Wrestling Superstars
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wrestling Superstars was an action figure toyline based on the wrestlers of the WWF. They were made by the toy and video game company LJN from 1984 to 1989. The toys were made of solid rubber and were very accurate in appearance to their real life counterparts, however they did not have any articulation. The original 8" figures were the most successful series from the line but that success spawned other versions such as Thumb Wrestlers and Bendies.
LJN closed it's toy division in 1989, cancelling the Wrestling Superstars series with it. The last 6 figures which were produced did manage to get released by Grand Toys of Canada. They were the distributor of the entire Wrestling Superstars series in Canada and are still a fairly large toy company to this day. Hasbro were awarded the license as the main WWF action figure producer the following year.
These figures have become quite collectable, partly due to wrestlings ongoing popularity and the 1980s nostalgia boom. Another reason is how hard it is to find them in good condition. The paint on the figures would easily come off during play leaving most opened figures (out of their package or card) in poor shape. The price for "loose" mint figures ranges from $10-$75. In poor condition most of the line isn't worth very much due to their great abundance. The figures that remain carded can command much higher prices though. In good condition a MOC (mint on card) figure can range from $20 or so for a Mene Gene Okerlund to $500-$800 or more for a Bret Hart. Other carded figures that can sell for hundreds are Warlord, Ultimate Warrior, Davey Boy Smith, Dynamite Kid, and the Hart Foundation Tag Team box set.
Contents |
[edit] 8" Series
Series 1
- Andre The Giant (long haired version)
- Big John Studd
- Hillbilly Jim (with hat)
- Hulk Hogan (with black strapped title belt)
- Iron Sheik (varies with orange & yellow pant decoration versions)
- Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka
- Junk Yard Dog (with dog collar and black, silver or red chains)
- Nikolai Volkoff (with hat)
- "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (with kilt - varies with red & brown painted boots versions)
Series 2
- Brutus Beefcake
- George "The Animal" Steele
- Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (varies with light & dark blonde hair versions)
- King Kong Bundy
- "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff
Series 3
- Andre The Giant (short hair version)
- Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (varies with monogram & non-monogram versions)
- Bruno Sammartino
- Captain Lou Albano (varies with white & red lapel versions)
- "Classy" Freddie Blassie (with cane)
- Corporal Kirchner (varies with bearded, stubble & clean-shaven versions)
- Davey Boy Smith
- Magnificent Muraco
- Dynamite Kid
- Jesse "The Body" Ventura (varies with blonde & red haired versions)
- Jimmy Hart (varies with hearted & non-hearted megaphone versions)
- Mr.Fuji (with cane)
- "Macho Man" Randy Savage
- "Mean" Gene Okerlund (varies with WWF logo & non-WWF logo microphone versions)
- Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
- S.D Jones (varies with red & hawaiian shirt versions)
- Terry Funk (with branding iron & hat)
- Tito Santana (purple trunks version)
Series 4
- "Adorable" Adrain Adonis
- Billy Jack Haynes (with hat)
- Bret "The Hitman" Hart (varies with pink & purple tights versions)
- B. Brian Blair (varies with tan & non-tan skin colour versions)
- Cowboy Bob Orton (with hat)
- Elizabeth (with gold or purple skirt)
- King Harley Race (with crown)
- Hercules Hernandez
- Jake "The Snake" Roberts (with Damien)
- Jumping Jim Brunzell (varies with tan & non-tan skin colour versions)
- Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart (varies with pink & purple tights versions)
- Kamala
- Koko B. Ware (with Frankie)
- Outback Jack (with hat)
- Ted Arcidi
Series 5
- Ax
- Bam Bam Bigelow
- Hacksaw Jim Duggan (with 2x4)
- Honky Tonk Man (with guitar)
- Hulk Hogan (Hulkamania shirt version - varies with white & red shirt versions)
- Johnny V
- Ken Patera
- One Man Gang
- Referee (varies with blue & white shirt versions)
- Rick Martel
- Slick (with hat)
- Ted Dibiase
- Tito Santana (Strike Force trunks version)
- Vince McMahon
Series 6
- Andre The Giant (black strap version)
- Big Boss Man (with nightstick)
- Haku
- Rick Rude
- Ultimate Warrior
- Warlord
Tag Team Box Sets
- British Bulldogs (with 2 brown strapped title belts)
- Brutus Beefcake and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (with 2 brown strapped title belts)
- Hart Foundation (with 2 brown strapped title belts)
- Hulk Hogan and Hillbilly Jim (with 2 brown strapped title belts & Hillbilly's hat)
- Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff (with 2 brown strapped title belts & Volkoff's hat)
- The Killer Bees (with 2 brown strapped title belts)
- Strike Force (with 2 black strapped title belts)
Accessories
- Sling 'Em-Fling 'Em Wrestling Ring
- Cage Match Accessory
[edit] Bendies
- Andre The Giant
- Big John Studd
- Bobby Heenan
- Brutus Beefcake
- Captain Lou Albano
- Corporal Kirchner
- George "The Animal" Steele
- Hillbilly Jim
- Hulk Hogan
- Iron Shiek
- Jesse "The Body" Ventura
- Junk Yard Dog
- King Kong Bundy
- "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff
- Nikolai Volkoff
- "Macho Man" Randy Savage
- Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
- "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
Accessories
- Cage Match Challenge
[edit] Thumb Wrestlers
- Big John Studd
- Iron Sheik
- Hillbilly Jim
- Hulk Hogan
- Jake "The Snake" Roberts
- Junk Yard Dog
- King Kong Bundy
- Nikolai Volkoff
- "Macho Man" Randy Savage
- "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
- "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff
[edit] 16" Series
[edit] Stretch Wrestlers
- George "The Animal" Steele
- Hulk Hogan
- Junk Yard Dog
- King Kong Bundy
- "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff
- "Macho Man" Randy Savage
- Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
- "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
[edit] Trivia
- The 8" Sgt. Slaughter figure was made by LJN. Slaughter had a contract dispute with then WWF over merchandising, and left the company. The figure was never released to stores and was instead purchased by Hasbro. Hasbro then made the 8" Sarge figure available as a mail order tie-in with their G.I. Joe action figure line. (See yojoe.com for information)
- The original Sling 'Em-Fling 'Em Wrestling Ring was recalled due to children impaling themselves falling on the corner ring posts. The posts had no give and would not budge if weight was applied.
- The line is set to make a return, of sorts, when Jakks Pacific releases an LJN-styled Undertaker in series 13 of its "Classic Superstar" line. Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock are also scheduled to join Undertaker in the LJN style in upcoming Classic Superstar series. Jakks had previously re-released the Sling 'Em-Fling 'Em Ring as the Monster Ring in the mid to late '90s.
- It has been rumoured that versions of George Steele were produced with painted on chest hair, as well as a Roddy Piper figure with a panther shirt.
- Various different protoypes were photographed in various LJN advertising and packaging: an Adrian Adonis with scarves, Rick Steamboat with red trunks, Tito Santana with an entirely different mold, Haku as 'King Haku' and Rick Rude with green tights among many others.
- The final series of figures that were scheduled but never produced included: Bad News Brown, Brother Love, Bushwhacker Luke, Bushwhacker Butch, Demolition Smash and The Barbarian.
