RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by RedDevil on May 12, 2020 20:22:46 GMT -5
For several hours today, I believed the line was returning. It was such a happy time. From the MajorWF podcast tweet? Luckily for me I saw the “it’s not the Retro figures” follow-up tweet before I saw that first one, otherwise I would’ve been right there with you First time I’ve seen a podcast turn heel
|
|
RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by RedDevil on May 11, 2020 16:39:13 GMT -5
Amazing that this all seems to have happened so quickly - Sting was obviously a major part of the relaunch of the line and was - I think - still apart of the line when the Axxess reveals happened last month, so this seems to show that there’s a communications problem between WWE and Mattel concerning the expiry dates of legends contract, which I know is something people have asked about before - from this, it seems like there’s almost zero communication between the companies on expiry dates.
I suspect legends contracts are different from the talent contracts that the released talent were under - maybe the 90 day no-compete extends the terms of things like merchandising rights, hence the Edgeheads still being on the table? (Can’t be bothered to do maths with the dates on that one.)
|
|
RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by RedDevil on May 11, 2020 13:35:08 GMT -5
On the Masters topic, Steve had provided this bit of information in the Q&A thread: Excellent. Glad to hear more things are in the planning stages. Let it be known that I'm on board for almost any and all non-wrestling wrestler lines. I know you can't give sales info or plans or anything like that away at this point so I won't ask, but would it be safe to say that there's a good possibility that we may see more than the three already announced waves of MOTWWEU? The WWE/MOTU figures are selling GREAT!!!! We’ll show new figs during our “SDCC” timed reveals. So if we need the Masters line to end before the Retros return, then we’re probably waiting a while yet. But, again, we’ve been told that the two lines aren’t connected, so... If the Masters line is doing so well at Walmart, then I’d like to investigate why that is: have Walmart been better at getting the waves on the pegs for people to buy (I think they even sold them online as well?), meaning that getting these isn’t the headache that it was with the Retros? Have far fewer numbers been produced meaning that Walmart and Mattel don’t need as many to be sold to profit and there are fewer to peg-warm after the fans of the line have got their figures? Does the higher price mean the margin on these is bigger (despite the cost of the accessories) so “selling great” just means in purely $ terms? Or is it simply that the Masters are just a more popular line than the Retros with a wider customer reach? In other news, it seems from the fall-out of the Legends situation that our collective dreams of a Surfer Sting Retro is even further away...
|
|
RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by RedDevil on May 10, 2020 15:10:10 GMT -5
We need the He-Man line to end to have any hope at retros returning and I have no clue how that line is doing. I’ve never even seen them in a store. At the Mattel booth at SDCC they were denying that the Masters line had killed the Retros (though Bill sort of contradicted that during a Q&A video IIRC), making it sound like the two lines could’ve existed side-by-side if the major retailers had continued supporting the Retros, but logically you’d have to think there are limits to how much can be done at one time - if not the resources Mattel have in terms of designers, production schedule, logistics, marketing focus, etc, then the peg-space that the two major US retailers have to offer. I can accept that Walmart didn’t drop the Retros explicitly for the Masters line, but I’m not sure if they could’ve taken-on the Masters line if they had been dedicated to carrying another year of the Retros - as empty as their WWE pegs usually are, there’s only so much space. But we don’t know the inside details on that, and we likely won’t ever be told, at least not whilst Mattel still have the licence. I don’t hear much about the Masters line, but that’s probably just the circles I run-in online are very much focused on the Retros and the other main lines. For all I know there could be big fan groups for the Masters that I just haven’t reached-out to - honestly they deserve much love; the figures do look great if you’re into that type of figure. Had I been a year or two older then I’d probably have been much more interested in them, but I definitely think Mattel did a good job with them, especially from the Remco angle. I could see why they wanted to try them with the new Heman material apparently being in the works, but I don’t know what the status of that is now. I know there were to be three lines of Masters, and that AFA has given an answer a while back suggesting more will follow. I understand the first two waves and the ring have been out in the wild, but I don’t know if Walmart have been stocking them as terribly as they did the Retros. I need to ask you guys in the US: -Have your Walmarts gotten all of the Masters releases so far (the first two waves and the ring)? -Are they stocking as many as they did of the Retros series 7? -Do they appear to be selling well, or are they warming? -Have you been aware of much excitement online and momentum with them? I guess if the Masters line is a tremendous success then that would reflect worse on the Retros, but I still don’t think it’s as simple as cancel the Masters = Retros return. Mattel have shown a depth of ingenuity in creating side-lines for WWE, so if the Masters ends then they’re just as likely to create a dinosaur WWE line or something (I’m assuming they haven’t tried that already 😆). Maybe if the return of the Legends at Target is a success then they might be more willing to try again with the Retros, I don’t know. I think I have a little more faith in Target than Walmart given the history of the line, but neither is a great confidence-booster at this stage. As ever, we need TRU back to mix things-up a bit...
