New RVDs

To be fair, the flag was used LONG LONG LONG before WWII and was never originally intended to stand for what it would later in history. But if it upsets a large group of people, Mattel has the right to pull it.

For what it's worth I am a pretty thick skinned, mixed race, old school liberal and I see both sides of the spectrum...some people in the modern era get way, way too bent out of shape over things that are laughable or totally without reason, be it a joke or an idea or a visual or whatever that is clearly in the realm of comedy, entertainment, art or commentary.

Others, when something is totally within reason in terms of being offensive (which, if you read any of the explanations about it, this symbol is) or unnecessary to the point that it crosses a line or would best be left in the past and not glorified, belly ache about cancel culture and how no one can do anything anymore without being called out unfairly.

The attire of a wrestler featuring a symbol offensive enough to a significant group of people isn't something any of us really need on our shelves. If this is released I personally would be fine with it because I think visuals can have reinventions and take on different contexts over time but I understand completely why it's bothersome to someone thinking about that symbol that caused hardship to their very recent ancestry suddenly being included on a mass produced action figure that will be bought and sold. It's not just a simple design in this case, there is something to it for many people and there are for sure folks who need to grow up and get over it being canceled if this is the case. It isn't 'cancel culture' if the offense is warranted to the degree that this seems to be.

It's nice to see the folks in this thread who are looking at the explanation as to why this symbol brings up comparisons to a swastika and being accepting and understanding of that. I don't want to speak for him but I'm sure RVD who seems like a pretty reasonable guy might even think the same thing and wouldn't care about this not being released based on that.

Why hurt anybody over an action figure attire? Is it really necessary? Just let it go if it goes.


For the record this is also like pretty far towards the end of the list for me in attires of RVDs that definitely need the figure treatment so it isn't that big of a loss as is.

I can't really blame Mattel for pulling the figure. There are lots of other, more iconic RVD attires to choose from. It is what it is.

World News summary:

LeBron James feels the need to constantly remind us about American Slavery and why it was wrong all while supporting shoe brands manufactured in China that uses slave labor. The same Chinese that find the rising sun design offensive and produce Mattel figures for cheap labor costs.

Meanwhile Americans, Brits, Canadians & Aussies are just sitting here wanting a damn toy made but somehow will always be seen as "the bad guys"

Any update on the next asteroid?

some of the idiots on this site were praising communism earlier, does it really surprise you they're acting so personally offended by this?

I think you are confusing people stating they understand why people are upset with imagery that is offensive to them and understanding why Mattel would pull the figure with us being personally offended by it. I don’t know if anyone was offended by the gear when he wore it at Wrestlemania 23, and if people were or were not shouldn’t matter here. It’s Mattel’s call. The backlash they could face if non fans see it on the shelf and relate it to racist imagery isn’t worth it to them and it shouldn’t be.

It also seems like you were confused about my sarcastic “praise” of communism.

We’ll you know some of us actually bothered to read and learn and decided we didn’t want a symbol some cultures see on the same level as the swastika in our toy collection, but I know that doesn’t fit the narrative of “hurt durr mean old cancel culture is stealing my action figure.”
And for the record, I’m not “offended” by the figure now. But I get why morally and business wise, Mattel wouldn’t want to release it.

Imperial Japan killed 30 million people throughout China, Korea and SEAsia during WWII. That is the equivalent of 6 Holocausts. Marvel has Nazi characters with swastikas on their costumes that will never have a figure made, and this shouldnt be an exception.

Anyone else see the irony in this when the inevitable happens and the "offended" ends up selling these on the Bay after they're stolen?