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Post by turysummerale on May 31, 2012 13:23:51 GMT -5
i was thinking last night why such a great line didnt work then on what if mattel had done something completly different would it had worked?
this was my idea 1: they should have held off at least to the the second or third year to start the legends line. that would have given us plenty of time between the last jakks classic superstars series and the first mattel legends series.
if that would have been done. they could have teased us the first whole year with the roster rumors and protos.
2. since it would have been a while apart from the classic superstars line they could have done classic attires on all the legends LOD, Sgt. Slaughter, Dusty Rhodes, Rick Rude not really caring that jakks had done them before them
like a wwe not really showing that tna has existed the last 10 years
3.the roster should have been better distributed with like an awesome legend being the top one of the series a tag team and 2 legends with small history making the total 5 legend per series for example series 1: SCSA (top legend), The rockers, george the animall steele, jake the snake roberts series 2: Macho Man (top legend), demolition, nikolai volkoff, texas tornado Series 3 Andre the giant (top legend), Bushwackers, demolition crush, akeem
4. they should have been released bi-monthly again increasing the anticipation of the customers
do you guys think a legends line planned like this would have worked?
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Post by The Madness on May 31, 2012 13:44:06 GMT -5
It would have certainly stood a better chance, that's for sure.
The Legends figures were all amazing, but there were so many factors working against it (attire choice, too much or too little distribution, shelf-clogging HOF series; shelf-clogging, expensive two-packs nobody wanted; etc.) that it was doomed from the get-go.
I doubt stores would ever want to carry it again, but if Hogan and Flair ever become available, I could see it taking off again.
Perhaps if they did special themed sets like the heritage ones, it could work. Maybe an '80s Superstars set with Hogan, Flair, Savage (with Robe), Warrior, Sgt. Slaughter (camo) and Andre (different from Matty Collector). Follow that up with a "Monday Night Wars" set with Austin, Rock, Foley, Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Goldberg, and, say, Lex Luger for instance.
Of course, those are just examples, but there's still a way to do it without the "Legends series" stigma to stores.
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Post by Glorydaysofwrestling on May 31, 2012 13:48:09 GMT -5
Yes, but I also think the legends line would have worked if Mattel wanted it too. Releasing the hall of fame series without any differences really killed it.
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Post by qdogg on May 31, 2012 13:50:52 GMT -5
If they did a one times series with like 3 different hogans, one Flair and the other 2 spots filled with honky tonk man, brutus beefcake, Sid Justice, lex luger, Legion of Doom or Early 90's HBK or Taker, Doink, New Age Outlaws or Steiner brothers that would be a strong set. Im hoping Mattel can get Kurt Angle, RVD, and Jeff Hardy down the road too, they would make for some great flashbacks.
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Von Hooten
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Post by Von Hooten on May 31, 2012 14:07:35 GMT -5
It is hard to say. The distribution has gotten progressively worse since and some figures are starting more and more to sound like myths. If they held off on Legends too long ppl might not have been interested because of higher prices by then, and poor distribution.
We are already losing more collectors each day because of these reasons, who is not to say that a couple of years from now there are even less of us and therefore there wouldn't be enough of us to support a Legends line nor be interested enough to want them. I know I have all but thrown in the towel with Mattel's WWE line. Now when I see a new Elite series coming out I live with the fact that I might not ever get them. I am not willing to pay inflated internet prices and retial is unrelaiable. If I heard news of a Legends series coming out next year I would probably give up collecting WWE because my first impression would be that they are going to be $22 each, impossible to find, and triple the prices on the interenet.
I am glad with we got what we got so far, and it isn't like Mattel won't be giving us Legends in some shape or form.
If Matty Legends, EG, DM, or the Legends series itself didn't do well, at least the Flashbacks are and I think we will still be getting good Flashbacks and RSC exclusives. Plus if Hogan or Flair ever signed they would more likely be RSC figures. If Mattel ever has the possibility to make a Sting figure then that would almost be worthy of bringing back the DM line let alone legends. Hell we could even see a RSC DM 2pk for the first time if Sting ever signed a Legends contract.