|
|
RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by RedDevil on May 3, 2020 16:25:08 GMT -5
Now that Hulk is back in the line, I think retros will be back next year. I wouldn't be surprised if they were an exclusive somewhere since that seems to be all the rage lately. There just seems to be too much demand for them not to exist somehow. If Hulk Hogan somehow plays a part in bringing the Retros back then I’ll happily restore him back to being my favourite ever wrestler as he briefly was before 7-year-old me discovered Bret Hart If the Retros do come back then they could well be exclusive to one of the main stores as I’m not optimistic enough to believe that they’d both take the line back on. I had hoped that Ringside might’ve been able to take the line on as exclusive, but I think we’re beyond that now - it’s been known that the line was going on hiatus in July and since then we’ve had RingsideFest, Toy Fair, and Axxess without a sound of the Retros being mentioned at all; I’d have thought if Ringside or someone outside of Walmart or Target wanted the line then it would’ve been announced by now. SDCC was my last hope of seeing them return in 2021, but we’ll see what actually happens with all that. We’ve heard from Mattel that the Retros ended because the retailers weren’t supporting the line any more, and I asked in the Q&A thread a while ago that for a line to exist now in the post-TRU world that at least one of Walmart or Target must support it, so we’re waiting for one of them to jump back in with them. Perhaps our best hope is that Mattel find some new way to pitch the figures to Walmart/Target to get them interested again - maybe BHG738’s suggestion in the question on Greg Valentine could be something to explore: create a two-pack of a particular guy like Greg, or biker shorts Bulldog, or USA Luger, or Lawler circa ‘94, with a basic figure and a matching Retro for $20 or something might be a sneaky way to bring the Retro figure-style back - not ideal obviously, but better than nothing. Or maybe there’s something simpler that they could change in light of how Walmart and Target have treated the line before - like for example switching to a run of 8 figures per wave rather than 4, meaning that each packing case only has one of each figure rather than two, decreasing the chance of less popular (current) guys warming whilst allowing Walmart to see more cases being demanded on their spreadsheets, or whatever. Might keep the figures moving more briskly, I don’t know. Of course it would screw the collectors as each guy from the Golden Era/New Generation/Attitude Eras would have fewer figures produced overall and inevitably end-up on eBay, but, again, better than nothing - that’s the reality for collectors of the Elites already. In the meantime all we can do is hope that whatever strategy Mattel are developing to interest Walmart and Target works-out...
