The Fate of Jakks & TNA

I've been thinking a lot about this as of late. IMO, The TNA will have a lot of new faces at first and then will slowly start to turn into re-paints and the occasional new face (just what happens). I think only TNA fans will buy a lot of the line. I thinkt he demand for TNA will be nowhere near the demand for their WWE figures. I mean let's face it, WWE is a household name, TNA isn't. For the person looking for a wrestling gift for a wrestling fan, they will buy WWE 99 times out of 100.

With that said, Jakks' flagship line needed to have been their LOTR line. HOWEVER, we were told this line as a separate line might not even make it past LOTR 2. Future LOTR figures will be "prinkled" into the DI assortments a 1 LOTR per case. That right there concerned me.

The CS lien made Jakks money and open the gates to a fresh new market of revenue. Jakks needed to do the same with the LOTR line and they are not. I think Jakks thought they'd be hitting it big when they signed on with TNA and just shortly thereafter, Hulk Hogan signed on with TNA too.

Bottomline, I think Jakks are more focused with their UFC line than any wrestling line.

Around here the TNA line seems to be selling very well.

DI 1 at TRU sold out
Six Sides of Steel at TRU first shipment sold out
DI 1 at Target has all sold except for a lone Joe
DI 1 at another Target has all sold except for a lone Jarrett

All those sales have been within a weeks time so I would say the line is off to a good start. As for the future of the figures who knows. It would be nice if Jakks listened to what people want but I don't see it happening. I doubt they will ever make new molds other than the new deluxe one for the knockouts.

Actually they do care, but things are the way they are right now for reasons I can not say. I don't know all of them, but I do promotional videos for Jakks and am an intern at TNA so I know a little bit of what's going on, but I don't believe it's my right to say. And no I'm not going to tell you if you PM me.

I'm sick and tired of seeing people on here complaining and complaining over the same things...just be appreciative that we are getting decent TNA figures. And the reason not all the parts and scale are accurate is because they can't afford new molds right now. I'm tired of having to repeat myself because you guys complain so much you ignore the facts. Just be patient, yes it's taking a while and I understand, but everything will be just fine. Just be patient. Sheesh.

Are you ing kidding me?

The Tall Kicker mold has been out since like DA Series 5. As far as the rest of their issues, they have nothing to do with "not having the money to get new molds." Here's an idea. Create a product that is actually worth spending money on, and I'd bet those problems would go away.

For years now, Jakks has played this little game of showing off great prototypes, with detail and good painting and correct parts (most of which are parts they have been using for years) yet when the actual product comes out, it looks nothing like what it should have.

You show a prototype with tall kickers? Give the actual figure tall kickers. I actually have to give some props to them for showing the IMPACT 2 AJ Styles with short kickers, since that is what the product actually includes.

How about that lovely detail on Sting's tights in IMPACT 1? Man, I sure do love paying 10 dollars so that I can go back and add 7 white lines onto a red square because it advertised that way. How about that sweet flannel jacket Mick was wearing at every Toy Show and in the protos? Yeah, that plastic replacement sure makes it worth every penny, right?

You want to know why so many people were quick to turn on Jakks and accept Mattel? Because when I look at a proto for an Elite Jericho or Kane or ing Hornswoggle, I know I'm going to get exactly that. I have confidence in the product to the point where I could pre-order something and not have to worry about if it will be decent or not.

The last decent thing Jakks has created in the last few years has been Internet Exclusives, which is just disgusting. The only figures you will put real detail and effort into are the ones that are limited supply? That's just sad.

I don't buy it. But don't tell myself, and other potential customers that have voiced opinions about the deception behind the product from Jakks to just "be patient", when these issues have been going on for the last few years. Even the UFC line is suffering the same results, with logos and tattoos being shown in prototype images, and yet are no where to be found on the actual product.

It would be like buying a CD from Best Buy, and it not having all the songs it should. The press release for the CD says that it should have 12 songs, the back listing says that it should have 12 songs, and yet the CD only has 8 songs on it.

Paying customers have a right to complain. If there are legitimate reasons as to why they are doing what they're doing, and just told us what they were, maybe we'd be more sympathetic and understanding. But they don't do that, whenever we complain they just blow it off. If they don't have the funds or interest in the TNA or LOTR to make it as good as they possibly can, than they should've never signed with TNA.

And to the OP, I'm really glad you made this thread, because you pretty much summed up exactly how I feel, and I know if I made this thread I would have gotten the biggest flamefest in history, lol.

I called it in the other thread too. I said that the LOTR will be dead before the end of this year, and the TNA line will probably last till maybe sometime early next year. I have a feeling Mattel is going to DESTROY Jakks for this years holiday season, and that will probably be the final blow.

I wish Jakks never started making Deluxe Aggression/Impact figures...imo the quality has gone down since then.

I bet the only reason they're making those other lines is because they still have a sh*t load of unused parts that they just want to get rid of. So many bad business decisions have put them where they are now.

Great point, I cannot fathom why a company would choose quantity, knowing a limited budget exists, over quality. As a result, the budget is spread thin and the product(s) quality is compromised. In short, it does make sense to focus on your core lines especially when the TNA wrestling brand is, from a business perspective, in its infancy. On a side note, Jakks' idea to create their own Superstarz of Wrestling line (generic figures) is ridiculous. I hope the idea is/was canned.

Everyone knows my position regarding the Jakks-TNA product. In my opinion, the decadence of the Jakks wrestling product began with Jeremy's promotion and continued with Enrique leaving to take a position with Mattel.

I support Jakks canceling the LOTR line and packing future LOTR figures with the TNA DI line. In my opinion, the LOTR line (due to its limitations on contracts) will not attract a broad customer base. The overall demand for a character such as Terry Taylor, Jim Cornette, etc. is not high. LOTR is a niche product and should be treated like one.

Cobra, you are correct regarding the behavior of MBG regarding this issue. I would not tolerate unprofessionalism, such as this, in or out of the workplace. An employee should promote the vision and mission of the company they are employed with not indirectly bastardize it.