Why did Jakks stop making WWE figures?

[Deleted]

I've only heard that the contract expired. But why, though?
Will this ever happen to Mattel? (I hope not)

[Roman Bellic]

mainly these reasons:
pissing off the consumer with dumb decisions (withholding paint for their new TNA line was a giant kick in the nads)
quality of parts (i've seen the recent TNA figures break with the snap of a finger)

[LA Times]

The license expired and they couldn't beat out Mattel in picking it up

[DZ: WF Legacy]

It was just business. Going PG attracted Mattel - a much larger company - to the brand.

[Y3RP: LA MARAVILLA!!!]

didn't THQ & Jakks Pacific interactive also played a role, or I am wrong here!?

[theMOESIAH]

May 12, 2015 17:36:27 GMT -5 @jaime said:

Will this ever happen to Mattel? (I hope not)

Yes, eventually.

[Mr Ezekiel Jackson If Ya Nasty]

From Gamespot:

Two years ago this week, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) filed suit against the publishers of its games, THQ, Jakks Pacific, and their joint venture THQ/Jakks Pacific LLC, as well as a number of individuals working for or with the companies. That suit alleged that the defendants conspired to unfairly win the WWE license agreement, resorting to racketeering and bribes in order to land the coveted deal after the wrestling company's license with Acclaim expired.

That case is still making its way through the courts, but THQ announced that the WWE filed another suit against the companies last week, this time alleging improper sales of WWE games in Japan and other Asian countries. Like the original legal action, the new suit seeks monetary damages and a declaration that the WWE can terminate its licensing agreement with THQ, Jakks Pacific, and THQ/Jakks Pacific. Both THQ and the joint company have said the suit is without merit and that they will fight it.

[Deleted]

So they could make UFC and TNA figures - which still to this day are flying off the shelves - hence why they're hardly seen at retail.

[Lorenzo Alcazar]

Didn't some Jakks rep try and say that the UFC figures were the highest selling toy in the history of toys at retail or something asinine like that?

lol

[jason1980s]

I think they should have lost license after the original few series' of figures. I had to buy a number of Series one Razors and Diesels due to the arms coming loose. The likeness on some of the figures was poor, they would add unnecessary features (arm pads on Michaels) when none was needed or keep arm or kneepads off figures that were known for having them. Plus silly outfits the wrestlers never wore (short-long pants Rock with logo on them from early 1998). There figures were poor up until the real scan technology. Some of those titan tron lives were their worst work.
For as much as Vince is noted for having crazy control over WWE, I would think he'd have let go Jakks long ago.

[Deleted]

Mattel is the number one toy company in the United States. They have both Barbie and Hot Wheels. Why wouldn't WWE want them to make their figures?

I loved when Jakks had the RA line. There will be no other like it. But Jakks got lazy. They started cutting corners. And they just couldn't hold onto the license forever. Something was going to have to change and I don't just mean getting rid of RA and focusing solely on DA. The figures needed to change as they did from BCA to TTL to RA and if this was done while Jakks still had the license the results would not have been pretty, so Jakks was somewhat smart to get out as well, even if they were sort of forced out by the fact that Mattel > Jakks (And I'm not saying that in a WWE figures sense, but just as toy companies on a whole)

[PJ]

Because when it was time to renew the WWE liked what Mattel brought ro the table more than Jakks. what the reasons are you would have to ask the WWE.

[poindizzle]

I don't know? Mattel is struggling to get Elite 78 on shelves while Jakks UFC is outselling every toy line combined in the history of all times.

[Deleted]

May 19, 2015 10:23:07 GMT -5 Lorenzo Alcazar said:

Didn't some Jakks rep try and say that the UFC figures were the highest selling toy in the history of toys at retail or something asinine like that?

lol

*Facepalm*

[Deleted]

I always thought UFC figures should have been done by McFarlane. Would have been good since they had the sports licenses, and are made more for adult collectors.

[JC Motors]

They lost the license to Mattel which was a good thing

[sm00th007]

May 19, 2015 22:07:17 GMT -5 @yakko said:

I always thought UFC figures should have been done by McFarlane. Would have been good since they had the sports licenses, and are made more for adult collectors.

I agree with you.

[bige]

Round 5 took over the ufc