of the mat the WWF logo (without the F, of course) or the Royal Rumble logo. Of course you’re choosing the latter. Unlike with the Mania ring, I don’t really understand the inclusion of the basic logo sticker. Because of the color the ring stands out and will like great with a “Rumble” going on, but there was a major change here from previous retro ring releases. The ropes are the “gummy” rubbery style that I last remember being included with the Mattel War Games set. They can, and will, snap. They’re absolutely terrible. If you’re going to display this thing for any amount of time I would recommend going to eBay and finding one of the various sellers who produce “replica” ring ropes for a retro ring. Not only do they look and feel better, but they won’t snap.

Brother Love himself, like the ring, is pretty much how we all imagined. The microphone (we’ve all seen plenty of jokes about its shape since its original release) and The Book of Love are reused from the Mattel Legends figure. Brucie boy doesn’t stand too well with the book in hand which is why he’s picture here without it. I was able to get him to stand elsewhere with it, so your mileage may vary. I’d read some early complaints about the face being too red. He looks fine to me but I will say with the way that I tint my photography it may appear darker here than it actually is.

Going into the four pack you have to start with the champ. This time we get Hulk Hogan as Rip from “No Holds Barred.” It’s pretty much a repaint of the earlier red and yellow Hulkster retro, but I think that it looks great. Would No Holds Barred figures have been at the top of my list? Not necessarily, but in my view they’re the best figures to be released from the movie as this is how I would’ve envisioned them. We finally have a retro stylized belt to go onto the belt holders that have been on every ring. I never liked using the modern belts with the retros as Mattel seemed to earlier suggest. I’m hoping to see this one reused and remolded in different colors and for other classic belts to be given the same treatment.

Zeus is by far the worst item in this “bundle,” largely because of his height. Because of the mold used he looks tiny (Lister?) compared to Hogan. He’s supposed to be imposing. A completely different mold should have been used for him. It’s honestly a waste of a slot with this decision being made. All-in-all, if they wanted to keep to the ’89 theme and aren’t able to use Savage, I’d have been fine with a Hulk Rules era Hogan and a new Beefcake to join Liz and Sherri. It even baffles me, but despite being a No Holds Barred collector (owning many rare promotional materials and even a screen used prop), it’s never been one of my favorite movies. I like the memorabilia due to the connection with the golden era.

The Sensational Queen is next and this is the second retro of Sherri in this gimmick that’s been released in the past several months. One of the boutique retro wrestling figure producers released their own version which is in more of a statuesque design. Honestly, there’s room for both in my view. There’s never been any talk of intentions by Hasbro to release anything but wrestlers in their original line. We haven’t even ever seen design concepts. That being said, we have no idea what Hasbro females, managers and announcers would have looked like. Therefore, any produced today to reflect what they could’ve looked like can’t be wrong. This version, complete with what would’ve been a “Real Wrestling Action,” is definitely the “wrestler” version of Queen Sherri.

Devoid of any previous retro releases from any company I would have to say that Miss Elizabeth was the most anticipated from this set. The likeness is great and I wouldn’t mind seeing it on a new full sized figure. The hair is spot on and I think that the facial likeness is close to how Hasbro would’ve captured her. For non-wrestler Liz the stance is odd, but who’s to say that Hasbro wouldn’t have done the same? The stance hurts the skirt and, honestly, it looks like she’s taking a squat. Still, I think we all have to agree that this is probably what Hasbro would’ve given us.

For me, buying this “bundle” was worth pulling the trigger on. There are items that I wanted and, while I was fairly certain that nothing would immediately sell out, I didn’t want to wait. My feelings on the previous retro set were different. The only figure that I wanted out of that one was Alundra Blayze. I waited and ended up getting that entire set off of Amazon for $40. I’ve also waited on the nWo and DX retro sets and ended up getting them on Black Friday sales. The advice I promised earlier? I highly doubt you’ll miss out if you wait for these. Mattel, as of yet, seems to have no intention of limiting their exclusives as they used to. They know where the money is at for them and it certainly isn’t in making a limited product for scalpers to scoop up.

Now where else do you get advice like that? From a kowtowing “influencer?” I think not. I thank all ten of you who read this, you loyal readers, you.

