The Golden Gimmick
Mid-Carder
...but brother, I am bad. And they know I’m bad.
Joined on: Jul 25, 2003 22:13:48 GMT -5
Posts: 322
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Post by The Golden Gimmick on Sept 11, 2011 21:57:10 GMT -5
Being a long-time wrestling fan, I have my fair share of action figures. Whether it was my first LJN hand-me-downs, dragging my mom to KB toys for Hasbros or absolutely loving Jakk's BCAs, TTLs, RAs and DAs, WWF/WWE toys have been second nature to me. So when Mattel started their era as WWE makers, I was reluctant to jump on board. Just as they came out, my first purchase was an Elite 1 CM Punk. My initial thoughts on the fig were that his knee pads were too stiff and I didn't like how I couldn't match him with any of my RA or DAs, as the Mattel line is too small. After trying out the Elite side, I picked up a Basic Shawn Michaels, and all I could think was...Wow...what garbage. Not to offend anyone who likes the basic line, but I'm ALL about playability/posing, and the basic line offers an absolute ZERO possibility for either of those things. Just terrible and certainly not worth my money. After the basic debacle, I grabbed an Elite 1 Undertaker and MVP. I was impressed with them, but a few things about the Taker struck me as odd, as his coat was WAY too stiff and his face just had the blankest expression. Don't get me wrong, A neutral expression is nice for a fig, because figs where his tongue is hanging out are ridiculous, but the Elite 1 face is just...nothing. So! I tell you all that to tell you this, those purchases were quite a while ago, and I haven't brushed up on my collection...until now! I was rummaging through some old things and rekindled my love for my collection. Upon so, I went out to my local stores and picked up various offerings and what nots. One thing that drives me nuts about these mattels are the stiff jackets for elites! I picked up Elite 8 Edge, 8 Regal and Elite 9 Miz and there is no room for posing them with their coats on. Easy answer to this would be to just take the coat off, but I like the overall package of the look, it's a shame there's no room for arm movement. I've noticed the Defining Moments figs have cloth outfits, which is nice, as I've picked up the DM 1 Macho Man, and I've gotta tell you, that figure is damn good! Probably one of my favorite Mattel figures. But the Elite coat issue is a little discouraging. Another hang up I have is the size of Eddie Guerrero's Undisputed belt from Legends 6. I put that belt side by side with my Elite 9 Miz's U.S. title, and the U.S. title is hands down better. It's bigger, it's got the shiny gold coat on it...it's AWESOME. (had to do that.) But the Undisputed belt...seems too small to me. I like the look of the Mattel belts over the Jakks belts though. The strap has an excellent look, and I give Mattel kudos for that. Aside from my nit picks, I am growing to love the Mattel Elites, Legends and Defining Moments figs. Solid bodies, great playability and an overall top notch look. I've thrown in a few pics for your viewing pleasure, to take away from the eyesore that is my super long text rambles. Cheers!
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wrestlingfan2011
Main Eventer
Lucky lucky
Joined on: Apr 5, 2011 13:21:19 GMT -5
Posts: 2,465
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Post by wrestlingfan2011 on Sept 11, 2011 22:03:10 GMT -5
pretty awesome
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Post by Chewdeezy on Sept 11, 2011 22:10:13 GMT -5
Great setup and pictures!
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Post by BoneCrunchingCustoms on Sept 11, 2011 22:11:53 GMT -5
those pics are amazing and your set up is so nice!!!
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TheEdgeHead41
Main Eventer
#1 Mysterio Fan!
Joined on: Dec 2, 2009 15:20:46 GMT -5
Posts: 2,339
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Post by TheEdgeHead41 on Sept 11, 2011 22:14:59 GMT -5
Those are some sweet pics!