|
|
RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by RedDevil on Apr 29, 2020 19:18:11 GMT -5
TBF to Mattel, there’s a very long list of Macho Man looks that are valid for consideration, as can be seen in the Elite line that seems to have had a million Macho Man figures but still there is a list of looks for them to work-through. I agree that a Macho King in long tights was the obvious missing piece from the Hasbros, but I thought that maybe they were reluctant to release a King without the crown and sceptre given the Retros didn’t have accessories at the time, otherwise I expect that could’ve been quite an easy release - the Stone Cold repainted with a new Savage head maybe, in line with the series 2 and 3 Hasbros? Maybe painted in the WM7 attire where (IIRC) he didn’t have the crown and sceptre? That said, an nWo version is in my view a valid option for a Retro, it’s just the timing that was questionable since a WWF era Macho seemed more obvious at the time. Maybe if they had gone with a Wolfpac attire to match the Sting that came-out in the next series then it might’ve gone down better since the red and black would’ve popped better than the series 5 choice did, I don’t know. But regardless, the figure still is one of the biggest sellers in the line it seems, so nobody can suggest it was a unsuccessful choice of attire given the appeal of the great man. I think the green trunks Macho was a choice for series 9 (rumoured to have been a late replacement figure) largely based on Ryder picking-up the prototype Hasbro - that put that version of Savage high in the consciousness of the Hasbro geeks I think; certainly in my case I was grateful to Mattel for paying homage to that prototype figure, that’s the type of decision that encouraged me that someone with knowledge of the Hasbros was at the controls, and that seems to have been Action Figure Attack - who knows how things would’ve gone for the line if he’d started with Mattel earlier. Some of the Savages I’d love to see in the Retros when they return (...) would include: -WrestleMania 7 Macho King -WrestleMania 8 black and gold -Ultimate Maniacs (I think Mattel have released an Elite like this?) -Mega Powers (now that Hogan is back) -Wolfpac red and black -Slim Jim (since he was always sold-out everyday when I tried to buy him at SDCC last summer ) ...and about a dozen more if I gave it any more thought at all
|
|
RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by RedDevil on Apr 25, 2020 18:57:35 GMT -5
Action Figure Attack has provided a really interesting answer in his Q&A thread; given that they don’t want follow-up replies and discussions in that thread, then I thought I’d move it here if anyone interested in the Retros missed it: Hi Steve - we all know that commentators and managers were a huge missing piece of the 90s Hasbro line. Mattel have/has access to some of these related names yet they never made it to the retro line. Was there any reasoning behind that? Secondly in addition is any consideration being given to trying to get something out for them before contracts may be up in any potential retro come back? Third and finally now you’ve got Greg Valentine tied up maybe we could see that long lost figure get a retro release finally??? I’d love an elite/retro double pack!!! A classic manager almost happened. It would have been exclusive to TRU. Nowhere close to a physical toy but it was in pencil. Then lots of things happened with the line which made it unable to come to fruition. So bottom line, I’m aware and I want the same thing you guys do. Reason it didn’t happen before then...while I wasn’t around during the creation of the line, I’d imagine tooling. Getting the most bang for the tooling dollars invested by creating some sharable bodies and mangers could have been limiting considering they’d have to be spread out a bit more in retail waves. Talent contracts expiring won’t help expedite a potential return of the line unfortunately. We’ll just have to work with who is available to us whenever it can return. Sure, I don’t see why a R&B Greg couldn’t be a possible option. First I’ve heard of any of this. Seems the death of TRU screwed the Retros as well as the other lines The classic manager must’ve been Paul Bearer, Bobby Heenan or Jimmy Hart, right? Harvey Wippleman, Cornette and Mr Fuji aren’t available to Mattel I don’t think. Sensational Sherri or Miss Elizabeth maybe since Mattel would’ve needed to design a fresh figure from scratch anyway so that could’ve been a great opportunity to create a female figure in that style at last. If Steve hadn’t said it was a classic manager then my first guess would’ve been a modern Heyman to match the series 1 Brock - maybe Paul E. Dangerously to bridge the gap between the eras? Anyway, thanks to Action Figure Attack for the answer, and BHG738 for asking the question
|
|
RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by RedDevil on Apr 25, 2020 18:24:34 GMT -5
And the Curt Hawkins Retro moves even further away I know we all wanted legends first and foremost in the line, but there are a few current guys I wish we would’ve seen get the Retro treatment eventually; Hawkins, Slater and Rusev were very high-up on my list of current Retros I wanted. Agreed. I really liked the 2 current and 2 legends mix per line. I was hoping for guys like Hawkins, Miz, Ziggler, Gallows and Anderson and Harper and Rowan to complete the Wyatt family. I know many people didn’t care about the current guys figures, but personally I enjoyed most of them. Agreed - I respected them splitting the line-ups between current guys and legends despite personally obviously favouring the legends, but I understood they were trying to hook kids to the line as well in order to give it the best chance of success so I was on board with that objective. Of course the line never had a chance of hooking anyone not in love with the Hasbros given the gaps between releases and the impossibility of actually finding the figures in stores, but that’s another matter. I’d have really liked to have seen those current guys released in the line; Miz and Ziggler at least must’ve been close to being included.
