inkboy83
Main Eventer
Joined on: Sept 1, 2012 20:57:49 GMT -5
Posts: 1,088
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Post by inkboy83 on Jan 17, 2013 21:46:29 GMT -5
So I was wondering, why was Jakks Pacific able to do so many Legends/Classic /Former WWE stars in there Classic Superstars line in comparison with Mattel who can only do stars who are signed to Legends/WWE merch contracts. To my knowledge the WWE Legends program hasn't been around that long.... So was Jakks just signing guys left,right and centre? Did they have that much $$$ because I'm pretty sure Mattel has more.
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Post by onleeone643 on Jan 17, 2013 22:04:41 GMT -5
I'm still waiting for the Berzerker, Lance Storm, and Greg the hammer Valentine.
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Post by Spear Guy on Jan 17, 2013 22:09:41 GMT -5
Jakks started the Classic Superstars line back in 04 I believe. They had a lot more wreslers who were iconic back then signed to the company.
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Post by ~*Young $ Money*~ on Jan 17, 2013 22:14:23 GMT -5
Jakks as well as Mattel can sign any wrestler they want to a figure deal with WWE permission i believe if they did not have a WWE Legend deal.Mattel chose to just use who was already signed such as Slaughter, LOD,Mr. Perfect and so on.
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Post by JC Motors on Jan 17, 2013 22:19:22 GMT -5
I thought It wasn't up to Mattel to sign legends
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Post by Spear Guy on Jan 17, 2013 22:28:51 GMT -5
I thought It wasn't up to Mattel to sign legends True WWE signs the Legends |
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Post by The Assassin on Jan 17, 2013 23:09:46 GMT -5
As I understand it - Mattel's contract with WWE stipulates that Mattel is not allowed to produce any non-WWE wrestling merchandise. Therefore any wrestling figure that gets released by Mattel, must be released under the WWE brand name and approved by WWE.
Merchandise rights, including action figures, are part of most current WWE superstars contracts with WWE. So except in a few circumstances where it's not part of the superstar's WWE contract, Mattel can make figures of any current WWE superstar without needing to make any new contractual arrangements. WWE must still approve which superstars get figures though, and this includes approving "flashback" versions of current stars.
Now some past superstars have a "WWE Legends Contract" - that is, a contract between the superstar and WWE, nothing to do with Mattel. And these contracts work in a similar way to current WWE contracts, in that merchandising rights are mostly (or at least sometimes) included. So like with current WWE superstars, Mattel is able to make figures of any past superstar signed to a WWE Legends Contract without needing to make any new contractual arrangements. Again, WWE must still approve which superstars get figures.
The final way that Mattel can make a figure of a past superstar is by signing an INDEPENDENT contract with the superstar themself. That is, a contract between the superstar and Mattel, nothing to do with WWE. In this case Mattel is paying the superstar to use their name/likeness on a figure. HOWEVER WWE must still approve Mattel to approach each individual superstar because the figure would be released under the WWE brand name. This is how we get figures of people who are believed to have a bad relationship with WWE. Because in some of these cases, the superstar doesn't want to make a deal with WWE, but is happy to make a deal with Mattel.
ANYWAY, to more specifically answer your question. Mattel is ABLE to sign past superstars to figures in the ways I described above. HOWEVER with sales of Legends not meeting Mattel's satisfaction, AT THE MOMENT they are CHOOSING not to sign past superstars independently. They have stated in recent interviews that for now, they are only going to make figures of current WWE superstars and past superstars who are signed to a WWE Legends Contract. The reason Jakks made so many more classic figures is because their Classic Superstars figures sold better than Mattel's Legends figures, so Jakks was able to justify making lots of independent contracts with past superstars.
As a Legends-only collector though, I'm really hoping that at some point in future sales will pick up enough for Mattel to start signing past superstars to independent contracts again.
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Post by Nivro™ on Jan 17, 2013 23:13:58 GMT -5
Here's a question Im curious of. Every time Flair is mentioned we get the "OMGZ HEZ NOT SIGNED TO A LEGENDS DEAL" from Mattel.....well last time I checked, Ultimate Warrior isnt signed to one either. His name and likeness are properties of him. Sooooooooooo, how bout that Flair figure now?  |
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Post by JC Motors on Jan 17, 2013 23:15:37 GMT -5
Here's a question Im curious of. Every time Flair is mentioned we get the "OMGZ HEZ NOT SIGNED TO A LEGENDS DEAL" from Mattel.....well last time I checked, Ultimate Warrior isnt signed to one either. His name and likeness are properties of him. Sooooooooooo, how bout that Flair figure now? I never thought of that before. I find it odd that Ultimate Warrior is on the Alumni section of wwe.om |
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Post by East Coast on Jan 17, 2013 23:16:29 GMT -5
Here's a question Im curious of. Every time Flair is mentioned we get the "OMGZ HEZ NOT SIGNED TO A LEGENDS DEAL" from Mattel.....well last time I checked, Ultimate Warrior isnt signed to one either. His name and likeness are properties of him. Sooooooooooo, how bout that Flair figure now? yeh, but TNA isn't preventing WWE from signing Ultimate Warrior. |
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Post by Nivro™ on Jan 17, 2013 23:28:28 GMT -5
Here's a question Im curious of. Every time Flair is mentioned we get the "OMGZ HEZ NOT SIGNED TO A LEGENDS DEAL" from Mattel.....well last time I checked, Ultimate Warrior isnt signed to one either. His name and likeness are properties of him. Sooooooooooo, how bout that Flair figure now? yeh, but TNA isn't preventing WWE from signing Ultimate Warrior. True, but technically once TNA released Flair from his contract, they had no control over what he did. Sure I understand where WWE was coming from with avoiding previous TNA talent while the lawsuit was going on but still....Lets be Fair to Flair! |
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Post by The Assassin on Jan 17, 2013 23:38:14 GMT -5
The reason we haven't got a Flair figure yet is because WWE haven't yet signed him to a current contract or a WWE Legends contract. As I said, Mattel isn't currently looking to do any independent deals with past superstars.
I believe Ultimate Warrior is signed to an independent contract with Mattel, nothing to do with WWE, but bare in mind he would have signed that deal ages ago when the Legends line was still around and when Mattel was still signing past superstars to independent contracts. I presume Warriors contract is just running it's course.
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Post by MrPerfect25 on Jan 18, 2013 0:14:29 GMT -5
Even though we have things like this forum, rsc, ringside fest, toy fair and comicon, I still feel that Mattel focuses maybe 70% to kids and then 30 to collectors. They could make as many flashbacks, legends, classics or whatever you wanna call them as Jakks did. Doing 1 or 2 flashbacks per elite series is a way to make everyone happy and economically smart for them. They can still pump out Cenas and Mysterios this way. I'm just glad there's a full fb elite series rumored. Hope its true.
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