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Post by Bandalero on Sept 11, 2011 22:20:58 GMT -5
first of all, thanks for sharing your honest opinions on the Mattel line, it has really come along way in a short period of time. From Micro's recent review, WM 27 Elite Undertaker's jacket is a lot more flexible than his E1 jacket was, and the plastic for the knee pads are more pliable in newer Elites (even though I dislike the design alot). It's ballsy to say all that, but really it's a constructive assessment. These are probably the best wrestling action figures, as they should be, but there's always room for improvement.
As for the pics - fantastic! I love that arena setup!
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Deleted
Joined on: May 17, 2024 12:43:19 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2011 22:21:43 GMT -5
Cool set-up man!
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Post by TheChamp420 on Sept 11, 2011 22:24:00 GMT -5
Wow, your arena is awesome!!!
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Post by dsvoboda41 on Sept 11, 2011 23:09:01 GMT -5
Very nice!.. I like the setup as well.. ttl playset brings back nice memories.
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The Golden Gimmick
Mid-Carder
...but brother, I am bad. And they know I’m bad.
Joined on: Jul 25, 2003 22:13:48 GMT -5
Posts: 322
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Post by The Golden Gimmick on Sept 11, 2011 23:48:48 GMT -5
Thanks on the set up everyone. Cleaned out my garage today and figured, bah, what the hell! Let's set up my arena. I may even get back into my pic fed mode...so watch out!
As far as the flexibility on the newer pads, I have noticed that. Although, I've just straight taken my Elite 8 Edge's armpads off. While they look great, being form fitted and all, I just can't move his arms any. It's a shame.
Mattel is truly ushering in a great movement of figures, minor nay saying aside.
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Post by danmorganbrand on Sept 12, 2011 0:51:23 GMT -5
That is one heck of arena! Wish I had that much space to do something as awesome as that!
Mattel have come a far way, can't wait to see what they've got in store for us over the few years....Can't wait for Build A Figure nxt year, but I have a feeling it's gonna be a complete flop.
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Deleted
Joined on: May 17, 2024 12:43:20 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2011 2:35:21 GMT -5
Great pics. Quite jealous of the setup. I remember seeing Mattel the first day they hit stores and my reaction was there way too small. But over time figures like the Macho Man won me over.
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dizcoduck
Main Eventer
WF 10 Year Member
Joined on: Jan 3, 2010 23:42:47 GMT -5
Posts: 1,866
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Post by dizcoduck on Sept 12, 2011 2:45:58 GMT -5
Nice set-up man, wish I had the space to do something similar.
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Micro
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 12, 2009 10:44:17 GMT -5
Posts: 1,230
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Post by Micro on Sept 12, 2011 4:33:03 GMT -5
It's cool to read the insights from a long-time collector! I do remember the old LJN's but I really started collecting in 2009 when Jakks was losing the WWE license and putting out lackluster products at the end. So, for me, Mattels have been amazing from the start. However, over time, I can see how early Mattel figures still had a lot of room for improvement. I agree about those rigid coats, pads, and blank headscans in the beginning. Mattel has improved a lot, though, and their Legends and DM figures are really good. Welcome back to collecting!
Also, I love your Raw is War arena setup, it's badass! If you do decide to make a new picture fed, let us know, I'd love to see it. I'm having fun putting together my own fed with my Elite figures!
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ufcwwefanatic
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Feb 21, 2011 12:22:23 GMT -5
Posts: 155
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Post by ufcwwefanatic on Sept 12, 2011 10:21:29 GMT -5
Awesome Setup/Figures/Pictures
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zombiesnake
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Feb 23, 2011 17:15:34 GMT -5
Posts: 271
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Post by zombiesnake on Sept 12, 2011 10:35:49 GMT -5
I agree with a lot of the OP. I've been a long time collector starting back with LJN's Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. Collected through Hasbro and their crazy action features to Jakks Bone Crunching Action and was very excited when they introduced the Real Scan technology.
When Mattel originally got the license I thought the figures look decent, but were too out of scale with Jakks and I didn't want to start my collection all over again. For a while that was fine and I left wrestling figures behind, until earlier this year when I found DM Macho Man at Toys R Us. That figure was FAR too cool to pass up. Getting that figure was a gateway into the Mattel figures.
