Rebuilding my collection again....for the Third time

happy SNAKE Saturday y'all!




Coliseum Collection Jake "The Snake" Roberts

slithering into the reviews today is the snake man himself, Jake Roberts! as with Rick, this figure also came with three interchangeable heads that i think look amazing! the first headsculpt portrays Jake in a devious, serious expression and the likeness to jake is uncanny. the second headsculpt seems to portray Jake with his eyebrow raised, also in a sort of devious thinking expression. the third headsculpt portrays Jake in a happy, smiling expression and mattel did a great job on the sculpting and paint apps to all three of the included heads they look exactly like jake and make posing the figure really fun! they gave Jake a new torso for the Ultimate line and it looks and fits his frame great, mattel also included his body hair paint apps and white wrist tape. Jake comes to the ring wearing his iconic teal green tights with purple snakes winding up his legs and his trademark snakeskin boots. for accessories, jake comes with a softgoods bag for his pet/sidekick Damien who is also included in the pack. this time Damien was produced in a light rubber material and was given a wire core so you can actually pose the snake and wrap him around characters!
all in all, i originally was not planning on buying this coliseum collection pack as i really dont have a huge draw to either character. both guys popularity eras were before my active watching so i missed out on the real time feud and booking of the storylines. despite this, i think the figures actually turned out to be really cool and i had a great time posing them around. the new headsculpts all look amazing and mattel is really getting closer and closer to photorealism levels of detail on these characters.

coming in today with a WORD LIFE wednesday! 😂

okay i guess its more of a Wrestlemania BAF Wednesday as we're gonna dig into the new Wrestlemania BAF Nicholas figure wave 😬

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Wrestlemania Nicholas BAF
John Cena

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shuffling in today is Joohhhnnnnnnnn CEEEEEEEEEEEEEEnnnnnnnnnaaaaaaa! This John seems to celebrate his look from Wrestlemania 28 when he faced off against the Rock for their """""ONCE in a lifetime""""" matchup. collectors who have been in the game for awhile may already have this look in their roster as we previously saw this green shirted Cena in elite form. this new release sees him sporting a different headsculpt and updated joints. As mentioned, this John comes to the ring wearing his green "Cenation Rise Above Hate" look on a softgoods shirt. the art in the logo looks really crisp and the logo was applied to the shirt really nicely, it all seems pretty high quality. John was also given his signature hat and dog tags for entrance gears aswell, its nothing we havent seen before, just reall nice clean logos and the fitment on the figure looks great. i will sat that the headsculpt choice could've been better? mattel has used this headsculpt for earlier years of cena and to see them use it for a 2012 era Cena...i dunno i just think a better choice couldve been made here? especially given the ultimate outcome of the match, maybe a more serious faced Cena wouldve been more appropriate? either way, underneath the softgoods shirt, they decided to give John the heavyweight torso choice instead of the John Cena torso and arms---once again a choice they tend to make for Cena's from the earlier years, but here we see it used on a 2012 era Cena and im just not sure their logic on parts choice at this juncture. Cena also comes with his classic sculpted wrist bands and arm band. the wrist bands on his right arm feature the ' u Cant See Me' logo and his left wrists feature the Hustle Loyalty Respect hand sign logo. his armband features 'CENATION' in a bold white logo. mattel included a small paint app on his waist for the waist band of his drawers peeking out and then John was given the V2 Cena jorts leg mold which work out great but the color of his jorts seems to be one of those 'ultra blue' hues we've seen on figures like AJ styles.
all in all this was a cool Cena for me to add to my little ever growing Cena collection. i like the green attire and honestly the Wrestlemania match against the Rock was a pretty hype moment. however, i think both the wwe could have booked that storyline better and mattel could have cooked this figure better because both the body recipe and headsculpt choice for this John dont quite seem like the best choice given their options, IMO. its still really cool to get the updated version of this look with the newest mattel wwe figure technology.

