WWE's First Hall of Fame Match Already Has Its Mattel Action Figure, and It's the First of Its Kind
WrestleMania season is filled with brand-new storylines, new timelines, and new action figure reveals, and this Mania season was no different. WWE World, the yearly showcase that allows fans to have access to their favorite Superstars, as well as displays for the Hall of Fame inductees, wrestling rings from premium live events past, and a host of other amazing and unique items specific to WWE and its history.
During WWE World, Mattel, the official action figure partner of WWE, presents brand-new action figure reveals throughout the weekend in order to create excitement among the action figure collector community, and this year in Las Vegas brought a new and previously untapped option for WWE Mattel figures. In a conversation with Screen Rant, Mattel Global Brand Marketing Manager for Action Figures Steve Ozer and Mattel Senior Designer Bill Miekina spoke about the first ever bloody action figure that commemorates the "Immortal Moment" Hall of Fame match between Bret Hart and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, as well as other exciting new reveals.
Bloody Action Figure Is The First of Its Kind
Mattel Worked With WWE To Get Approval
Ringside Collectibles
The action figure market has exploded in the past decade thanks to the partnership between WWE and Mattel, who just renewed their global licensing agreement to continue to produce figures, accessories, playsets, and more. The action figure lines come in three different styles: the introductory level Main Event series, the upgraded and popular Elite series, and the ultra-articulate and designed Ultimate Edition series, with an assortment of special edition playsets, "Defining Moments" series, and exclusive items that are only available through Mattel Creations, like the crowd sourced "New Generation" ring and entrance set that featured exclusive Diesel, Doink the Clown, and "Macho Man" Randy Savage Ultimate Edition action figures.
The recent reveals in Las Vegas showed, for the first time ever in the WWE figure series, a blood-covered Steve Austin "Defining Moments" action figure, portraying the WWE Hall of Fame "Immortal Moment" match between him and Bret Hart from WrestleMania 13. When discussing the process with WWE and Mattel, Steve Ozer said they worked in close coordination with all parties to ensure this figure was a perfect representation of the match and its iconic visual.
This match was truly a 'Defining Moment' for Steve Austin and a figure that collectors have been requesting for years now. We worked closely with WWE on approvals for not only the blood deco on the figure but the ability to include the classic 'Blood From A Stone' shirt as an accessory. Bill [Miekina] oversaw the great new head sculpt that recreated the iconic sharpshooter moment in the match and Magic perfected the blood deco to match as precisely as possible. We’re really happy with how this figure turned out and that it’ll be available shortly through our great partners at RingsideCollectibles.com.
Other Exciting Reveals Include "The Curtain Call" Figures
Mattel Is Trying to Capture All the Iconic WWE and WCW Moments
Ringside Collectibles
The bloody Steve Austin figure wasn't the only buzzworthy announcement from Mattel's reveals, as they work to produce and recreate as many iconic moments from WWE's history, as well as WCW and ECW moments. One of these is "The Curtain Call", the controversial kayfabe-breaking moment that saw Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Razor Ramon, and Diesel embrace inside the steel cage after their match at Madison Square Garden prior to both Diesel and Ramon leaving the company for WCW.
Bill Miekina said that this set was one they'd always wanted to make, and it was just as fun creating it as they thought it'd be.
That was a lot of fun [creating the Curtain Call series]. That's going to be an entire wave of [them] I think at the end of this year, and it was something we've always kicked around. 'We should probably do this at some point.' And for one reason or the other, just never came to fruition. And then late last year, we were thinking about what would be the best lineup for the last wave [for the year] of Legends. And it's like, 'look, we always want to do the Curtain Call. Why don't we do that as the last wave of legends?' And then when we all agreed, it was off to the races.
Ozer also commented on the first in-person preview of the new Scott Steiner Ultimate Edition, commemorating his final appearance on WCW's Monday Nitro as WCW Champion. Ozer said it was important to both them and the collectors that they capture as many elements and looks of the performers as possible, and that the Steiners signing a WWE Legends contract helped them finally create these moments.
I think ever since the Steiners were signed, people wanted tons of Steiner figures in different looks and Ultimates, of course. So we've already delivered the WWE versions of the Steiner Brothers, and now it's time to celebrate Scott's World Heavyweight Championship run with a figure that represents the very final and historic last Nitro.
Collectors Are Going To Be Thrilled With Mattel's New Reveals
The action figure collector field is massive and expansive, and WWE's partnership with Mattel has produced the best wrestling action figure series of all time. Mattel continues to grow the reach and Superstar base as the WWE Legends contracts and resignings allow formerly unavailable Superstars to appear, or reappear, in the figure line, including The Steiner Brothers, Diamond Dallas Page, and a returning CM Punk.
The new Mattel reveals, including the bloody Steve Austin action figure, continue to expand the design features and capabilities of what these figures can do, as well as what can and will appear in the lines. It's an exciting new time in the world of action figures, and with a brand new global licensing deal in place, there's no telling what's coming next (but we hope it's another shot at the WCW Monday Nitro entrance set).
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