While some of the figures having blank expressions is a bit of a let down, I'll trade that for the silly and over the top expressions that some others, especially Jakks figures had. I'm not a big fan of the super hard rubber clothes that some of the figures come with (Undertaker, Miz, Edge) Mattel makes up for that with a great level of detail that was previously unheard of.
While I had originally not planned on getting into Mattel and having to redo my entire collection, now there's no way I can't go back and upgrade my collection to the far better quality Mattel figures. It certainly doesn't hurt that Mattel has already done the big 3 figures that I wanted and never got from Jakks (Ricky Steamboat, Macho Man, Kerry Von Erich).
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EMW Figure Shelf
Main Eventer
HAHAHAHA no.
Joined on: Feb 2, 2010 18:38:54 GMT -5
Posts: 1,633
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Post by EMW Figure Shelf on Sept 12, 2011 12:57:12 GMT -5
similar opinions to me man!!!! great thoughts. that arena is soooooooooooooo damn good!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by PJ on Sept 12, 2011 13:23:56 GMT -5
I'm not offeneded or anything like that, but I do have a question. Scale aside, because from a business standpoint from Mattel their figures shouldn't have been in scale with Jakks seeing they want people to buy their versions and not pass on them because they have a Jakks version. How can the Basics be garbage when you said you loved Jakks BCA, TTL & RA's? The Basics are more articulated than all 3 of those lines.
Tthe RA's are the most articulated of the 3 Jakks lines (BCA/TTL/RA) with 18 POA (consisting of: Ball-jointed head, Ball-jointed shoulders, cut upper arms, elbows, wrists, hands, waist cut, T-crotch hips, knees and ankle hinges)
Basics have 20 POA consisting of the same POA as RA's plus cut calves (top of the boots) And the Basics can lock their hands together in front of their body anlong with get a figures head between their legs for a very basic/Raw Pedagree- something RA's can't do.
So I'm just wondering how you could say you loved those 3 Jakks lines and call the Basics garbage? Stating they weren't articulated enough for posing/play when they can do more than those 3 Jakks lines. I'm just wondering if you had really given them a chance or were just against change in the beginning?
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ekegs219
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Jul 11, 2008 20:35:07 GMT -5
Posts: 137
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Post by ekegs219 on Sept 12, 2011 13:25:20 GMT -5
Great pics and setup! My brother has one similar but he puts his TV above the TTL Stage and plays Titantron videos as the guys come out.
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D-Bry
Mid-Carder
Cavs 2013
Joined on: Jun 25, 2010 18:57:24 GMT -5
Posts: 488
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Post by D-Bry on Sept 12, 2011 14:23:31 GMT -5
I'm not offeneded or anything like that, but I do have a question. Scale aside, because from a business standpoint from Mattel their figures shouldn't have been in scale with Jakks seeing they want people to buy their versions and not pass on them because they have a Jakks version. How can the Basics be garbage when you said you loved Jakks BCA, TTL & RA's? The Basics are more articulated than all 3 of those lines. Tthe RA's are the most articulated of the 3 Jakks lines (BCA/TTL/RA) with 18 POA (consisting of: Ball-jointed head, Ball-jointed shoulders, cut upper arms, elbows, wrists, hands, waist cut, T-crotch hips, knees and ankle hinges) Basics have 20 POA consisting of the same POA as RA's plus cut calves (top of the boots) And the Basics can lock their hands together in front of their body anlong with get a figures head between their legs for a very basic/Raw Pedagree- something RA's can't do. So I'm just wondering how you could say you loved those 3 Jakks lines and call the Basics garbage? Stating they weren't articulated enough for posing/play when they can do more than those 3 Jakks lines. I'm just wondering if you had really given them a chance or were just against change in the beginning? Just what i was thinking, not calling the guy out, but i actually am starting to prefer the basic now to elites and the basic playability is FAR superior than that of RA and what not.
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