The American Dream 2025

I’m admittedly biased, but I still feel that Dusty Rhodes is underrepresented in the figure world. It’s certainly a lot better than it was when all we had was the infamous polka dot Hasbro, but for a man as big as he was to the wrestling business I still feel we should be seeing him more often. I’ve always felt that he missed what should have been his figure debut, alongside Ric Flair, in the Remco AWA line. Remember that some stars such as Flair, who weren’t necessarily AWA regulars, did in fact make the line.

The increasingly laughable brain trust at Mattel have done something to remedy that and made an unusual set of wise moves in doing so. In their WWE Superstars line, a homage to that forty-year-old Remco collection, The American Dream has finally made his debut. Packed alongside his son Cody, The Dream debuts in the first two-pack for this particular line. Mattel, in a nearly unheard of move, also made it painless to get these figures. While the normal WWE Superstars line is a complete nightmare to locate due to being exclusive to Walmart, Mattel released this two-pack on their Mattel Creations website. A few button clicks and no anger or worries. It’s a great thing and Mattel would be wise to just throw every exclusive onto the site. I’m sure that they’ve lost many collector dollars with their constant need to frustrate loyal customers.

It should be noted that the biggest difference between this set and the regular WWE Superstars line is the packaging. This two-pack is done in the slide-out clamshell packaging. While there is tape, baggies and other materials that end up in the garbage involved, you can return the figures themselves to the bubble without much being noticed. Still, it won’t be “mint on card” so if you insist on having it both ways you do have to purchase two sets. I’ll also take this time to make a prediction. I think that we will see a single carded Dusty, most likely in polka dots, in the WWE Superstars line. I have zero inside info. I’m not a bootlicking influencer so why would I? Simply an educated guess.

But how does Dusty match up? Is it the Remco figure we’ve yearned four decades for? I can’t recall if I’ve ever reviewed any of the previous WWE Superstars figures here on the blog before. In the event that you’re unfamiliar, the body types are sort of a modern upgrade to the original Remco AWA figures. If you’re familiar with the Masters of the Universe retro figures you’ll have an inkling. They fit in with the originals but possess more articulation, swappable hands and other modern “amenities.” True to the original Remco offerings the WWE Superstars are big on removable soft goods outfits and some accessories. When you can find the line at retail you certainly don’t feel ripped off. Many of the figures such as Andre the Giant, Earthquake and Brutus Beefcake are even “two-figures-in-one” with a few accessory changes. 

Dusty includes a smattering of different hands, a removable soft goods shirt and the classic NWA Championship belt. I saw some complaints on how “basic” the belt was when the figure was revealed. That showed me that those commenters had no business even collecting the line. The belt is a homage to the belts included with the Remco line. The plates are printed onto a rubber strap. While the Remco belt was a sticker on plastic it’s the same concept. It works perfectly and I wish that Mattel had done this with previous belts in the WWE Superstars line. The shirt is the same design that was released with an Elite figure several years ago. Cody also has some additional hands, a soft goods shirt and his trademark weight belt.

Traditionally the Remco AWA figures were either “ripped” or “fat” bodied. We have one of each here. Dusty has his splotch which, though I’m not sure the Remco would’ve had it, is subtler than on the modern figures of The Dream and fits the bill. The faces on both are very good and better than Remco would’ve done however that’s been the case with all of the WWE Superstars figures. The upcoming Remco/PowerTown line is going for the same look. I will best describe it as being a “modern homage.” I guess the basic head look from 1985 just wouldn’t sell today…except to me.

There aren’t any action features or high-level detailing here and those aren’t what this line is about. They aren’t for everyone but they certainly have proven to be popular. I again applaud Mattel for making Dusty accessible to everyone as all of the figures should be. The price is a tad higher than I think most would line but, again, I’m going to throw ease and convenience into the cost. I will always pay a bit more (on a retail level, not to jobless Cheeto fingers hunting at stores instead of working a real job) to save time and frustration. Not enough people understand that time is so much more important than money. You can always make more money. There are endless opportunities. When you’re out of time there’s nothing else. Think about that.