Man if we were grading collections based on time put in explaining each piece than i think you would win hands down

Coming in today with a STRATOSPHERE Saturday!!!



Wrestlemania Nicholas BAF
Trish Stratus

Stratusfying in today is the Icon Trish Stratus!! so i was a tiny bit miffed about seeing this figure in the line up because it wasnt but two years ago that i bought the original figure for my collection and posted to this thread 😭 either way this figure does actually improve upon the original by adding a ton of extra new little details. the first update to this figure is the new truefx paint apps to the headsculpt. i had some issues finding my original figure for photo comparisons, it must really be buried in the bottom of my figure drawer and im not up for that mission today, i really need to re-organize but im also really running out of space. i will say that the new paint apps to the face make this headsculpt really come to life and i can absolutely see a reasonable likeness to Trish in the sculpting, especially from the side profile angles. as we remember this figure was hailing from wrestlemania XXVII when she teamed with JOMO and Snooki and returned as a brunette. her attire is an all black look featureing silver stud detailing throughout the top and pants. the front of her top features a pattern of studs on the front and some studded text reading 'Brunette Mafia' on the back. my honest thoughts is that the upper torso sculpting on this figure really is what keeps this figure from being something more. i just feel like the torso sculpting on this figure is unusually thin and doesnt really capture trish's build all that well. Trish was also sporting a black armband on her right forearm for the match and there are major differences in this compared to the original figure. the original figure features a solid black armband with what looks like frilled edges and this updated figure features silver sparkle details and a solid edge. This newer figure also features updated interchangeable pointing hands which are amazing and make posing this figure so much better. Trish was sporting some fingerless style gloves with neat knuckle holes and mattel included all the details on both hands, HOWEVER on the pointing hands they did not include the skin color paint apps to the thumbs ☹️ the silver stud detailing continues around her waist and on her back pockets. this new figure adds the 'stratosphere' logo to her back pocket and the outside of her kickpads. the black kickpads are also back articulation and do not swivel or pivot side to side.
all in all i will say that mattel did a great job with the updates to this figure; the truefx paint apps to the face help bring out the likeness in the sculpting and the newly added details to the figure are really cool and were a pleasant surprise.




Wrestlemania Nicholas BAF

and finally with the addition of the new Trish figure to the collection, we have finally completed the BAF of the wave--Nicholas.

-sigh-

so maybe some uncommon opinions coming up, but honest ones.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE WAVE
so when this BAF wave was announced and the figures were shown i was a mix of let down/mildly happy. let down because i had ZERO interest in ANY of the figures in this wave including the BAF and mildly happy because i could save some money and space by not buying these figures 🤷‍♂️😂 the rock figure was done in an attire i hate, the cena figure i wasnt super hype on but was probably gonna pick up just for the timeline, i really wasnt going to go out of my way to get the Pat figure and i had no interest in the Trish figure as i had mentioned, i just bought the original figure a few years ago and didnt feel like i needed an updated version of that just yet. and finally, as a classic era/attitude era/ruthless aggression era collector i kinda really dont have any desire to own a figure of some random kid that was pulled into a one-off storyline.
the truth is that after seeing a few reviews for the rock figure, despite being in a wrong attire for mattels intended purpose AND in an attire i personally hate i think the headsculpt on the figure won me over and i decided i wanted to pick it up. then i decided i might as well get the cena and the dominoes continued to fall and i thought because it was a BAF wave i might as well buy the Pat figure. i resisted as much as i possibly could in buying the Trish figure but in order to satisfy the slice of completionist in me i scooped up her figure for a good price on RSC. all in all truthfully i was a 1/4 excited for this wave. i liked the green and white packaging logos but beyond that none of the figures were really worth buying for my collecting purposes. i really was just bored and as soon as you buy one figure with BAF parts you might as well just tumble in and get the rest to complete the prize.
i think thus far this has been the least exciting and enticing BAF wave for a collector like me 👎 but the silver lining is that mattel has announced some new BAF waves that i genuinely want all 4 figures AND the resulting BAF.

