WWF Hasbro action figures

The WWF Hasbro Action Figure line was an action figure toyline based on the professional wrestlers of the WWF, produced by the toy company Hasbro from 1990 to 1994^[1]. The toys were made of plastic, with many featuring a signature action move based on their real life counterpart.

Benefiting for being introduced during a pro wrestling boom period, these figures were among the most popular pro wrestling action figures of their time, and have since become collectors items. In good condition, an unopened figure can be viewed as being valued from anywhere between $20 to $1-2 thousand. This is a result of the production of variant figures produced in smaller numbers and limited time mailaway promotions.

A large number of the collection has been released on foreign (usually French or Spanish) cards, and are of far less value than cards that are all in English writing, due to their abundance. For example, a 1992 Ultimate Warrior Mint on an American Card can fetch upwards of $150–$175 US, while exactly the same figure on a French card may get around $15–$20

However, a very limited number of Hasbro action figures were released on a dual card (mainly being US/French) these figures have been seen to fetch in the region of $1000 per figure. Dusty Rhodes, Brutus Beefcake, Rick Rude, Roddy piper, Mr. Perfect, Hulk Hogan, Macho King, Koko B. Ware and The Rockers are known examples.

Complete collection

UK-exclusive mailaway figures

The WWF's exclusive UK home video partner, Silver Vision, run several promotions over the years which allowed the buyer to receive a free WWF action figure upon purchase. In 1991, Silver Vision offered a free Hulk Hogan #1 with the purchase of "The Best of Saturday Nights Main Event" VHS. This promotion was advertised in WWF Magazines and by Merlin Publishing. If purchased via Silver Vision direct, the figure was sent following receipt of the order. If ordered via Merlin Publishing, the customer would be sent a voucher they were able to send away to redeem the figure. This figure arrived in a sealed clear bag with the UK Hasbro distribution details on the front along with safety warnings in several languages.

In 1992 and into 1993, Silver Vision ran another promotion for a free Hulk Hogan #2 action figure (and a pair of Bret "Hitman" Hart pink sunglasses). This was available with the purchase of any qualifying video release at the time. This was advertised as part of the monthly newsletters Silver Vision distributed to customers. In similar fashion to the previous promotion, the figure arrived in a sealed clear bag with the UK Hasbro distribution details on the front along with safety warnings in several languages.

Unreleased prototypes

There are several prototypes that have been seen in print advertisements that are the subject of WWF Hasbro collector discussion to this day. In an ad promoting a Toys R Us and WWF partnership in the March 1991 WWF Magazine, tag team sets of Demolition, the Bushwhackers, the Rockers, and Rhythm and Blues appeared. The Rhythm and Blues set was never released, however both the Honky Tonk Man and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine did see singles action figures released. Honky Tonk Man, as he appeared in the ad, was released in Series 2, however Valentine's figure in the advertisement appeared in his Rhythm and Blues attire, black hair, white jacket with black musical notes on it, white boots, and black trunks, whereas the figure released of Valentine in Series 3 was in his most regular singles attire of blond hair, black trunks and yellow boots. Fueling further collector speculation is the fact that on the back of some early foreign card figures, Rhythm and Blues was listed as an available tag team set. It is unknown the exact reason this figure went unreleased, but it is assumed that it was that the tag team had broken up a few months before the ad was printed. The Rhythm and Blues Greg Valentine was a hot topic of conversation among WWF Hasbro collectors because it is one of the few prototypes that had not turned up in a private collection. Recently, the figure was found and auctioned off on eBay for $13,400. Collector Matt Cera purchased the figure, after being texted by WWE wrestler Zack Ryder, who initially had the highest bid on the figure and has since spent a total of $15,000 getting the figure insured and appraised. The figure is said to be found in an attic of a former Hasbro employee.^[3] In the past, Valentine himself has increased speculation on the whereabouts of the figure, giving conflicting to reports as to where the prototype(s) may be in various interviews.

Other unreleased prototypes that have appeared in print include Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake in red and yellow attire meant to replicate his Mega Maniacs attire from WrestleMania IX to be in the Purple Carded set. He is believed to have been replaced by a Tatanka re-release from Series 6 due to his departure from the company. Shawn Michaels' Yellow Carded figure appeared in both print ads and on card backings using the spring-loaded armed feature found on the Virgil, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, El Matador, Hulk Hogan # 4, Papa Shango, Ted DiBiase # 3 and Billy Gunn but was changed to his released form. Randy Savage from Series 1 appeared in the 1991 J.C. Penney catalog in green trunks as part of an offer selling a ring and both Hulk Hogan and Savage action figures. Savage was sent out in his regularly released orange trunks. Both Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon figures resembling those released on both Yellow and Blue cards have appeared in an unreleased print ad promoting the figures as mail-aways as a reward for collecting Hasbro points found on the back of the WWF Hasbro cards.

