1990s Wrestling Figures LJN Website

Was it the site that had a picture of LJN Savage, Koko and Hogan under the picture you had written something like "the three tenors"? Used to have it in my favorites if that was the one.

I can't say I remember it, but I had and helped run yet another similar-sounding site. I can definitely appreciate your history, love for the hobby, etc. and would love to view the page if I could =/

If you can recall the name or web address of it, MAYBE we can get lucky and find it by searching the Wayback Machine, a website that shows you glimpses of what old websites used to look like years prior. Could be very cool for a trip down memory lane

Actually the 'Three Tenors' was from AFACT -- Action Figures and Collectible Toys. They're still around to this day. I still have the site archive saved from the 90s.

Thanks guys - sorry for the absence - work commitments. I just found the site !!!!!!!!! but have to go out now (its evening in Aust).
Will update with info tomorrow.
"Actually the 'Three Tenors' was from AFACT -- Action Figures and Collectible Toys. They're still around to this day. I still have the site archive saved from the 90s."
That's sounds right I think I purchased stuff from them.
Will be in touch soon!

The History of LJN Figures (Part 1 - from 1997 presented unedited and unrevised!)

A WALK THROUGH THE PLASTIC FOREST

The history of LJN figures through 1984-1989 mirrors the expansion and contraction of the WWF at that period of time. Professional Wrestling was introduced and accepted into homes around the world through extensive marketing and positioning of a product range that provided hours of enjoyment for kids and is now enjoying a healthy collector interest.


The first series of LJN figures was released in 1984 and these dolls commanded significant amounts of shelf space due to their size of 8-10 inches and the large blue blister cards. These Wrestling Superstars were produced by LJN toys and were made of an extremely durable type of plastic, that ensured that they would stand up to the backyard bodyslams and suplexes of young wrestling promoters. Original advertising suggested that you could bend 'em and twist'em but it would have taken the mythical strength of Hulk Hogan himself to accomplish this. Instead they were very, very sturdy figures and a more than adequate foreign object for hitting your opponent on the head. Even the paint used was durable although it wore significantly on high impact areas such as knees, butts, scalps and foreheads.

The original series saw the release of Hulk Hogan with heavyweight belt, Big John Studd, The Iron Shiek, Andre the Giant and Jimmy Snuka. The remainder of the first series consisted of Hillbilly Jim with hat, Junkyard Dog with a collar and chain and Roddy Piper with kilt followed quickly by Nikolai Volkoff with his hat. These latter four illustrate the importance of the snappy fashion accessory to the modern wrestler. Thus the set was complete. Five faces and four heels ready to do your bidding.

Of these pioneers some figures are better crafted than others. The Iron Shiek, Jimmy Snuka and particulary Nikolai Volkoff register the best likeness. Hillbilly Jim is a horrible hunk of plastic, stolid and immovable. Some critics have said that given the man from Mudlick, Kentucky's in the ring performance this was indeed the most accurate figure of the entire series. Andre the Giant sported a poorly crafted, spindly physique with the long hair that was so often a target of Studd and Ken Patera. It stands significantly taller than the other figures although getting it to stand by itself was no easy task. This problem was shared by Snuka whose bare feet provided too little contact to hold up his weight resulting in his leopard skin trunks being prone to losing chips of paint, Studd, whose massive thighs unbalanced him and Hogan himself. Hogan's overly generous head of hair was one of the contact points which probably made this figure the only in history to mirror ravages of male pattern baldness. In addition given boisterous play, Hogan, Studd and Andre's trunks often looked like the trio had had a heavy night at the all you can eat bean and taco restaurant.

The Junkyard Dog's grizzled countenance was well captured and it was a solid chunk of plastic. It and Volkoff stood their ground the best. JYD's chain was easily removed however, although the collar remains intact on most figures today. Rowdy Roddy Piper was a fairly unremarkable figure which suffered from a poor facial likeness. However it has resulted in the most sought after and valuable wrestling figure in existence: The "Panther Piper".

Initial promotional photographs often feature the product in an formative prototype stage. Various changes occur before mass production begins, generally a change of paint mix or a slight reshaping. In early photos Hillbilly was featured in a black shirt, JYD with chain but without collar and Piper in Hotrod shirt with brown boots. Piper was also featured with the famous panther shirt with brown boots. These led to a number of variations existing. The Hillbilly with black shirt seems to have never been produced but JYD featured a silver chain and a much rarer red chain. Studd features a variation on the customary brown-blonde hair which instead has brown-green or "khaki" hair. Roddy Piper was mass produced in the Hotrod shirt with red boots. A very rare variation on this sees Piper in the Hotrod shirt but with earth-brown boots. However the "Piper Panther" is the rarest of all LJN figures. I have had contact with very reputable and knowledgeable collectors who assure me that the figure exists as I had doubted its existence. It is sometimes described as the "Tiger Piper" but I believe the correct description would be that of the panther, a snarling head of which takes up a large portion of his t-shirt. You could name your price if you had one. (See WWF Magazine, Dec/Jan 1985/86 p. 33, p. 64 & p. 65 for photos of above-mentioned figures.)
It should be noted that if a photograph of a prototype was taken, then that figure must have existed. A certain number would have been produced, and are then generally given to employees; hence the "moon" Hasbro Kamala and Rhythm and Blues Hasbro's. So that may be the origin of the "Panther Piper" and a black shirt Hillbilly may be out there too.

