Wrestling Superstars

"Wrestling Superstars" was an action figure toyline based on the wrestlers of the WWF. They were made by the toy and video game company LJN from 1984 to 1989. The toys were made of solid rubber and were very accurate in appearance to their real life counterparts, however they did not have any articulation. The original 8" figures were the most successful series from the line but that success spawned other versions such as "Thumb Wrestlers" and "Bendies".

LJN closed it's toy division in 1989, cancelling the "Wrestling Superstars" series with it. The last 6 figures which were produced did manage to get released by Grand Toys of Canada. They were the distributor of the entire "Wrestling Superstars" series in Canada and are still a fairly large toy company to this day. Hasbro were awarded the license as the main WWF action figure producer the following year.

These figures have become quite collectible, partly due to wrestlings ongoing popularity and the 1980s nostalgia boom. Another reason is how hard it is to find them in good condition. The paint on the figures would easily come off during play leaving most opened figures (out of their package or card) in poor shape. The price for "loose" mint figures ranges from $10-$75. In poor condition most of the line isn't worth very much due to their great abundance. The figures that remain carded can command much higher prices though. In good condition an MOC (mint on card) figure can range from $20 or so for a Mean Gene Okerlund to $500-$800 or more for a Bret Hart. Other carded figures that can sell for hundreds are Warlord, Ultimate Warrior, Davey Boy Smith, Dynamite Kid, and the Hart Foundation tag-team box set.

8" Series

Each superstar in the 8" series was released with a unique biography card on the packaging and a small poster featuring an artists rendering of each individual superstar (until series 5 & 6 which used real life photography rather than the drawings).

Series 1

*André the Giant "(long haired version)"
*Big John Studd
*Hillbilly Jim "(with hat)"
*Hulk Hogan "(with black strapped title belt)"
*Iron Sheik "(varies with orange & yellow pant decoration versions)"
*Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka
*Junkyard Dog "(with dog collar and black, silver or red chains)"
*Nikolai Volkoff "(with hat)"
*"Rowdy" Roddy Piper "(with kilt - varies with red & brown painted boots versions)"

Series 2

*André the Giant "(short hair version)"
*Brutus Beefcake
*George "The Animal" Steele
*Greg "The Hammer" Valentine "(varies with light & dark blonde hair versions)"
*King Kong Bundy
*"Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff

Series 3

*Bobby "The Brain" Heenan "(varies with monogram & non-monogram versions)"
*Bruno Sammartino
*Captain Lou Albano "(varies with white & red lapel versions)"
*"Classy" Freddie Blassie "(with cane)"
*Corporal Kirchner "(varies with bearded, stubble & clean-shaven versions)"
*Davey Boy Smith
*Magnificent Muraco
*Dynamite Kid
*Jesse "The Body" Ventura "(varies with blonde & red haired versions)"
*Jimmy Hart "(varies with hearted & non-hearted megaphone versions)"
*Mr.Fuji "(with cane)"
*"Macho Man" Randy Savage
*"Mean" Gene Okerlund "(varies with WWF logo & non-WWF logo microphone versions)"
*Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
*S.D Jones "(varies with red & Hawaiian shirt versions)"
*Terry Funk "(with branding iron & hat)"
*Tito Santana "(purple trunks version)"

Series 4

*"Adorable" Adrain Adonis
*Billy Jack Haynes "(with hat)"
*Bret "The Hitman" Hart "(varies with pink & purple tights versions)"
*B. Brian Blair "(varies with tan & non-tan skin colour versions)"
*Cowboy Bob Orton "(with hat)"
*Elizabeth "(with gold or purple skirt)"
*King Harley Race "(with crown)"
*Hercules Hernandez
*Jake "The Snake" Roberts "(with Damien)"
*Jumping Jim Brunzell "(varies with tan & non-tan skin colour versions)"
*Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart "(varies with pink & purple tights versions)"
*Johnny V
*Ken Patera
*Kamala
*Koko B. Ware "(with Frankie)"
*Outback Jack "(with hat)"
*Ted Arcidi
*Vince McMahon