World Getting You Down? Escape To A Different One…

Ah, finally we’ve hit November! My favorite time of the year is upon us. I’ve never been a big Halloween guy. It’s ok, but get me to the week of Thanksgiving until Christmas Day and just put me in a never ending cycle of that thirty-odd-day span. Take a few days out for birthday depression (getting old…) and it would be utopia. “These are a few of my favorite things,” as it were. You know what else is one of my favorite things? Figure photography. It truly brings me happiness and I know that I’m not the only one. While I love wrestling memorabilia collecting as a whole, I think that there’s just something special about the art (oh yes, it’s art) of creating and/or recreating the moments we either loved or would like to have happened.

As I said a number of years ago on this blog, action figure photography is the adult way of playing with your toys. Best of all, you’re creating something that you can share. While there are a few ways to share that content, Instagram certainly seems to be the chosen method. I have a certain love for the Instagram account The_Figure_Arena (I wonder why…) and I’m thankful for everyone who has followed. That being said, I’d love to see a platform solely for figure/toy photography of all genres. There are certainly enough fans out there who partake. Instagram started out as a great thing, but now they can delete you at the drop of a hat. Meanwhile, teenagers being disgusting get a pass, but that’s the way of the world. Get off my lawn.

I think the real key is getting the most out of it with very little. What do I photograph with? My iPhone. Lighting? I was using battery operated desk lamps that cost around $5. While I still have one of those, there’s a great three pack of quarter-sized LED switch lights on everyone’s favorite A-Z online retailer that also costs around $5. How about that fog? A humidifier. It’s really smoke and mirrors at its finest, just like how the best movie special effects are done. Admittedly, the backgrounds that I use are costly. They’re nice, but overpriced. I just like the simplicity of not having to create my own. They’re easy enough to find in a search. I won’t plug the company as they’ve never been receptive to me in any form of social media. I guess my photography isn’t good enough for them. Hey, I like it!

I don’t need to tell you where to get the figures. Photograph whichever ones you want! If you’re reading this you probably already have a ton. While the modern day Mattel figures of the world may make the most realistic photos, the classic Hasbro line or any of the “Retro” sets that have been spawned since can be just as charming and appealing to look at. Honestly, one of the best pieces that can be used for figure photography is still the Mattel WWE New Generation entrance. I dare you to even try and take a “bad” pic with that thing in the mix. Sure, it’s not useful when trying to capture other eras, but I’ve seen people do real well by stretching it a bit. I’d never say no to seeing Dusty dance out under the neon!

To be perfectly honest it doesn’t take any real photography talent, either. I took a photography course or two in college, but I really don’t remember anything from it. I’ve gotten better by trial and error. “This lighting looks better for this era.” “What would it have looked like had these two had a match back in ’87?” “I could put this shirt on this figure and it makes it fit in with these figures.” I’m sure that I’m not the only one who hears these lines in their head. A sharp eye, an odd angle or two and twenty outtakes that will never see the light of day. After all that, you’ll have your shot. The best part? Thanks to digital those outtakes don’t cost you a cent anymore.

It’s a fun and cost-effective hobby. Nearly everyone has a smartphone. Some cheap lights as I’d said above. You can grab a basic ring for about $20. And as we all know, most modern figures go on clearance. This world is way too miserable and serious for us to take ourselves too seriously. My response? Let’s play with some toys. Speaking of playing with toys, I’m going to get preachy for a moment but it’s all in the name of goodwill at this time of year. If you have an Ollie’s nearby, why not grab some of the TONS of action figures that they’ve gotten in and make up a bag for Toys For Tots? It won’t break your bank and there are literally dozens of figures at most of their locations from which to choose from. It absolutely warms my heart to think of a child, not expecting a thing, getting a figure of Rey Mysterio or Grogu. It’s a small gesture that fits right in with the topic at hand. Grab yourself a new fig, grab three for the Tots.

Let’s get the Holiday mood going early here with fun and giving. The world needs it.