The first series was also supplemented by the huge WWF ring. It consisted of a moulded plastic base, removable ring posts, 12 turnbuckles, and a set of 3 ring ropes; jingoistic red, white and blue sure to cause the Shiek and Volkoff to shudder. It was about 19 inches square and could be garnished by the rarer cage attachment. The ring included four rectangular stickers on each side of the base and the WWF logo in the centre of the ring. The ropes were prone to stretching hence the comparative rarity of intact rings today.

Hence the game began.

The History of LJN Figures (Part 3 - from 1997 presented unedited and unrevised!)

It was the 1986 selection that saw the expansion into new wrestlers as well as the distinctive managers and tag-team sets. I don't know the schedule of release throughout the year but I assume that they were not dumped on the market at the same time.The singles' wrestlers consisted Andre The Giant, Bruno Sammartino, Corporal Kirchner, Magnificent Muraco, George The Animal, Jessie The Body Ventura, Randy Savage, Ricky Steamboat, Special Delivery Jones, Terry Funk and Tito Santana.

This series saw marked improvements in the sculpture of the figures, resulting in greater likeness with the wrestlers portrayed. The sheer volume of the 1986 series meant any youngster could now amass a considerable roster of talent; complete with managers. Using packaging information, it would seem the first lot of figures releases were the more popular figures.

Andre the Giant was re-sculptured, and now modelled short hair and a more realistic physique; although it still did not stand successfully. Tito Santana was caught with a grimace and in purple trunks and I believe was marketed with a belt as the Intercontinental Champion. This figure differed from some packaging material, which saw Chico captured with a squat physique closer to that of Bruno Sammartino and an even more painful face that denoted a man of about 50 years of age. The more svelte Tito was released and rightfully so.

George the Animal was released without the coloured chest hair and instead his chunky body contained moulded plastic hair which appeared as bumpy, painful in-grown lumps. The very popular Ricky the Dragon Steamboat was accorded a close likeness with long black tights that differed from the red tights under black trunks pictured on some packaging material.

The relatively recent signing of the extremely charismatic Macho-Man Randy Savage was quickly captured in plastic form, and competes with Hillbilly Jim, the 1984 Andre and Paul Orndorff as the ugliest figure. Savage started a trend in posing with his sunglasses but was given a chunky, barrell-like body that only closely resembled his own. Perhaps Titan and LJN were in a hurry to launch this figure on to the market as he had become Intercontinental champion, and as a heel with The Lovely Miss Elizabeth enjoyed huge fan popularity.

Two figures from this series were marketed with obvious and clear variations. The great Jesse the Body Ventura and Corporal Kirchner. Jesse was produced in ring attire rather than the outlandish costumes that he wore ringside. He came with bandana, sunglasses, (following his once-off partner Savage's lead), and psychedelic pink tights. On packaging he is pictured with blonde hair and a brown moustache but without the white flecks on his tights. Production saw a blonde hair Jesse and a rarer brown hair Jesse, this brown matching his moustache. The flecks were present on both figures.

Kirchner was produced as three figures; one with moulded stubble, one with a full beard and one with a clean-shaven face. Other than that the figures appear identical. This is the only figure to show differing moods; the sleepy a.m Kirchner before shave, outdoors-man with the beard and nightclub Kirchner shaved and ready to go. Whereas the Hogan figure with play could actually go bald, Kirchner could grow hair right before your eyes; well almost. The stubble version is most common, with the bare-faced and bearded version much rarer.

A further four figures were released of slightly less popular wrestlers. As Bruno Sammartino had rejoined the active roster he was celebrated by a thickset, chunky lifelike figure that sported cauliflower ears and broken nose. The Magnificent Don Muraco was captured with a whimsical half-smile on his dial and a raised eyebrow. His black T-shirt struggles to contain those huge shoulders. It's a pity he wasn't sculptured in his Hawaiian singlet so that those veined shoulders could have been exposed to the promoters at home. However, if you look closely, the T-shirt does have stretch marks over the shoulders; a fair compromise. This is one of the better sculptured early figures.

One of the more surprising releases is that of the popular jobber Special Delivery Jones. His first incantation saw his smiling visage bound by an Hawaiian headband, but he was garbed in his unspectacular Red shirt. This is quite a large figure when compared with others but I still wonder how many times he was squashed by plastic King Kong Bundy in bedrooms the world over. S.D. was later released with his updated Hawaiian shirt but I believe this was most likely in 1987; although it is still credited as a 1986 figure. The only real jobber to be celebrated in plastic form gets two distinct accurate portrayals. A true testament to his popularity.

The last of the foursome has to be recognised as one of the greatest figures ever released on to the unsuspecting toy market. The snarling, tobacco spitting, middle-aged and mad Terrible Texan, Terry Funk. Funk was the only of the 11 figures of this series to come with personalised accessories and he had two; his trademark cowboy hat, and the double-cross branding iron. The only thing he was missing was the poncho. Plastic Funk sported a malevolent brooding face, green chaps and a fairly nondescript physique. By the time the figure had had a decent run on the market he and his brother Dory Jnr. had departed the WWF. I'm always surprised by the reported value of this figure as I feel that in years to come this will become one of the most sought after of the LJN series. Funk was one of the most evil of the WWF characters and has continued to build his legend over time. Plastic Funk is the figure of this series.

So including the second Andre (who was now becoming heel Andre) and the second Steele (who was well and truly face George) there were now 25 distinct figures and 26 if you count the Hawaiian S.D., who was still just S.D.

Fun read

No, the OP is Australian, our previous mod Stomwijf is Dutch.

Enjoyed reading those.
was your mind blown when you found out that bulldogs came on individual cards?