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Post by JC Motors on May 31, 2012 14:30:28 GMT -5
It might have worked. If only we had a time machine
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Kingdomofmadness89
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Post by Kingdomofmadness89 on May 31, 2012 14:59:22 GMT -5
I love the line it's all I collect. I think it's as simple as a poor choice of characters.
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homeslice1998
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Post by homeslice1998 on May 31, 2012 15:31:50 GMT -5
Also the first 3 legends 2 packs just sucked. I mean when I think of awesome classic tag teams the Bush Wakers dont come to mind. My dream legends packs are Hardys, Dudlys, Brood (edge and christian), DX (Billy Gun and Road Dog)
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Post by turysummerale on May 31, 2012 15:36:40 GMT -5
Also the first 3 legends 2 packs just sucked. I mean when I think of awesome classic tag teams the Bush Wakers dont come to mind. My dream legends packs are Hardys, Dudlys, Brood (edge and christian), DX (Billy Gun and Road Dog) exactly man i mean rowdy roddy and cowboy orton are great but the bushwackers and the sheik and nikolai come one theres at least 20 tag teams better than those 2 its sad to see such a line with so much promise and so many characters go down the drain
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MonsoonMan
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Post by MonsoonMan on May 31, 2012 15:59:49 GMT -5
IMO the problem seemed to be the lineup choices.
even when they put the choices up for vote on the matty exclusive legends, i though they were all weaksauce.
slaughter, dusty rhodes, bushwachers, jake roberts, piper/orton, rick rude, brian pillman, george steel, hillbilly jim.
im not really bashing those superstars, but c'mon save them for the later waves. i think they may have also failed to account for the generation shift. idk i would assume that the most people buying figures are aged 8-30? alot of those 80's superstars are becoming obscure and more people in the modern generation-in their 20s could more readily identify a big 90's superstar.
i mean ill be completely honest, i started watching wrestling in 97-98.
i had never seen vader, bundy, terry funk, dusty rhodes, wrestle. i mean the only vintage wwf i got when i was little were the vhs vids from the video store and those were just a handful of ppvs. if it werent for youtube, id have absolutely no desire in buying figures of guys ive never seen perform, and i asume alot of the purchasing force will agree.
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Post by Nivro™ on May 31, 2012 18:45:56 GMT -5
IMO the problem seemed to be the lineup choices. even when they put the choices up for vote on the matty exclusive legends, i though they were all weaksauce. slaughter, dusty rhodes, bushwachers, jake roberts, piper/orton, rick rude, brian pillman, george steel, hillbilly jim. im not really bashing those superstars, but c'mon save them for the later waves. i think they may have also failed to account for the generation shift. idk i would assume that the most people buying figures are aged 8-30? alot of those 80's superstars are becoming obscure and more people in the modern generation-in their 20s could more readily identify a big 90's superstar. i mean ill be completely honest, i started watching wrestling in 97-98. i had never seen vader, bundy, terry funk, dusty rhodes, wrestle. i mean the only vintage wwf i got when i was little were the vhs vids from the video store and those were just a handful of ppvs. if it werent for youtube, id have absolutely no desire in buying figures of guys ive never seen perform, and i asume alot of the purchasing force will agree. You've never seen Vader or Rhodes wrestle but you're a Road Warriors fan?? Strange.
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Post by Chewdeezy on May 31, 2012 18:54:46 GMT -5
Mattel just produced too many from production runs to Kmart's HOF and repeated Legends right away like Iron Sheik and Piper, just wasn't good strategy.