|
|
RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by RedDevil on Apr 15, 2020 18:01:15 GMT -5
And the Curt Hawkins Retro moves even further away I know we all wanted legends first and foremost in the line, but there are a few current guys I wish we would’ve seen get the Retro treatment eventually; Hawkins, Slater and Rusev were very high-up on my list of current Retros I wanted.
|
|
RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by RedDevil on Apr 10, 2020 18:31:59 GMT -5
I think it's fair to say that when Mattel announced the line going into "hiatus", they meant for years.... if it ever does return, I doubt it will happen before 2022 2022 would be my earliest guess, though I wouldn’t put money on it. From the information we’ve had from Mattel (Action Figure Attack especially), it seems like to get the Retros out in 2021 would require an announcement at SDCC this year (if it happens). I’d think that unlikely; next year might be more realistic, meaning a 2022 relaunch. From what we’ve heard in general, it seems the line was dropped due to Target and Walmart not supporting it any more. Since it hasn’t been made a Ringside exclusive (officially, obviously it was basically that all along since Target and Walmart only bothered stocking one or two waves in stores) then I’m guessing the sales there weren’t strong enough for Ringside to take it on full-time, or to meet the numbers Mattel need to commission the full line on their own, I don’t know. But it seems like we’re waiting for one of Target or Walmart to accept them again before the line returns, so maybe 2022 would still be too early. If the survival of any return of the line rests on Walmart or Target, then I think we the fans really need to focus on buying them at whichever of those stores carries series 11. Even if Ringside get the waves in before them, we’d have to get them at Walmart/Target in the hope that those sales will be enough for them to continue the line. I’m including myself in this as a UK collector - both the online retailers here posted their support right after the hiatus was announced at SDCC 2019, but it made no difference. Both sold-out of the stock they received of series 9 and 10 immediately, but despite that they didn’t get their full orders of those series. Their demand couldn’t save the line, not even combined with Ringside selling-out of JYD, Diesel and others couldn’t save the line. Once Walmart and Target were out, the line was dead. So if series 11 makes it back with either or both Walmart/Target, then I will try to buy the figures from them, either direct on their websites if they are that cooperative (they probably won’t be, as we all know how they treat WWE stuff), or through contacts in the US. Despite it costing me a lot more with customs and shipping, I want the line to continue so that’s what I think would be the best thing I could do to help the line. The money I spent on them with the UK websites didn’t have the same value as if I’d bought them at Walmart. I did buy some extras of series 7 at Target last summer whilst visiting the US, but that was right before SDCC so it was already too late. If we want the line to survive a relaunch, we HAVE to concentrate buying them at Walmart/Target, including peg-warmers like the endless supplies of series 3 or the extra orders of series 7. It’s too late for that now of course, but if series 11 or 12 starts warming then we have to start buying them all up. Start customising or something
|
|
RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by RedDevil on Apr 7, 2020 4:59:29 GMT -5
Amazing! Thanks for sharing
|
|
RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by RedDevil on Apr 3, 2020 18:36:23 GMT -5
Davey really needs a bunch more figures! I want them all! I drew-up lists of a few guys that I wanted to see made in the Retro line (yes, I’m that dull) and how their figures could look including for Davey Boy, and I was surprised I ended-up with as many as at least 5 different looks available to Mattel (so no Bulldogs due to no Dynamite legends contract; no early-singles white tights due to the Hasbro, etc.). In chronological order I had something like: 1. Biker shorts, unbraided long-hair (early ‘95) 2. Allied Powers trunks, unbraided long-hair (spring ‘95) 3. Camp Cornette, long-tights e.g. WM12 or IYH vs. Bret, short-hair (late-95/96) 4. Hart Foundation, trunks and leather HF vest/jacket, short-hair (‘97) 5. Hardcore Champion, jeans, shirt-hair (‘99/2000) Basically I could’ve justified Retros for each of those, and that was me being quite strict on only one look per era. It amazed me looking at how many looks he packed into basically 5 years, never mind the variety of attire he wore during that time. He always looked great (even the last run worked for the attitude he was going for). Definitely a guy who deserves more representation simply because of how awesome his figures can look. I love seeing this thread for exactly that reason.
