LJN - Loving the big guys (and girl): 1985 and beyond!

I've seen some samples and this book is looking great! Sadly I think with the latest Hasbro book issues, not many are going to be too excited around here. Good luck though, man!

I wish they made a "Leaping" Lanny Poffo/Genius LJN figure

"Oddly enough in 1998 at a "Value Village" store my grandmother found a majority of the 1988 releases. " Hi Jason, do you remember who any of these were?

"As he was being interviewed backstage by Mean Gene Okerlund, and with the legendary Andre the Giant showering him in champagne, Hulk Hogan celebrated his triumph in capturing the World Heavyweight Championship just 6 weeks after his debut. But even with proud parents Ruth and Peter beaming, the wrestling world couldn’t help but wonder if their new patriotic champion might just be another flash in the pan?
The Incredible Hulk Hogan, 303 pounds of thick golden muscle and thin blonde hair started his WWF title reign by travelling to Japan to compete in New Japan Pro Wrestling where he was a bonafide legend. Back on home soil in mid-February the champ made his first title defense against The Masked Superstar. But heel talent was lining up to tackle Hogan, and over the ensuing months he successfully defended against the The Iron Sheik, Paul Orndorff, Big John Studd, David Schultz and Greg Valentine. In July he saw off Jesse Ventura and later settled into a longer run with top contender Studd, punctuated by challenges from Orndorff, The Sheik and Brutus Beefcake.
But Hogan’s star was shining even brighter out of the ring, where as part of the Rock’n’Wrestling Connection with Cyndi Lauper, he was becoming the most recognised ‘sports’ star in the world. But one Rowdy man was peeved at Hogan’s status and took every opportunity to bring the star down. Despite limited title shots, which normally ended without a clear pinfall, Roddy Piper had clearly set his sights on beating the man he despised most - the champion of the world.
In February 1985 at the War to Settle The Score Hogan faced down the crazed Scotsman. Hulk was being beaten senseless by Piper and Orndorff after a Wonderful interfering kneedrop from the top rope. Cyndi Lauper tried in vain to help her friend but Piper and Orndorff threatened the tiny songstress. Mr T, sitting ringside, entered the fray to try and even the score. And then, after a wild melee had cleared the ring of the bad guys, a new alliance was cast in blood.
The feud climaxed as the main event of Wrestlemania with Hogan and T facing Piper and Orndorff; with Jimmy Snuka and Bob Orton as cornermen. The match was a seesaw encounter with Piper and T belting their hate into each other. Hogan got on top of the maniacal Piper but was continually troubled by Orndorff who pushed the Hulkster to the limit. Piper felled Hogan with a chair, and back in the ring Hogan was double-teamed. Orndorff had Hogan tied and ready for a knockout blow, but the Ace missed with his loaded cast, ko’ed Wonderful and Hulk Hogan and Mr T won the day at wrestling’s Superbowl.
Over the next few months Hogan met Don Muraco in a series of tough encounters, as well as seeing off all of the major contenders in Orton, Studd, Sheik, Ken Patera, Beefcake, Valentine, Nikolai Volkoff, King Kong Bundy and of course Piper. Hogan even defended against now friend Paul Ordnorff, who again pushed the champ to his limit but shook the Hulkster’s hand after the bout.
A new posse of challengers soon emerged in the WWF. The brash Randy Savage started gunning for Hogan’s title; and it looked to the fans that The Macho Man might have the goods to make good on his threats. Savage’s manager Elizabeth taunted Hogan’s selective choice of opponents before a title bout against the lowly Rusty Brooks. This brought on punishing defences against Savage; who even stole Hulk’s belt after a count-out win at the end of 1985.
Early 1986 saw Hogan lucky to escape with his title when Terry Funk almost piledrove the champ into a 3-count. And then in February, following another defence against Muraco, Hogan was savagely attacked by Bundy. The bald behemoth delivered three Avalanches and two splashes to Hogan, the last onto Hogan’s back. The damage ‘sent’ the Champion to the hospital and he had to strap his damaged ribs for protection.
And so the score between the people’s champ and Heenan’s top goon could only be settled inside a steel cage at Wrestlemania 2! The match was a brutal encounter and Bundy went straight for Hogan’s damaged ribs, viciously choking the champ with the bandages and using them to choke Hogan. Hogan fought back but the weakened champ was unable to slam the bloodied big man. Bundy delivered the Avalanche, hit a big splash and was almost out of the cage when stopped by Hogan. Bundy hit another Avalanche, but now Hogan, drawing power from the fans, scoop-slammed the massive monster, who couldn’t recover in time to beat Hogan in exiting the cage.
Throughout 1986 Hogan added Adrian Adonis and Moondog Spot to the list of challengers that was headed by Bundy, Studd and Funk. But not even Hulkster himself could predict that the biggest threat to his title was yet to come, fuelled by the growing resentment lurking deep inside good friend and ally, Paul Orndorff."

It was Ax, Honkytonk, Duggan, Gang, Dibiase and Koko B. Ware (who I always thought was 1988 because he was in that Wrestling Ring ad).

My first LJN was Nikolai Volkoff. Got him at a store called Stedmans in Ontario, Canada.

My second one was Hulk Hogan, third was "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff, and fourth was Jesse "the Body" Ventura.

I also remember buying Randy Savage and Elizabeth brand new as well at the same time, I got a Ted Arcidi and Kamala brand new for Christmas one year, I got two referee's, George Steele, Capt. Lou Albano, "Big" John Studd, Jimmy Hart, Classy Freddie Blassie, Tito Santana, "Mean" Gene Okerlund, "Cowboy" Bob Orton and Slick all brand new from stores too.

The rest of my collection, which was Hart Foundation, British Bulldogs, Terry Funk, Corp. Kirchner, Magnificent Muraco, Bruno Sammartino, King Kong Bundy, Andre the Giant, Iron Sheik, Roddy Piper, Greg Valentine, Hillbilly Jim, Junkyard Dog, Ricky Steamboat, SD Jones, Harley Race, Hercules Hernandez, Ultimate Warrior, Hulk Hogan in the white shirt, and Rick Martel were all yard sale purchases.


Then in 1999 I sold that entire collection for just $80 because I figured they would be worth nothing because they were all beat up and played with. Boy did I make a huge blunder there. If I could go back in time to 1999 and tell my 18 year old self to keep these figures, that some of them would be worth hundreds alone! Oh well, live and learn.

To me, you were the first digging up stuff so I will credit you for my LJN knowledge. Big Brothers Toy Museum was a cool site with a lot of prototype shots but most LJNs were just from card backs and they never updated their site.
Bossman and Hacksaw accessories must have been before or after my time. LOL. It's crazy how toy dealing can beat out a part time job sometimes.



I could probably name all the LJNs I got in the order I got them. Stuff like that sticks with you. Sorry you sold the whole collection. A lot of us have probably made those mistakes. Mine was having a large amount of carded Hasbros in the late 90s and taking them off the cards. I don't know why either, I had the same figures loose already. I sold some painted LJNs on ebay over the last month and even those are getting crazy prices. Despite Hasbro getting all the love on here, I'm glad the market shows that LJNs are great.

I liked everyone one of them but my favorite pickups were the ones still in the original package from stores just outside the time period. Around 1991, my father got Bob Orton and Mr. Fuji somewhere separately, my grandmother got Jesse Ventura at a Rite Aid in PA (we are from MD). In the same place I found a Ted Arcidi in early 1992. At Toys R Us in late 1991, separate occasions I got Freddie Blassie and Mean Gene.