Hasbro had plans to release an Ultimate Warrior figure with chest beating action. It is not known exactly why this figure wasn't made. Speculation is that it was never finished because Warrior had already left WWF or because Hasbro was unable to perfect the chest beating action. A prototype image of this figure can be found online. The figure has the same head as Warrior #2 and the body used is the same body used for the Demolition Smash figure. The figure was to use a new set of arms in order to have the figure beat its chest

Hasbro had plans to release a Tugboat figure. The plan for this figure can be found online. The figure was cancelled because Tugboat turned heel and switched his name to Typhoon. The Tugboat figure would've had the same head as the Typhoon figure and even a similar body but would've been in his Tugboat attire.

There were plans for a Jim the Anvil Neidhart figure in Hart Foundation attire with the same head sculpt as the Anvil that was released. These plans can be found online as well. It is believed that this figure would've been released in a 2 pack along with Bret Hart (same figure as his first Hasbro release) and would've been in the same series as the Nasty Boys and the Legion of Doom. The Hart Foundation set was cancelled because the team broke up and Bret started a singles career.

In 1993, Hasbro developed concept art for a series of 12 inch tall WWF figures, that would've included removable fabric clothing, similar to their popular G.I. Joe: Hall of Fame series, even sharing the body molds with the G.I. Joe figures. To date, the only concept art that has surfaced form this line is of Randy Savage.^[4]

There were plans for another mail away series in 1994. The figures planned were Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon. It believed that they wouldn't have been new molds but re-releases with possibly different colored outfits.

There were plans for a series 12 (to be released as assortment #1 in 1995) on orange cards. There has even been prototype pictures online of the heads for this series. The series was to include: Lex Lugar (in USA gear), Mo and Mabel from Men on a Mission, Jeff Jarrett, a new Undertaker with purple gloves and no hat, and Diesel.

There was also plans for a series 13 (to be released as assortment #2 in 1995). This wave would've included: a new Bret Hart (rumored), a new Diesel (different from series 12, this one would've featured Diesel wearing sunglasses and with an open mouth)^[5], Owen Hart (in his "king of hearts" attire) (rumored), and Bastion Booger (which would've reused the body from Earthquake)^[6]. To date, no prototypes of any of these figures have surfaced, however some concept art has been found.

Modifications from prototypes

• Series 1 saw only one change in the line when compared to the press photo shots of the prototypes; Hulk Hogan's shirt features a different font than the one that appeared on the final product.
• Series 2 featured the unreleased Greg Valentine as well as a minor adjustment to Dusty Rhodes' expression.
• Series 3 featured the Ultimate Warrior with yellow and white face paint on the prototype instead of yellow, purple, and white as he was released and the Texas Tornado with red and white tassels on the prototype instead of all red like how his figure was released.
• Series 4's only change was Bret Hart's figure, who went from having silver and pink shades to only pink.
• Series 5's Mountie prototype had a red cattle prod instead of the released black cattle prod and added Virgil's name to his trunks.
• Series 6's Berzerker originally came with no cloak and a 2x4 accessory and Tatanka originally had blue script on his legs
• Series 7 featured Kamala with a moon on his stomach as a pre-production variant but not in the promotional photo. The only changes made from the promotional photo were that of Owen Hart's final baggy pants and Shawn Michaels was changed from his original action of that of the Jake Roberts, Hulk Hogan # 4, Virgil, Papa Shango, El Matador, Ted DiBiase # 3 and Billy Gunn figures to Conceited Crush! action and a plastic gold chain was added to Razor Ramon when released (who also had no stubble).
• Series 8 featured Bret Hart with Black elbow pads and Black stars on his boots and back of the trunks as a pre-production variant. Otherwise no major changes from the prototype images.
• Series 9 featured changes to three figures. The original Rick Steiner prototype featured two differently designed boots, the original Doink the Clown design featured green pants with red stars, and Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake was originally slated to be in the line, but was replaced by a re-release of Series 6's Tatanka.
• Series 10 saw no major changes from the prototype images.
• Series 11 saw no major changes from the prototype images.

Popular belief holds that a Dusty Rhodes figure has yellow boots as a variant. While these figures have been photographed, debate continues on whether they are the product of sun damage.

Commonly-traded error cards and variants

Series 3's Sgt. Slaughter is a popular variant, offering a variant that features no name listed on the front of the card. This variant is very rare and is believed to have seen limited release in the Tri-State Region.

Some of the more common error cards include "Rowdy" Roddy Piper on a Series 2 Ultimate Warrior card, Billy Gunn on a Bart Gunn card, Bart Gunn on a Billy Gunn card, Giant Gonzalez on a Samu card, and Series 1 Ted DiBiase on a Rick Rude card.

Other rare error cards include Bret Hart 1 carding with The Undertaker 1 Figure.

Mattel's WWE retro figures

In 2016, Mattel announced that they would be releasing their own line of "throwback" WWE action figures, similar to the iconic style and packaging of the WWF Hasbro series. Mattel's new line of action figures were released exclusively to Walmart stores in the U.S. Mattel's WWE latest collectibles are deemed "retro" by the company because they are packaged in the same fashion as action figures made in the 1990s.^[7]

See also

• WCW Galoob Action Figures
• Wrestling Superstars
• WWE action figures
• WWE Legends action figures (Mattel)

References

External links