Mattel Alters The Retro Game Again…

Just when you think you have the answers, Mattel changes the questions! In a collecting world, and world in general, where any little thing is offensive and causes an uproar, Mattel did it. In a toy manufacturing era where the companies claim to be cutting down on plastic for the environment (aka for their own financial bottom line), Mattel still did it. Am I upset about it? No, not exactly. It ultimately saves me money, though I’m still very surprised. What exactly is it? Let’s take a look at the latest Mattel WWE Retro figure set and find out.

In the latest roll out from Mattel Creations we have the newest four-pack of legends done in Hasbro, or “Retro,” style. The lineup contains the long-awaited (in this form) Jerry “The King” Lawler, Paul Bearer, Big Van Vader and The Undertaker. For the record, the “long-awaited” phrasing only applies to the first two listed and possibly Vader. This wasn’t really a pre-order as they became available on a Tuesday and were at many doorsteps by Thursday afternoon. These things were ready to go and, as of press time, are still available. The previous series is also still available although it appears that the set before that has finally sold out.

Jerry “The King” Lawler was always on the most wanted list for the Hasbro WWF line after he debuted in the company in late 1992. The problem was that seeing as he was mostly a commentator at the time he just didn’t get produced. For whatever undisclosed reason Hasbro never deviated from simply making active wrestlers in their original line. Although Lawler wrestled as well as commentated, the latter fact seemingly sealed his fate. Here we have the figure in this set that’s most like an original Hasbro item and you can see why just by looking at it. He has the “pullback punch” that you’ll remember from such vintage figures as Jake “The Snake” Roberts and Tito Santana. The crown not being removable is also a throwback to Hasbro figures such as Sgt. Slaughter and The Mountie. Do I wish that it came off? A bit. But it’s still the gem of the set.

Next up we have another long-desired figure in the Hasbro style, Paul Bearer. Another victim of Hasbro’s unspoken “wrestlers only” production policy, Bearer would’ve sold well back then. I even remember kids asking me where the Paul Bearer figure was when they saw me with the Hasbro release of The Undertaker. When the first Paul Bearer figure was eventually released with the JusToys Bend-ems ring it caused a commotion. Mattel has finally righted Hasbro’s wrong complete with a removable urn. The likeness is very Hasbro-like and Bearer comes complete with an action where he can either raise the urn or have it come crashing down onto the back of The Undertaker’s head, cementing the death of their long relationship. How did ol’ Paul get to be so popular? He urn’d it. Thanks, Brain. Anyway…

Vader is up next and would’ve been in the Hasbro line for certain had it extended about three more years. His likeness always lends itself well to figures even if the final execution isn’t that great. While you certainly get the feeling that it’s “Vader Time” while looking at this one, I would’ve preferred a different design. The old Akeem “belly bump” style action just isn’t what I wanted with Vader. “The Mastadon” should’ve had one of the various power slamming moves or Mattel should have finally brought back something similar to the mechanism that Earthquake, Typhoon and Bam Bam Bigelow had back in the ‘90s. This is how most customizers always envisioned a Vader in this style and thus the final product here is a tad disappointing.

We wrap up this fearsome foursome with yet another version of The Undertaker. I don’t think that ol’ Taker has ever been mentioned, much less reviewed, twice just a few weeks apart in the nearly fifteen year history of this blog. He’s just not a personal favorite of mine and I’m honestly pretty sick of his figures. It makes sense to have him in a set with Bearer and I know that countless fans are enamored with “The Deadman,” he just does zilch for me at this point. At least this is a different look. This time around “The Phenom” is depicted wearing the face mask that came about after King Mabel and Yokozuna “crushed” his face. Did I need this? No. Did I want this? No. But to get the other ones you have to buy it. Here it is and there’s truly nothing wrong with the figure whatsoever. 

