Mattel retros vs the original Hasbro line?

They look nice next to the originals. I don't think they're as good overall. Plastic feels thinner, some parts are rubber, I will always prefer the style of Rudat/the original designers. But they're fun overall and I'll keep getting them. In glad they are continuing the line.

It's apples to oranges, but I think they're a really strong release that captures much of the charm and nostalgia of the original line. The sculpting is good, and the likenesses look a little more realistic to me while still capturing the cartooniness of the original line. Deco is more sparse than the Hasbros at the end of the line (but compare figures like Bam Bam and Adam Bomb to those earlier in the series and there's a pretty big disparity as well) and the plastic feels a little lighter. I think they did a much better job of selecting actions that at least logically match up with the wrestler.

I've been happy with the character selection overall. It's a nice mix of nostalgia and modern wrestlers. Overall I'm a big fan of the line and happy to see it having success. But I'm also not a completist. I buy the figures I like, and pass on the ones that don't interest me.

It's a different company, different designers, and nearly 30 years later. They match up well imo, but there are going to be differences. While they're playing to nostalgia, the line is going to be geared towards current wrestlers and a broad audience for the foreseeable future, and I think it's important to keep that in mind and have realistic expectations. I'm just hoping sales stay strong so we can get as many of these as possible.

They're are fine for what they are but, I prefer the Hasbro figures. I feel the Hasbro figures were more designed to the actual wrestler, the detail of the figures are better on the Hasbro's. My main problem with this line is that they have used similar body styles for wrestlers who are not similar. For instance, the jumper molds. Though I don't hate the jumper molds as much as others (I still say the worst figure mold made was by Hasbro - the Rude/Flair/123 Kid mold), the fact that they use the same mold for Sting/HHH/Daniel Bryan/Finn Balor. HHH and Sting were both taller and more muscular than Balor and Bryan but the figures show them as the same height and muscle definition, were as Hasbro varied the muscle definition and height (some times) to match the wrestler. My least favorite figure in this line is the Ultimate Warrior figure, no real definition to his figure, they basically took Cena's body bold and painted to look like Warrior, you can even see Cena's arm band mold on Warrior figure. Image of the Hasbro Warriors and Mattel Warrior below, showing that Hasbro had better detail to the figure. My hope is that in the future that they change this and that they make more of the wrestlers that Hasbro didn't make at the time, Diesel, King Mabel, Tugboat, Hart Foundation, Powers of Pain, Barbarian, Power & Glory, Hercules, Rhythm and Blues, etc.

On some like Kane, Mankind, and Warrior, it seems like they really should've added more detail, but figures like Roman, Brock, Stone Cold, and Rock are as good as they could be in Hasbro form.

I don't feel that they're as rock solid in the legs and torso as the Hasbro's, but the actions feel much less likely to break.

I’m also 36. The only toys I still have from my childhood are the WWF Hasbros. When eBay started out I rebuilt my collection so I have them all loose and mint and sold my played with ones. Those were the only toys I’ve purchased until last January when the Retros came out. I really think if Hasbro had the license all this time, this is how their figures would have looked in 2017-2018. We will never know that for sure but that’s what I tell myself and I think they look great next to my Hasbros on my shelves. While I have my issues and complaints about certain figures, overall I’m very happy with them and will buy each one as long as the spirit of the Hasbro line continues to be within the figures they make. I do like that they are making new actions and using old ones. I love that they make new and old wrestlers. I hope when the line is finally completed that a complete bridge was built to connect 1994 to 2017 with as little major holes as possible.

The Hasbros are way better quality and more detailed. However I love this line and will continue to buy them. But when they stand next to thoriginals they look different enough.

Same here with growing up with Hasbro as well, but side note. Dude, isn't it amazing that we grew up in the time of great toys? We had LJN WWF (and also LJN Thundercats if you were me haha) before that and Hasbro GI Joe and Hasbro Transformers? We were born at a time where we had all those great figures and toys.

Couldn’t have said it better

Tbf Hasbros Warriors are some of their BEST work while Mattels retro Warrior is easily their WORST.

I get doing it due to sales, but I wish Mattel veered from doing guys Hasbro did unless it's an alternate gimmick. Even Taker is too close to the original.