happy figure friday y'all!

havent actively gone on any toy hunts lately but ive gotten some things in the mail 👀 i actually did just come back from a grocery trip to my local target and out of curiosity i peeked in the figure aisle and they were STOCKED on the legends 21 kindof funny because target had said on the website that my store was "no longer carrying this product line" sooo not sure what the deal was there but i think i saw other members commenting they saw the same message for their targets aswell. they also had the wrestlemania BAF wave on the pegs and a beth phoenix and shawn michaels greatest hits figure WHICH I ALMOST BOUGHT because i said to myself if i see another one of those in the wild imma buy it but i for some reason just didnt want to pay full price at the moment.

ANYWAYS

i think im gonna start diving into said Legends Series 21 💪



Legends 21 Andre the Giant

Towering in today is the 8th wonder of the world; ANDRE THE GIANT! im a big fan of Andre and im always excited to add his figures to my collection so i was happy to see him pop up in this new legends series. i got lucky and Target hooked your boi up with a chase version of the figure sporting the red trunks. the standard edition figure is representing wrestlemania 2 in the yellow, but in my limited research i think Andre wore red in a number of matches including some against Stan Hansen and Harley Race. This Andre still comes with the black softgoods t shirt with the Wrestlemania 2 logo on it-the shirt looks great and fits the figure really well. the headsculpt on this figure i believe is one that we saw previously with his ultimate edition figure. mattel did a great job on the sculpts and paint apps on my figure, but i dunno-they made his teeth this noticeably off white almost yellow tinted color and it just seems weird to me 😂 like c'mon give the Boss some pearly whites! this figure comes with multiple interchangeable hands including fisted hands, traditional 'chokeslam' hands and the signature Andre hands and they are all appropriately sized for the 8th wonder. nothing really seems to have changed with his body recipe, as nothing really needed to be changed it suits him fine. as mentioned this figure is sporting the red trunks which i do kinda prefer over the yellow but ill get that figure eventually. finishing up this figure are some tall red boots with white laces and black soles.
all in all this was a great figure! im always happy to see Andre in the line and ill buy any of his figures now that weve gotten some good true fx and interchangeable head/hand technology. it was cool to see a trunk Andre in the elite line we've gotten the singlet look so much

i appreciate the kind words my dude!!! 🤝

when i really started traveling for work i got excited at the prospect of figure hunts in cities and states ive never been to before; i mean i knew waht to expect at my local wal marts but i worked from texas all the way to michigan through the central region and i absolutely saw a pattern and just was let down after let down after let down. the MNW line will re-invogorate my hopeful spirit but still expecting to have to go to the secondary market for some or maybe all?

the andre head is really good; GREAT even but i just dont know whats up with the teeth.