What about that change that was mentioned above? The wait is over. Similar to how the Micro Brawlers mini figure line is now packaged, Mattel has changed the retro line to have the bubble as part of a full plastic “shell” that covers the complete front of the card back. There’s no sealing here as tabs hold the plastic in place and you can basically remove and replace the figure as much as you desire. It’s interesting that a change like this would happen so late in the line and especially in the era (see first paragraph) in that we’re in now with toy packaging. Some collectors will argue that you don’t truly have a mint figure anymore unless it’s still sealed in the cardboard box that all four figures are bundled in. Others will complain that this and sets going forward no longer “fit” with the previous releases. Interestingly, despite Lawler being one I’ve always wanted and, thus, autographed, this was the first retro set that I did not buy two of. Due to health issues Lawler is currently not making signing appearances. As this change was not disclosed I’m not sure how I’d have felt had I indeed purchased two. Seeing as that there won’t truly ever be any “mint on card” examples of these, I can simply throw Lawler back into the bubble and get the card back signed should “The King” make a return to appearances. I’m sure that Mattel had their reasons, yet to me it feels like they ultimately left money on the table. We know toy manufacturers absolutely dread that.

Overall I’d have to say that this is my least favorite of the retro four-pack bundles thus far to be released. As long-awaited as Lawler was for me, the others didn’t suit my personal wants quite as much. Bearer is welcomed but not when we’re still waiting on Bobby Heenan, Brother Love, Miss Elizabeth, Sensational Sherri or so many other classic managers in this style. My personal jury is still out on the packaging change, although money saved in my wallet always makes me happy. A big middle of the road rating for this retro installment. The next set is scheduled to contain Hulk Hogan, Big John Studd, Muhammad Ali and Wendi Richter in the first WWF/WWE Hasbro/Mattel “retro” female figure. Girls are sure to have some fun with this one, when the working day is done, of course.

We’re keeping it retro next time as a LONG awaited figure is finally done in this style and Jerry may just have a challenger to his throne! Stay tuned!

After Nearly Three Decades The “Orange Cards” Have Arrived!

Few unproduced figures in any genre have been more speculated upon and discussed than the fabled Hasbro WWF “orange card” series that would have been released in early 1995. The Hasbro line was beloved in its day and, around ten years ago, saw an amazing boost in popularity even among fans who weren’t among the original collectors. Even with all of the classic characters that were produced, that last series remained a huge topic among fans. Now Mattel, continuing their WWE Retro line, is finally bringing an orange carded set to life complete with two names who were originally slated for the wave way back when.

The newest Mattel WWE retro four pack contains “All- American” Lex Luger and “babyface” Doink the Clown. They were both scheduled for the orange carded Hasbro series and likely would have been repaints of their earlier releases. Joining them in this Mattel set are Tugboat and “Rhythm & Blues” Greg Valentine. These two were both planned for earlier in the Hasbro line however ended up produced as Typhoon and regular blonde Greg “The Hammer” Valentine due to changes in the actual wrestling product. For the third time this set is exclusive to Mattel Creations and isn’t scheduled to hit brick and mortar retailers.

The four are individually carded but, as with the previous two series, come packaged in a box that reflects the individual card art. The pictures of the stars are once again renders based on photos rather than actual photos as Hasbro used. The Tugboat and Valentine images are near exact to what we would have imagined from Hasbro. Luger and Doink are off and the choices are questionable. With all of the great promotional photos of Luger in his Lex Express days (many of which you’ve seen right here on this blog), it’s a great question as to why they used Luger’s head from a later WCW image. The Doink image is clearly based off of Matt Borne who never wore this particular outfit. Don’t misunderstand. The figure is pure Ray Apollo aka “good/happy/babyface” Doink. If you’re looking to get it autographed he would be the man to do it. But for whatever reason the image presented is of an earlier costume and is without a doubt Borne.

Looking at the figures one by one we’ll start with Tugboat. The Tugster is a character who definitely would have fit in the original Hasbro line. As mentioned above he was indeed planned, but The Natural Disasters became a team and Typhoon was born. From what we’ve seen of what was planned, the design of that figure is a bit different from what we’ve gotten, but I think I like this better. We all remember the Hasbro Akeem figure and Tug will bring him right to mind. The hat is not removable nor should it be. There’s a Mattel Elite from several years ago that fills that need. This is your Hasbro Tugboat and does great justice to one of the favorite “Uncle Fred” characters.

