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 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 its 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 collectible, partly due to wrestling's ongoing popularity and the 1980s nostalgia boom. However, it is somewhat difficult 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. In good condition, a "mint on card" figure can range from about $20 for a Mean 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.
[edit] 8" SeriesEach superstar in the 8" series was released with a unique biography card on the packaging and a small poster featuring an artists rendering of each individual superstar (until series 5 & 6 which used real life photography rather than the drawings). Series 1 
Series 2 
Series 3 
Series 4 
Series 5 
Series 6 - (Black Card Superstars 89) 
Series 6 - (Black Card Superstars 89 Re-Releases)
Tag Team Box Sets
Accessories
[edit] BendiesSingle Figures
Tag Team 2 Packs
Accessories
[edit] Thumb Wrestlers
[edit] 16" Series
[edit] Stretch Wrestlers
[edit] Prototypes, rarities, and errorsVarious different prototypes were photographed in various LJN advertising and packaging, such as: an Adrian Adonis with scarves, Rick Steamboat with red trunks, Tito Santana with an entirely different mold, Fred Blassie with a painted cane and glittered jacket, Hillbilly Jim with a black undershirt, Jimmy Hart with a pink megaphone, Kamala with an alternate paint job, Haku as 'King Haku', Rick Rude with green tights and unproduced bendie figures of the British Bulldogs among others. To the left shown is a photographed prototype of Mean Gene inside the wrestling ring with an audio tape. No mic is in his hand and much smaller body, unlike the released versions that includes a microphone (w/ or w/o wwf logo) with a larger body. Photographed prototype versions of George Steele with painted on chest hair, as well as a Roddy Piper figure with a panther shirt are rumored to have actually been produced. LJN also produced a kid size WrestleMania Championship Belt. The packaging for the title belt featured pictures of unproduced large size "Wrestling Superstars Muscle Grip" action figures of Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage complete with title belts. There were also Canadian release 2 pack "Value Packs" which contained a totally random assortment of any 2 figures generally from (but not limited to) the first 3 series of the line. 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 [1]. Photographs of the wrestlers appeared on the backs of the black Series 6 Superstars '89 cards and they were mentioned in various ads by a company called The Wrestling Ring contained in 1989 issues of Pro Wrestling Illustrated and their various publications, but photographs of the actual figures have never been seen. An 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. The 1st design of the figure was a re-molded body of Jimmy Snuka. There were 2 prominent misspellings on the red stickers affixed to the figures' packaging. Vince McMahon's name was spelled "Vince McMann" and Bret Hart's was spelled "Brett Hart." Neither were ever corrected. 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. [edit] Imitations and commemorations[edit] World Championship WrestlingIn the mid-'90s, World Championship Wrestling released several "Collectible Wrestlers" through OSFTM that closely resemble the WWF LJN Series. These were made of hard rubber but only standing at 6 or 7" tall. The figures included the following: Later series still resembled the original OSFTM & LJN figures but were more articulate and consisted of different sizes and features [2]. [edit] WWE Classic SuperstarsThe LJN style made a return of sorts, when Jakks Pacific released an LJN-styled Undertaker in series 13 of its WWE Classic Superstar line. Steve Austin14, The Rock15, Shawn Michaels16, Triple H17, Ric Flair18, Mankind19, John Cena20, Rey Mysterio21, Eddie Guerrero22, Rob Van Dam23, Trish Stratus24, Jeff Hardy25, Matt Hardy26 have also been produced, along with upcoming repaint of Rey Mysterio in the final Classic Superstars Series 28. There is no LJN Classic Superstar in Series 27. Jakks had previously re-released the Sling 'Em-Fling 'Em Ring as the Monster Ring in the mid to late '90s. [edit] External links |
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