coming in today with a mouth of the south saturday 📢📢⭐⭐



Legends 21 Jimmy Hart

shouting and strutting into the reviews today is the southern gentleman, promoter extraordinaire The Mouth of the South, Jimmy Hart! this jimmy comes to us in a look he sported during his duration as manager of Hulk Hogan in WcW. the headsculpt seems to be the same headsculpt we've seen on the previous Jimmy Hart Baf but the true fx was applied expertly to my figure and it looks absolutely AMAZING. this headsculpt portrays Jimmy with his classic pompadour hairstyle and mustace and soul patch combo, the likeness is uncanny and to be honest this figure really touches on photorealism levels. Jimmy does come to the ring sporting some classic ray ban style sunglasses with white frames and teeny tiny black pinstripe detail on the frames-the glasses look great and fit the figure perfectly. also to quickly touch on entrance gear, this Jimmy has his trademark megaphone accessory; this time all done up in the red and yellow, brother and the logo of being the 'Hulk-a-phone'. this figure portrays Jimmy just going all out dripping himself in the Hulkster's signature red and yellow- he is rocking a yellow tuxedo with red undershirt, red cummerbund and yellow spangled tie. his tuxedo features numerous details throughout including white/creme(?) stars and red flicker detailing on both the jacket and the pants. he also reps some really cool airbrush detailing on his jacket and pants featuring some art of himself and the megaphone on his right jacket side , the left features some graffiti style 'HULK' logo and the back a massive facial portrait of the hulkster and the classic WCW logo. his pants continue the theme by featuring more graffiti font 'Hulkster' logos going down each leg. finishing up the figure are some red suited shoes.
all in all i am ALL FOR seeing more manager figures in the elite line. Paul Bearer was amazing, this Jimmy Hart figure was amazing, im super hyped for Capt. Lou and i hope mattel keeps bringing the fire. i will say though, unless you have a WCW display or even the appropriate era Hulkster to pose with, i dont know that this figure is absulutely necessary in the collection because Jimmy really did coordinate his looks to each client, so this look is pretty exclusively Hogan. still though, myself being a collector that checks both of those boxes i was happy to get this figure.

id typically spend anywhere from 3 days to a week at each location. id have literally nothing else to do after working and eating than to just cruise around for figure hunts. id hit 3-4 wal marts at each location because normally they wouldnt be but a 20 minute drive away from each other. id walk in, see the same AEW figures hanging--ortiz, santana, anna jay, brian cage, mjf, shida, EVERY SINGLE ONE. i dont collect basics or battlepacks so i cant really speak to the stocking on those but the pegs were always full up for those lines. i did see superstars figures on the pegs consistently but i also do not collect those so i didnt really pay attention to the characters available. as a kid i grew up with BCAs and TTLs and RA figures that only had like 5-7 POA so i gravitate to the elite and ultimate lines that utilize more POA. the elite figures available at the walmarts was a little bit more all over the place, but i genuinely never found anything i was REALLY hunting for. i remember this was the Ruthless Aggression line era and i was actively hunting for Eric Bischoff, Kevin Nash, Torrie Wilson, The Rock--while i was on the road i just wasnt seeing these figures and ended up buying them online, it wasnt until WEEKS later did i start seeing them pop up in the stores i was traveling to. there were floods of roman reigns, jey uso top picks, E97 Rhonda, E98 farooq asad, E99 Zelina, E100 becky, cena and rey, there was definitely a pattern of what was being left behind.

Wrapping up our reviews of the Legends 21 series today




Legends 21 Hulk Hogan

Axe-Bombing in today is the ever present all immortal, Hulk Hogan! Mattel has really been hitting all those timeline looks for the hulkster as he makes an appearance in the legends line this time portrayed from all the way back in 1978/1979! This Hulkster comes to us with a brand new headsculpt as we see a young, arrogant looking hulk hogan and i think the headsculpt does a great job at capturing his likeness. he was given a full head of that bleach blonde hair, long sideburns and that trademark handlebar mustache. the attire gets really interesting for this figure as in his very early days the hulkster came to the ring with a cape instead of boas and this figure comes with a REALLY well done softgoods cape. the outside of the cape is a light gold color and the inside a light purple and the quality of the cape is SO well done im very impressed, the material is very thick, heavy and majestic. this hulk hogan figure also comes to the ring in his rare white singlet attire and mattel simply sculpted a singlet on the hogan torso, which honestly works out great and looks fine to me. the rest of the figure is classic hogan recipe, except this time its white trunks, kneepads and boots.
all in all i really liked this figure to fill out the hogan time line. im not a rabid hulkamaniac, but to be honest im glad mattel is releasing all these looks while they can, with the available tech. i dont know that i have many if any figures i can pose this figure with, but it still looks really freaking rad

Is the Hogan torso new? Looks similar to the red singlet Kama that came out a few years ago.