Val Venis Question

Kanenite
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Val Venis Question Sept 12, 2013 23:04:56 GMT -5

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Post by Kanenite on Sept 12, 2013 23:04:56 GMT -5

Did Jakks (or figure stores) ever find his name or character too offensive for figures or something along those lines?

I think he had at least 1 BCA, but I don't think he ever had a TTL figure, other than that RTC attire prototype, that ended up being replaced by another figure (I think Shane McMahon).

Also, he was a Internet Exclusive at one point in RA form. He was a regular on the roster, and pretty much a lower end Mid Carder at the time, why would he get an Internet Exclusive? Was it because that's the only way they could get him out there?

And what made me think of all this, was the fact I just seen a pic of some old RA 6 Pack in a thread that showed a bunch of Boxsets, and he is in it with his Ringside Exclusive Attire minus the logos, and on the box his name is spelled "Val Venus".

Eventually, they had a Classic Superstars Venis in 2008 I think, but why did he have so few figures? Is this all coincidence, or am I right in thinking Jakks or stores had a problem with either his name or gimmick? And if so, does anyone know how his Classic Superstars figure came out then?

Joe/Smurf WF Lord of the Board *WF 10 Year Member* Joined on: Dec 21, 2001 17:23:14 GMT -5 Posts: 26,280	Val Venis Question Sept 12, 2013 23:36:06 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Joe/Smurf on Sept 12, 2013 23:36:06 GMT -5 Coincidence. He got a few BCA figures when he was a big deal, but by the time they rolled on to TTLs and RAs, he was basically just on Sunday Night Heat duty. Same reason we don't have many Curt Hawkins figures now.

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Val Venis Question Sept 13, 2013 13:57:40 GMT -5

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Post by Next Manufactured’s Sweater on Sept 13, 2013 13:57:40 GMT -5

Sept 12, 2013 23:36:06 GMT -5 Joe/Smurf said:

Coincidence. He got a few BCA figures when he was a big deal, but by the time they rolled on to TTLs and RAs, he was basically just on Sunday Night Heat duty. Same reason we don't have many Curt Hawkins figures now.

There has to be more to it than that. Val was at his biggest point in late 1999, when he was feuding with Mankind and (kinda) The Rock. At that point, the first TTL sets were out, and figures based on No Mercy 1999 kinda time would've hit around summer 2000. Val was still relevant right through to WrestleMania X-Seven really, from the pornstar gimmick to the thing with Trish to the RTC. It's surprising that he didn't get at least a couple of TTL figures. When you look at the roster and the status of the guys at the time, I'd have expected a TTL of him with long hair, one with short hair in white trunks, and one RTC. It's strange that none of those came out, and that only the latter one was even planned. By the RA era, he was a non-entity apart from the Chief Morley thing.

Last Edit: Sept 13, 2013 13:58:25 GMT -5 by Next Manufactured’s Sweater

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Kanenite
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Val Venis Question Sept 13, 2013 15:51:59 GMT -5

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Post by Kanenite on Sept 13, 2013 15:51:59 GMT -5

There's the pic of the "Val Venus" figure. He has no "Venis" text on his attire, while everyone else has their logos.

**EDIT**
Nevermind, he could have his logo on the back. I was thinking he had some sort of logo on the front too like a "V" or something, but after looking, I don't think the Ringside one had front logos either. But still weird that it says "Venus".

Last Edit: Sept 13, 2013 15:55:32 GMT -5 by Kanenite

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Val Venis Question Sept 13, 2013 21:05:00 GMT -5

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Post by UNK on Sept 13, 2013 21:05:00 GMT -5

Coincidence seconded.
He got three figures in the height of his popularity, all three were BCA era. Summer 1998 thru Wrestlmania 1999 when he was feuding for Intercontinental champ. The Rock / Mankind feud was pretty short lived, after that he went for the European title and had a few other flare ups along the way.
I think as an active wrestler he got fair treatment, as far as figures go. I imagine stylizing his name "VAL VENUS" in that boxed set was evidence that the little I matters at least somewhat, but all things considered he wasn't ever a main eventer and wasn't the 'action figure' type. His fans were adults; the women that liked his grind and the men that liked his rhyme. I'm sure I'm not alone in that I wasn't dying to have his figures when I was a kid because he didn't change his ring gear much and why would I want practical dupes of one figure instead of a whole new character or attire. I think people were in a similar boat recently with Elite Mark Henry. Does his figure from two years ago need an update? Not really.
He never got the 1998 style pops after turning heel in 1999, and after all that he was definitely just a low / mid card guy.

Post by Kanenite on Sept 12, 2013 23:04:56 GMT -5

Post by Joe/Smurf on Sept 12, 2013 23:36:06 GMT -5

Post by Next Manufactured’s Sweater on Sept 13, 2013 13:57:40 GMT -5

Post by Kanenite on Sept 13, 2013 15:51:59 GMT -5

Post by UNK on Sept 13, 2013 21:05:00 GMT -5