Up next is Greg “The Hammer” Valentine. I think most fans wanted this figure since he was mentioned on card backs and even shown in a famous Toys “R” Us magazine ad. Personally, I was always much happier that we received regular Valentine. While I loved Rhythm & Blues as much as anyone, the regular Greg was much better for playing with. Because I always had a love for the “rough and tumble” wrestlers like “The Hammer,” that figure ended up with significant play in my world. Now we finally have the R&B version or “Boxcar” as Gorilla Monsoon nicknamed him. Again, it’s not a direct casting of the original or anything but the basic sculpt and “Real Wrestling Action” matches the prototype. I love that some of the detailing on the jacket is molded and unpainted just like the prototype seemed to have and that the released Honky Tonk Man Hasbro did have. Like many of you I'm tired of the Mattel "breakaway" guitar, though this one seems to be staying together a bit better so far. I do appreciate that in recent uses they've been creative with coloring it. This version matches the Hasbro Honky Tonk Man guitar. The one released with the WWE Superstars Honky Tonk Man figure is done up to look like the LJN version as the WWE Superstars line is an interesting mishmash of both that line and the Remco AWA line.

Our All-American hero, Lex Luger, and Doink the Clown are next in the spotlight. Alleged prototypes of the originals have surfaced in recent years. I say alleged as they’re questionable at best. Needless to say, there isn’t much different that could have been done with either. This is what we would’ve gotten and that’s that. I’m not crazy about the “slam” Retros that move in the middle, but they’re not the worst figures done, either. The hair on Doink would’ve been rooted like the original release was and the move would’ve been a “punch” rather than the “twist/clothesline” deal that we have here. While they fit better with the “orange card” theme, they’re definitely the weaker part of the set compared to Tugboat and The Hammer.

Both this set as well as the previous one (The Hart Foundation & Nikolai Volkoff) are available through Mattel Creations. This set has seen a $5 price increase in a sign of the times. The first set done through Mattel creations (Okerlund, Piper, Orton & Mr. T) which sold out in five hours has since popped up on other retailer sites. How and why that happened is unknown. Do I advise going for these? Absolutely. There are a lot of folks out there making licensed retro wrestling figures. I was gung ho on some of them, lukewarm on others. At this point, despite a little good released product (though nothing near what has been promised), most have been disappointing in how they handle their business and the privilege of working with the stars and collectors alike. Faults aside, Mattel cranks them out and has improved their methods and ease of getting them to fans. These figures also have the “wrestling action” that the Hasbros did. For many reasons the “boutique” releases do not. While it doesn’t bother me when purchasing a character that I really want from “the other guys,” it becomes a more glaring omission when other issues pop up.

We’ve got a non-Mattel creations Retro set coming up (two nWo 2-packs that I won’t be breaking the door down for) and at least one more four pack through the Creations site. That set is confirmed to include the long-awaited Jerry “The King” Lawler, complete with the spring-loaded punch action that many of us loved from the original Hasbro line. There’s a certain character recently announced for an Elite Legends figure who I would love to see in Hasbro form. I’m not sure if it’s too late for him to appear in that set, but I’d feel sort of cheated if he never received a retro. You’d love to see it, too. And I do mean love.

In the meantime, Toot Toot!

Wrestling MarketWatch: Million Dollar Memorabilia

Every piece of wrestling memorabilia has got a price! I mean, really. Whether it’s pennies on the dollar or a price into the four digits, there’s a buyer for nearly anything wrestling related. Since we look at recent selling prices here on MarketWatch and stick to a theme in each edition, who better to examine  the power of the almighty dollar with than “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase? In addition to the greenback connection, DiBiase also has countless items from which to choose from. Being a top WWF heel for the better part of six years during the golden age to nearly always being active in legends merchandising programs has ensured that. Grab your bodyguard, open your wallet and maybe even buy out the local pool, it’s time to revisit the merchandise of The Million Dollar Man. As always, prices are for unsigned examples unless otherwise noted. 