Series 5

*Ax
*Bam Bam Bigelow
*Hacksaw Jim Duggan "(with 2x4)"
*Honky Tonk Man "(with guitar)"
*Hulk Hogan "(shirt version - varies with white & red shirt, with black title belt)"
*One Man Gang
*Referee "(varies with blue & white shirt versions)"
*Rick Martel
*Slick "(with hat)"
*Ted DiBiase
*Tito Santana "(Strike Force trunks version)"

Series 6 - (Black Card Superstars 89)

*André the Giant "(black strap version)"
*Big Boss Man "(with nightstick)"
*Haku
*Rick Rude
*Ultimate Warrior
*Warlord

Series 6 - (Black Card Superstars 89 Re-Releases)
*Hulk Hogan "(shirt version - varies with white & red shirt, with black title belt)"
*Big John Studd
*Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake
*Bam Bam Bigelow
*Honky Tonk Man "(with guitar)"
*Jake "The Snake" Roberts "(with Damien)"
*Demolition Ax
*Randy "Macho Man" Savage
*Miss Elizabeth "(with gold or purple skirt)"
*Bret "Hitman" Hart
*Ted DiBiase

Tag Team Box Sets

*British Bulldogs "(with 2 brown strapped title belts)"
*Brutus Beefcake and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine "(with 2 brown strapped title belts)"
*Hart Foundation "(with 2 brown strapped title belts)"
*Hulk Hogan and Hillbilly Jim "(with 2 brown strapped title belts & Hillbilly's hat)"
*Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff "(with 2 brown strapped title belts & Volkoff's hat)"
*The Killer Bees "(with 2 brown strapped title belts)"
*Strike Force "(with 2 black strapped title belts)"

Accessories

*Sling 'Em-Fling 'Em Wrestling Ring "(includes ring base, 3 ring ropes, 12 turnbuckles, 4 posts & 5 decals)"
*Cage Match Accessory "(includes 4 connecting plastic blue cage panels)"

Bendies

Single Figures

*André the Giant
*Big John Studd
*Bobby Heenan
*Brutus Beefcake
*Captain Lou Albano
*Corporal Kirchner
*George "The Animal" Steele
*Hillbilly Jim
*Hulk Hogan "(varies with red & blue knee-pad versions)"
*Iron Sheik "(varies with and without boot laces versions)"
*Jesse "The Body" Ventura
*Junkyard Dog
*King Kong Bundy
*"Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff "(varies with and without boot laces versions)"
*Nikolai Volkoff
*"Macho Man" Randy Savage
*Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
*"Rowdy" Roddy Piper "(varies with and without boot laces versions)"

Tag Team 2 Packs

*Hulk Hogan & Junkyard Dog
*Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff
*George Steele & Captain Lou Albano
*King Kong Bundy & Big John Studd
*Randy Savage & Jesse Ventura
*Ricky Steamboat & Corporal Kirchner

Accessories

*Cage Match Challenge

Thumb Wrestlers

*Hulk Hogan vs. Big John Studd
*Hulk Hogan vs. Iron Sheik
*Hulk Hogan vs. King Kong Bundy
*Hulk Hogan vs. Nikolai Volkoff
*Hulk Hogan vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage
*Hulk Hogan vs. Jake "The Snake" Roberts
*Hulk Hogan vs. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
*Hillbilly Jim vs. Iron Sheik
*Hillbilly Jim vs. Big John Studd
*Hillbilly Jim vs. Nikolai Volkoff
*Hillbilly Jim vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage
*Hillbilly Jim vs. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
*Junkyard Dog vs. Iron Sheik
*Junkyard Dog vs. Big John Studd
*Junkyard Dog vs. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
*Junkyard Dog vs. Nikolai Volkoff
*Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat vs. "Macho Man" Randy Savage
*Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat vs. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
*Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat vs. Nikolai Volkoff
*Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat vs. Jake "The Snake" Roberts
*"Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff vs. Big John Studd
*"Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff vs. King Kong Bundy
*"Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff vs. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper

16" Series

*Hulk Hogan "(with title belt & Hulkamania shirt)"
*"Rowdy" Roddy Piper "(with kilt, belt & Hot-Rod shirt)"

tretch Wrestlers

*George "The Animal" Steele
*Hulk Hogan
*Junkyard Dog
*King Kong Bundy
*"Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff
*"Macho Man" Randy Savage
*Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
*"Rowdy" Roddy Piper

