Mattel/WWE Figure Reveals November 2022

First off, not sure if I have done a blog since they were revealed but we have seen leaked images of the next Coliseum Collection Ultimate Edition figures, these are Jake 'The Snake' Roberts and 'Ravishing' Rick Rude, these two have been paired together as they had a notable feud back in the day. We all get why Mattel are doing this, they want to pay homage to the LJN line and release UE figures of wrestlers based on the look they had when their LJN figure was released back in the 80's. The first set was Hulk Hogan & Terry Funk, the thought of many is they are releasing them in pairs because on their own some may not sell to well. Hogan, despite having MANY figures released over the last couple of years, is always going to shift units whereas Funk, may not have. The first in the series really was of course the SDCC exclusive Sgt Slaughter.

Picture via @actionfigureattack on instagram

So back onto Roberts/Rude. There have been some people who have complained that why release figures of these guys who is have had Elites aplenty over the last couple of years, well that is aimed at Roberts really, in the Legends line itself, Roberts has had 4 figures released (5 overall in the Legends line and one in the All-Stars set). Rude, has had 5 Elite figures over time, one in the original Legends line, the same figure, without a robe and colouring of the tights slightly different in a exclusive set from Argos here in the UK that came with an Ultimate Warrior Elite that looks to be a re-release of the Hall of Fame Warrior figure and a basic ring/cage and he also had a release in the regular Elite line, back to that shortly, and lastly, he had two figures, one being a chase in a Summer Slam set some years back. There were major issues with those as he came with a black robe on and unfortunately, and mine are the same, the robe stained the figures, I believe they did a running change and placed the robe separately in the package rather than on the figures.

I said I would go back to the figure released in the regular Elite line, well, the reason is, going by the leaked images of the Ultimate Edition figures, the Rude looks to have the robe he had in the regular Elite release but for me what is annoying, is the fact that the head looks the same too. When we had the recent Survivor Series set, we had not one but two Rick Rude heads that came with the Ultimate Warrior figure to make another figure (or two if you can get the parts) via the BAF route and those heads are new scans so why, couldn't they do this for the Ultimate Edition versions? Clutching at straws of course but maybe, just maybe, when the figures actually come out because I don't think they have been put up for order just yet, the head maybe re done, we can hope.

Before we get onto the reveals I am here to talk about, another one we had before those was an Ultimate Edition figure, which will be another Mattel Creations exclusive, of Logan Paul. the figure has been produced in sample form as Paul himself has been shown with the figure, with box, himself but it wont be available until approx October of 2023 I am led to believe. MC did this with the UE Cody Rhodes figure too which I did pre-order but I don't think we are due to see until July of 2023. As it stands, I have not ordered the Logan Paul one as I have paid out for a bunch of stuff recently but I know I will have to get it as it's an Ultimate and I want to collect all male figures.

I have literally just stopped writing and ordered it.

OK, so we are finally here, lets cover the latest reveals, I'll only cover Elite style figures, there are also some basics that have been revealed.

First off, my favourite line, the Legends. We are getting 6 in this series, as there will be 2 chases figures. So, we are getting the Samoan Swat Team who were in the NWA/WCW around 1989 and it's those that are the chase figures because when they came to the WWF in about 1992, they were known as The Headshrinkers and the other figures in the line resemble the look they had from that time. 

Also in the set is Paul E. Dangerously, he managed the SST in the NWA and he comes with his trademark brick of a mobile phone and an ECW hat, where of course he went after WCW and then would go on to own until it's dying days. 

The final figure in the set is Hulk Hogan, yes, another Hogan figure from Mattel but surprisingly, the first he has had in any variation of the Legends line. The figure has had many talking points, the skin tone, the body choice but most of all, the discussion of what event the figure is based on. Some think it's finally figure based on his look from Bash At The Beach 1996 where he famously turned and joined forces with Kevin Nash & Scott Hall and subsequently the nWo was formed and the rest, they say, is history. The issue is however, it doesn't seem to match up to the look of that day and more to an earlier PPV that year, Uncensored, I have put a collage below showing the differences. The Uncensored 96 version was one of the 3 choices for the Fan Takeover, Amazon Exclusive Ultimate edition (along with his Nitro debut and the winner, and correct choice for me, his look from Wrestle Mania IX, complete with black eye). 

We have Hogan at BATB 96 on the left, at Uncensored 96 in the middle and on the right, the upcoming Legends figure

It doesn't look the most appealing of figures and it's a shame we still haven't got one based on BATB, maybe it's being saved for an Ultimate Edition, someone said to me on twitter, maybe it could be a 3 pack of Hogan with Hall & Nash, w have had both the Hall & Nash in the Elite line but the head scan on the Nash (Elite 16) was horrendous tbh but technology has moved on and the scan from his Legends figure was pretty much outstanding, imagine a 3 pack or even 3 single releases of these in UE style.

Ruthless Aggression Series 4

Moving on, also revealed was the next set of the Ruthless Aggression figures, as it stands, I only have one from previous sets, the Shawn Michaels, I may pick up the Batista and Booker T if they ever cross my path at a decent price but the one that has been released so far I really want is the nWo 2002 version of Kevin Nash to go with the Hall & X-Pac we already have from that period. The recent RA figures revealed have, as you can guess, thrown up a number of discussions, first off, the one I really want as it's the first Mattel one of him is Eric Bischoff, I had stopped watch WWE at this point but I want it, one because, as I said, it's the first and secondly to maybe put it with other nWo figures for photography purposes. A discussion around this one is it comes with an extra head and it is of the disguise he was wearing when he was the pastor or whatever when Billy & Chuck were married, the only issue is, the rest of the outfit doesn't go, some customising will be done I guess buy a few. Also, there's a return of Steve Austin to the figure collecting scene, I'll be honest, I'd swerve this one as I'm not overly impressed but I like to collect all Austin Elites/UE figures so I will have to try and pick it up. The talking point with this one is the gear, apparently it wasn't worn as a combination and in fact, it comes with a t shirt but the actual one had no sleeves, HERE is a tweet from My Damn Toys check out his great channel on YouTube, where he explains a bit more. Oh, I think the JAKKS version, like with the next one, it is based on, I still have. That next one is the Undertaker, it's when he went through the Biker Taker phase, an easy pass for me.

Extra head that comes with Bischoff

We had some 'Top Picks' shown, Bobby Lashley, John Cena & Ronda Rousey, all passes for me.

Finally, also shown were complete images from Elite Series 99, this section won't be long, for any of you still reading, these will be an easy pass for me, I won't pick any of them up, none blow me a way tbh. When they hit retail over here in the UK, I may pick the Seth Rollins up but that's about it. what is weird about the set is it seems we have two chases or variants in the same set, we have 2 Brock Lesnar's in different coloured dungarees and 2 versions of the Boogey Man, pictured below.

I have his original release in the Elite line, that's enough for me. Also, there will be a Selina Vega, you know by now I don't collect female figures, there will also be a Matt Riddle, complete with little scooter and a Happy Corbin figure with an extra head.

Elite Series 99

So, that's it, as per normal, what should be just a reveals blog I have gone off on a tangent or two but I hope you have enjoyed it, if you have, please share it where you think it's suited, facebook pages for wrestling figures, twitter or any other forums you are on.

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