*In the ‘80s there wasn’t any streaming and cable wasn’t available absolutely everywhere yet. So what did many, especially in rural areas, do? Buy a satellite dish, of course! These weren’t the dishes that we think of today that virtually hang off of the side of the house. These were big dishes that usually had a prominent place in the yard. In the early days of their use even premium television such as HBO could be picked up, though not legally. Shout out to Captain Midnight! If you know, you know. Anyway, like everything else back then there was a publication just for satellite tv users. Satellite TV Week was the name and featured on the cover of the March 5-11, 1989 issue was none other than The Million Dollar Man, himself! An article on who watches wrestling is inside, but the classic green-suited pose of DiBiase is what would attract most collectors. A copy recently sold for $20. 

*DiBiase wore many different colored suits over the years as The Million Dollar Man. One of the earliest was the silver suit which was most prominently featured when DiBiase briefly purchased the World Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Championship from Andre the Giant. Jakks attempted to make a figure version of this look in a Classic Superstars set along with the Million Dollar Belt,  but it came out more ivory colored than anything. Mattel finally tackled the look in the WWE Legends line. The two strikes against that version were that figure was too short over all and it was the “chase” version of the figure. The more common version was the ubiquitous black suit style. Although the chase figures in the WWE Legends line have been relatively easy to locate in recent series, this particular one was not. It’s still selling for between $60 and $90. There’s a chance that this could change in the future. A certain large online wrestling figure retailer has been getting the WWE Legends series in stock. While they don’t sell for retail price at first, this has been causing the after market prices to drop a bit. If that company continues the trend of selling these sets, Series 9 containing DiBiase would be next in line to arrive on their site. 

*Ted DiBiase wasn’t always The Million Dollar Man. In fact, he was fast becoming one of the top stars in the NWA before he joined the WWF. In June of 1984 DiBiase was featured on the cover of Pro Wrestling Illustrated. It’s a great studio shot where DiBiase is showcasing the glove that he was famous for in those days. We’ve been so conditioned to remember The Million Dollar Man (and rightly so being one of the best heel characters of all-time) that it can be easy to forget that DiBiase had carved out quite a career before the World Wrestling Federation came calling. Look around and you will even see speculation that DiBiase was in the running for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Consider the stranglehold that Ric Flair had on that title during the ‘80s I don’t know that it would’ve happened, but a run in Jim Crockett Promotions against the other top stars there is definitely something that we can all dream about. This issue of PWI has been selling for an average of $20. 

*The WWF wasn’t shy about featuring DiBiase on their cover either. After all, he was one of their top heels as has been mentioned and was a great character who drew. When his run in the world title picture ended (though he would and could be plugged into title shots in subsequent years being the reliable star that he was) it was clear that DiBiase deserved some sort of championship. Did his character need it? No. Did his character want it? Absolutely. Thus was born the Million Dollar Championship. I don’t know a single wrestling fan who, as a kid, wasn’t mesmerized by that belt. I remember wanting the Hasbro Million Dollar Man figure as one of my first of the line specifically because it included the belt. It’s a thing of beauty and replicas of it are popular to this day. To show it off shortly after its creation the WWF threw it and DiBiase onto the cover of the May 1989 issue of their magazine. It’s a great shot with a green background (greenback…), DiBiase’s iconic black suit, and plenty of money. What’s not to love? It sells for an average of $15, so adding a copy to your collection won’t break your bank…even if you aren’t The Million Dollar Man. 

*Speaking of Hasbro, what better way to end than with one of the classic DiBiase figures. This one is the third figure of The Million Dollar Man to be produced (first being from LJN, second arriving in the first Hasbro series) and hit shelves in 1991. It features a stomping action and includes The Million Dollar Championship belt just as the first one did. We would have to wait a few years to get a wrestling gear DiBiase figure which ended up being his final appearance in the line. Being up there with Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior and Randy Savage as far as who had the most Hasbro figures isn’t bad at all! Prices are all over the place for this one, sometimes (but not always) depending on which version of the card back is being sold. No matter the language or country of origin you always get the great “laughing” photo on this version of the figure, so you can’t go wrong regardless. He’s recently sold from anywhere between $160 and $255. Not quite a bargain but definitely a figure needed for any Hasbro lineup. 

Ted DiBiase remains one of the more popular legends on the convention circuit. Between his abundance of merchandise, popular character and high-profile feuds with Hogan, Savage and Dusty Rhodes among others, it’s no wonder that everyone has a price…for The Million Dollar Man.