Prototypes, rarities, and errors

Various different prototypes were photographed in various LJN advertising and packaging, such as: an Adrian Adonis with scarves, Rick Steamboat with red trunks, Tito Santana with an entirely different mold, Fred Blassie with a painted cane and glittered jacket, Hillbilly Jim with a black undershirt, Jimmy Hart with a pink megaphone, Kamala with an alternate paint job, Haku as 'King Haku', Rick Rude with green tights and unproduced bendie figures of the British Bulldogs among others. To the left shown is a photographed prototype of Mean Gene inside the wrestling ring with an audio tape. No mic is in his hand and much smaller body, unlike the released versions that includes a microphone (w/ or w/o wwf logo) with a larger body.

Photographed prototype versions of George Steele with painted on chest hair, as well as a Roddy Piper figure with a panther shirt are rumored to have actually been produced.

LJN also produced a kid size Wrestlemania Championship Belt. The packaging for the title belt featured pictures of unproduced large size "Wrestling Superstars Muscle Grip" action figures of Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage complete with title belts.

There were also Canadian release 2 pack "Value Packs" which contained a totally random assortment of any 2 figures generally from (but not limited to) the first 3 series of the line.

The final series of figures that were scheduled but never produced included: Bad News Brown, Brother Love, Bushwhacker Luke, Bushwhacker Butch, Demolition Smash and The Barbarian [http://reviews.ebay.com/The-History-of-LJN-apos-s-WWF-Wrestling-Superstars-Part-II_W0QQugidZ10000000002147663] . Photographs of these susperstars appeared on the backs of the black Series 6 Superstars '89 cards and they were mentioned in various ads by a company called the Wrestling Ring contained in 1989 issues of Pro Wrestling Illustrated and their various publications.

An 8" Sgt. Slaughter figure was made by LJN. Slaughter had a contract dispute with then WWF over merchandising, and left the company. The figure was never released to stores and was instead purchased by Hasbro. Hasbro then made the 8" Sarge figure available as a mail order tie-in with their G.I. Joe action figure line. The 1st design of the figure was a re-molded body of Jimmy Snuka.

There were 2 prominent misspellings on the red stickers with the Superstars names on it. Vince McMahon was spelled "Vince McMann" and Bret Hart was spelled "Brett Hart." Neither were ever corrected.

The original Sling 'Em-Fling 'Em Wrestling Ring was recalled due to children impaling themselves falling on the corner ring posts. The posts had no give and would not budge if weight was applied.

Imitations and commemorations

World Championship Wrestling

In the mid-'90s, World Championship Wrestling released several "Collectible Wrestlers" through OSFTM that closely resemble the WWF LJN Series. These were made of hard rubber but only standing at 6 or 7" tall. The figures included the following:

Later series still resembled the original OSFTM & LJN figures but were more articulate and consisted of different sizes and features [http://www.wrestlingfigs.com/figurelist.php?figureid=26] .

WWE Classic Superstars

The LJN style made a return of sorts, when Jakks Pacific released an LJN-styled Undertaker in series 13 of its "WWE Classic Superstar" line. Steve Austin, The Rock, Shawn Michaels and Mankind have also been produced along with upcoming Triple H and John Cena figures. Jakks had previously re-released the Sling 'Em-Fling 'Em Ring as the Monster Ring in the mid to late '90s.

External links

* [http://www.grand.com/ Grand Toys]
* [http://www.hasbro.com/ Hasbro/wwe]
* [http://figurecollections.com/ Wrestling Figure Database]
* [http://ClassicFigs.com/ Jakks Classic Superstars Reference Site]
* [http://members.tripod.com/~bbts/ljnmuseum LJN Museum]
* [http://reviews.ebay.com/The-History-of-LJN-apos-s-WWF-Wrestling-Superstars-Part-II_W0QQugidZ10000000002147663 LJN eBAY Guide]
* [http://www.wrestlingfigs.com/figurelist.php?figureid=26 OSFTM WCW Figures]