|
|
RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by RedDevil on Apr 2, 2020 19:34:34 GMT -5
I had a blast watching the video this morning. I personally liked the presentation way better this way. Agreed - I felt the whole video reveal was a very successful way to do things; certainly preferable to waiting to see social-media photos of displays on some show-floor on social media. Not everything can be revealed at panels like at SDCC, so videos like these feel like the next best thing. Sure Ryder was over-the-top and Hawkins maybe a little wooden to start with, but the fun of it all really added in my view, particularly with such a strong line-up of reveals. Hell, I’m only really interested in Retros but even I was in awe of the sheer quality of the work on display
|
|
RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by RedDevil on Mar 29, 2020 14:19:44 GMT -5
I love seeing that they were experimenting with things like this; can’t see it having made a good figure, but I love that they tried it.
Wonder if they had other concepts like this that didn’t make it into the line. If so then I hope we get to find-out more at some point.
Thanks for sharing!
|
|
RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by RedDevil on Mar 28, 2020 16:06:29 GMT -5
Retros: All of them. Absolutely all of them. Minimum of two each - one to open and another to keep MOC. Also recently started buying more of them as I’ve accepted that at some point I will start customising again as I did with the Hasbros 20 years ago(!!). I will go above and beyond to get these guys - overpaying on UK sites, importing from the US with inflated postage and ludicrous customs charges; whatever’s necessary. Just bring them back Ultimates: I tried to collect these from the start as I want to support Mattel as they do brilliant work (for the most part) but didn’t want to start collecting a line that was already 10 years old and impossible to catch-up on. Now it seems like UK high street stores are giving-up on Ultimates, so I doubt I’ll go much further - the harder it gets to collect, the less worth it it is. Elites/Basics: I don’t collect Elites, except those that I have already collected No Basics either, but that’s a rule I’ve stuck to so far. The Elites I have bought are probably only about 5 or 6 at this point, less than 10 certainly. I know they’re great, but it’s just too hard to collect them at this point. If I see something special in front of me then sure, but otherwise no. If I did make a decision to collect some special Mattel guys then it would be the Hart Foundation - but the UK won’t get Anvil, the DM Bret and Legends Bulldog are crazy expensive, as I think is the Legends Pillman, and of course we all know the line-up will never be complete, so I’ve not pulled the trigger on that yet; but that’s still a firm “maybe”
|
|
RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by RedDevil on Mar 27, 2020 15:56:21 GMT -5
Hope some Anvils somehow accidentally end-up in UK stores as well
|
|
RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by RedDevil on Mar 23, 2020 17:15:46 GMT -5
T&M have announced on Twitter that they’re closing their online store as well as their warehouse until this is all over.
|
|
RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by RedDevil on Mar 18, 2020 13:05:30 GMT -5
Honky is £10 on the their website as well; I think I saw that it was £6 online earlier in the week so it looks like they’re just raised it since.
|
|
RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by RedDevil on Mar 18, 2020 12:58:10 GMT -5
Do you know if all the remaining Retro stock has made it out into the wild, or might we still see some of the later waves appear at discounters or online, similar to when waves 5 and 6 suddenly appeared again at Ringside and the UK etailers?
|
|
RedDevil
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 8, 2017 18:43:00 GMT -5
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by RedDevil on Mar 9, 2020 14:19:46 GMT -5
Good luck man, I was looking for one last month and had a browse on eBay and the price has seriously sky rocketed. I don’t think I’ve ever actually found anything I've been looking for at the Entertainer, but I’ll try to stop by my local one this week just in case before resorting to overpaying on eBay. Annoyed with myself that I missed that they got the Andre, but I only by chance saw that ASDA had the Hogan so I just need to start paying attention 😆 Thanks again.
|
|