I truly thought that the aforementioned Remco PowerTown line would be among the first reviews here on the blog in 2025, but perhaps that was some very wishful thinking. I’m still hoping to do an entry on those, too, but as you can see with this type of figure there isn’t all that much to review. While I’m personally all but done with giving Mattel and most of these other manufacturers my frustration, this time they did a good thing. It’s a set that I recommend for most any collection and, once again, one that’s easily accessible. 

The definition of “The American Dream” has meant a lot of things to a lot of people. In the sense of the American people, in 2025 “The American Dream” is being sick of rich people, sick of money-grubbing companies and (most importantly?) sick of wrestling toy manufacturers, wannabe manufacturers and their absolutely piss poor treatment of the hard-working consumer. At least this set, in some small way, helped ease up that last one a bit.

Until my next pre-order gets cancelled, that is.

The Hulkster & The Hot Rod Still Settling The Score

The Mattel WWE Superstars line. Talk about mixed emotions. A great line created to emulate the classic Remco AWA figures. Thanks to exclusivity to everyone’s favorite Arkansas-based retailer it’s also proven to be a distribution nightmare. While nearly every figure thus far has seemingly become easy enough to acquire, eventually, store exclusives have cemented themselves as an absolute thorn in the side of collectors. The official line from Mattel is that without retailers wanting exclusives it’s likely that certain figures and series would never get produced. Well, if they’re not easily accessible what’s the point in making them in the first place.

The latest few series of the WWE Superstars line, while sort of fluid if going by the back of the packaging, took the distribution issues to new levels. Most, if not all, collectors had pre-orders on the figures which were eventually cancelled. For Hulk Hogan and Rowdy Roddy Piper, seemingly released in conjunction, the idiocy went even further. Weeks after cancellation notices were sent the two figures began showing up on doorsteps, often without even a shipping notice. Many collectors even received a “price adjustment” on one of the figures. The cost? $0.00. Don’t ask me what they’re doing. They don’t even know!

Continuing with the packaging as it’s been since the beginning of the line, the card backs are what could best be described as a mashup between the LJN WWF Wrestling Superstars line and the aforementioned Remco AWA line, specifically the final, single-carded series titled “Mat Mania.” The cards are colorful, though the thin cardboard used often makes it difficult to find examples in good shape. Amazingly you’ll often find cards that are “unpunched.” Even more amazing is when they’re shipped to you both unpunched and in good shape. The back of the card features Remco-esque drawings of the figures and some wrestler specific quotes which are mostly correct, though I’ve seen some creative liberties taken.

The first “chase” of the line is in this series. The Hulkster comes in the standard red and yellow or, as a chase, in blue and white. When this element was first announced it was feared that, due to the figure coming clad in his red jumpsuit, it would be impossible to tell which version you had without opening. Due to the boots being different colors you can tell via the side of the bubble. In a line where virtually every figure is a “chase” due to the double ineptness of the manufacturer and the retailer there is simply no room for chase variants. Ultimately, it’s the manufacturer costing themselves money. If you equally distribute the figure In both looks most collectors will buy both. Stupidity reigns.

In any case, I’m very pleased with how both of these figures came out. I’d go as far as to say that it’s one of Mattel’s best Piper efforts thus far. He actually very much reminds me of his look on Hulk Hogan’s Rock n’ Wrestling cartoon. The kilt is soft rubber while the shirt is cloth. A modern looking microphone is included. The Hulkster has his aforementioned jumpsuit which is in two pieces, headband, weight belt and crucifix. Both figures also include several interchangeable hands. One of my peeves with the line is that it has zero focus as far as era, but they have done a nice supply of mid-80’s names recently with these two, Mr. T, Captain Lou Albano and an upcoming Andre the Giant, the latter featuring two looks in one as several of the figures do.

You’re really just going to have to luck out with these, although as I’d stated earlier most if not all eventually became easy to purchase. Some even went on clearance. Upcoming names in the line include the previously mentioned Andre as well as another Hogan (and chase…ugh), Doink the Clown, Davey Boy Smith and Kane. I really wish that they’d stay out of post-1995 with these, but The Big Red Machine isn’t the first and won’t be the last, I’m sure. With a lineup that already includes Randy Savage, The Ultimate Warrior, Ted DiBiase, The Honky Tonk Man, The Natural Disasters, Mr. Perfect and Rick Rude, I guess I don’t have too much to complain about.

How about Dusty, Lawler, Harley and The Funker? I mean, I can always request rather than complain…