Mattel WWE Year-In-Review: Survivor Series Style!

2016 may have been Mattel's best year for the WWE line yet. Looking back at just this blog over the past eleven months, even I can't believe how much space has been devoted to the figures. A plethora of names new and old, unique and common, have been produced by the company this year. WWE and NXT stars, Hall of Famers and Legends, and even some off-the-wall and offbeat characters have "made the list" for Mattel, and it's hard to imagine just which one will be "Figure of the Year." For a fun change on this, my favorite holiday, we'll take a look at some of those finalists. But it isn't a normal rundown. Instead, we're grouping the thirty top figures into six Survivor Series teams. Who will be the sole survivor?

REGAL'S ROOKIES 

VS 

THE NXT DEMONS

Ok, so Regal's rookies aren't really rookies, but it sounded good. A late addition in 2016, the Lord Steven Regal figure is an awesome new WCW entry to the ever-growing Mattel roster. Regal leads his team of 2016 figures that includes Samoa Joe, Kevin Owens, and The Vaudevillains. Opposing this fivesome is The NXT Demons led by "The Demon King" himself, Finn Balor. The NXT alumni that join him are Apollo Crews, Braun Strowman, Baron Corbin, and Kalisto. 

BAYLEY'S BEAUTIES 

VS 

THE GIMMICK GANG

A Neidhart on each team! Bayley's Beauties have it all. Looks, in-ring skills, and alliteration. The Hugger is joined by Becky Lynch, "The Narcissist" Lex Luger, Nattie Neidhart, and Tyler Breeze. "Prince Pretty" seems more interested in getting a group selfie than in winning this thing. The Gimmick Gang is captained by The Bunny and includes Tugboat, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, and The Bushwhackers. 

THE BOSSES 

VS 

TEAM EXTREME

In the main event we see a team that's comprised of people nicknamed "The Boss," a Bossman, someone who was a boss to many, and a Stinger. We've got team captain Dusty Rhodes, Magnum T.A., Big Boss Man, Sting, and Sasha Banks. They're opposed by Team Extreme, and although Lita is aboard this isn't that Team Xtreme. These are alumni of ECW. Lita is joined by team captain Terry Funk, Bam Bam Bigelow, and The Dudley Boyz. 

See what I mean? Mattel certainly had an impressive lineup this year, and this is only thirty of those figures. My deepest apologies to "SummerSlam 1989" Hacksaw Jim Duggan as well as Enzo and Cass. There just wasn't room. The "sole survivor" will actually be the "Best Figure" winner in the 2016 J\/\/ Awards at the end of the year. A few of the late entries here may even be featured in a blog entry before that as well. Stay tuned!

And although you've already finished the big meal by the time that this hits the Net, it is with my best thoughts that I wish you and yours a...

The Bunny Hops From The Easter Basket To The Ring

Depth. To me, in an action figure line, it's what it's all about. If I'm going to collect the figures, there had better be a wide range and variety including "secondary" characters. Star Wars mastered this by literally pulling creatures from dark corners of the films and immortalizing them in plastic. In wrestling, it's figures of referees, managers, and commentators that provide the depth. LJN did a great job of this with their famous WWF Wrestling Superstars line as did Remco with their AWA All-Star Wrestling figures. Over time, Jakks followed suit with their longtime WWF/WWE license and now Mattel has begun to realize that wrestling figures don't always have to be of actual wrestlers. With that in mind, we have the first figure of...The Bunny.

Yes, I know that The Bunny did wrestle, but I still consider it to be a non-wrestler figure. It/he/whatever comes together with the third figure of Adam Rose in a Battle Pack. If you're a fan of Rose or waited to add him to your collection until this set was released, this is a good thing. If not, you have your third figure of someone who has yet to really get over outside of NXT. In a way this is a good thing as far as being able to get The Bunny, as the Battle Packs tend to last longer on the shelves. As the single packed Zeb Colter and Jerry Lawler proved, the non-wrestlers move!

The Adam Rose figure does have a different design than the previous two releases. It's a good likeness and includes a top hat. I may be biased, but so far he has translated into three rather boring figures. Nothing stands out about them. I don't dislike the guy, I just have yet to find a reason to get behind him or his figures. He's even my least favorite in one of my favorite current groups. On the other hand, The Bunny is one of those instances when goofiness in wrestling just works for me, especially when it transitions over into merchandise. We haven't seen the character in a long time nor may we ever again, but the fact that it hit store shelves as an action figure makes it immortal.

Mattel designed a sculpt that they'll likely never be able to use again. Much kudos for that effort. The likeness of the complete costume is amazing, right down to the cotton tail. The vest is a completely separate piece, which again shows the detail that Mattel put into this. The figure is also heavy, which makes up for the paltry Adam Rose. The face is either the stuff of dreams or nightmares depending on your mentality, but I think that the thing is pretty darn cute.

When figures of Braun Strowman, Becky Lynch, and Alexa Bliss are released, you'll be able to have quite an Exotic Express entourage when coupled with The Bunny. Pick up that clearanced Exotic Express pendant from the WWE Shop and we're talking major diorama possibilities. Personally, I think The Bunny will headline my own Easter decor this year and for many seasons to come. And don't be surprised to find the figure in the holiday section of your local thrift store in a decade or so. Aside from a light WWE stamp on his foot, there's nothing to tell the average person that this is a wrestling figure instead of a holiday decoration.

If you want The Bunny to hop onto your shelf, you'll have to grab the Battle Pack. The character is long gone from television and was only part of a forgotten angle as is. There's virtually no chance of a second figure (although a Bunny vs Gobbledy Gooker Battle Pack would be novel...) so this will likely be a case where you'll be spending stupid money to get it on the secondary market if you pass it up initially.

Was this The Bunny that you visited at the mall in your youth? Was it perhaps the same rabbit that battled in the APA Invitational? Is this the guy that ate the carrots that you left out for him? We may never know, but now we have a figure of him to stare at while we wonder...just who is that big-eared man?