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Post by qdogg on May 31, 2012 19:12:50 GMT -5
Bushwhackers had a long run in the WWF, from 87 all the way through 96 and were fan favorites. They were also successful as the Sheepherders in AWA. I had no problem with that choice but the other 2 selections should of been Rockers, Hart Foundation or Demolition fo the TRU 2 pack legends.
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Post by Nivro™ on May 31, 2012 19:14:44 GMT -5
Series 1 Road Warriors should have been put in the place of Piper/Orton. Then Stick Piper into series one of the Singles release and add a second figure and release Orton later on down the line.
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Post by The Gang on May 31, 2012 19:47:58 GMT -5
Yeah well hindsight is always 20/20. Of course looking back there are a lot of things Mattel could have done better and maybe you're correct in saying that they could have waited 3 years before making legends especially after Jakks had a very successful run with classic superstars.
But you know that Mattel had just acquired a huge toy license and paid big bucks to get it for sure. So waiting 3 years really wasn't an option for them, they had to use that license right away, that's just the nature of business.
What hurt them the most was some of their early figures just plain sucked along with very poor figure selection and attire choices so the legends line really didn't stand a chance. Mattel just out and out dropped the ball.
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Post by LA Times on May 31, 2012 19:57:01 GMT -5
It wouldve worked if Series 2 and Legendary Tag Teams 1 had better lineups
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boolz
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Post by boolz on May 31, 2012 20:15:57 GMT -5
I think they tried doing to much to fast. Came in with JAKKS Classic line hanging over their head as the bench mark they felt they had to beat, and then they made poor choices.
Between DM, EG, and Legends 2 packs, and Legends they just spread themselves to thin. Piper, M$M, Warrior, and Hart should have been Legends figures first if they even should have done EG or DM at all.
Couple them diluting their pool of marketable Legends with the fact that they were handcuffed into only making 'Legends' which meant they had to keep their hands off of debut Undertaker, Kane, HHH for their Legends line just killed them.
I think if they reversed how it actually happened we'd be better off. Start with Elite 1 with a Flashback SCSA. Elite 2 gets Flashback Undertaker and Kane. Elite 3 brings LOD, E4 has Rock and debut HHH...
After a while of teasing with the Flashbacks they showcase an official Flashback line at ComicCon or Toyfare. Series 1 has Warrior from the DM, Savage, M$M, and Bushwhackers. 3 months later Piper, Jake Roberts, Shiek (It is an AWESOME figure), and Demolition. 3 months later series 3...
They made some great figures. They bumbled the line though, I think, mostly because they tried doing to much and over saturated the market. Which is kind of funny considering their poor distribution.
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Rob7274
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Post by Rob7274 on Jun 1, 2012 5:54:36 GMT -5
1 and 3 are the big ones for me.
I do beleave it would have worked. I reackon it would now with the sort of formula you described. Change Legends name to flashbacks. Put same love and attention into it as the Legends line had.
Retailers may be put off by the 1st effort though.
And as for Bushwackers been a poor choice....for shame. And to whoever said the 1st few series sucked is daft they where great but it was just the wrong series at the wrong time.
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Post by The Madness on Jun 1, 2012 7:37:16 GMT -5
Bushwhackers were a great choice. In fact, they were the only ones Toys R Us ever seemed to sell very well. It was the other two sets that were poor choices.
Mattel had just put out the perfect Iron Sheik figure, and no one was going to shell out $30 for Nikolai. Same with Piper. Most people (not myself) liked the EG version better, and if you'd already bought that, no one was going to give $30 for Bob Orton.
Just going by what Mattel came up with around that time frame, the sets should have been Bushwhackers, Rockers, and Demolition.
I agree with the above poster about the first few sets. Excellent lineups, but the wrong sets at the wrong time.
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Post by BoJack Hogan on Jun 1, 2012 11:37:03 GMT -5
There have been thousands of threads about the Legends line and how it could have survived. A lot of the ideas probably would have helped. It seems that Mattel chose the only approach that would actually fail. There is no reason it should have failed.
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