Anyone else not an AEW fan but still collecting the figures?

[The One Who Collects]

I admittedly am not an AEW fan but, am intrigued by this line. I like how the line is evolving and think the little things like Cassidy's pockets and Ortiz's chancla are amazing touches. It shows those running this line understand collectors as well as fans. I withheld my judgment of the figures (body construct and articulation) because I initially felt they were superior to Mattel elites. After some time, I do believe they are superior in this category. The improvements I want to see most are in certain sculpts of the figures. The head scans could be better and have begun to show improvement. I don't like the sculpt of the plain hands and the arms could use some definition sculpting to improve the look. Overall these are great action figures. My hope is that this will encourage Mattel to step up their game. I saw a post where someone said that the Mattel figures have not evolved enough over the years. Steve Ozer explained it away by saying the figures needed to fit in the line and too many changes would hurt that. I disagree. The AEW figures fit in well and are a look at to what could be improved with the elites. Mattel's kickpad feet are horrid and need changed. They did create a new sculpt that they used for Ohno, why not use that or sculpt new ones for figures? I do love the elite line and feel the figures are very close in quality. The AEW line has just raised the bar a bit and I imagine as they work out the kinks, it will only get better. Ok, enough of my blabbering and time to go back into the shadows.

[celflessness]

I watched for about 6 months, but stopped when Speaking Out happened. Nothing has compelled me to go back. So I don't consider myself a fan, but I am collecting some of the figures. They're making a lot of guys I liked from the indies, and they're good quality toys. The elbows are a little floppy. Some of the facial expressions are awful. Generally cool though.

I don't see Mattel changing things up too much from this, unless Jazwares take a serious bite out of their sales. Adding articulation to 'compete' feels like it would be an expensive pissing contest, without a big financial reward on the line.

[viper412]

Feb 23, 2021 12:42:05 GMT -5 celflessness said:

I watched for about 6 months, but stopped when Speaking Out happened. Nothing has compelled me to go back. So I don't consider myself a fan, but I am collecting some of the figures. They're making a lot of guys I liked from the indies, and they're good quality toys. The elbows are a little floppy. Some of the facial expressions are awful. Generally cool though.

I don't see Mattel changing things up too much from this, unless Jazwares take a serious bite out of their sales. Adding articulation to 'compete' feels like it would be an expensive pissing contest, without a big financial reward on the line.

Mattel already said they will be phasing in double jointed elbows starting with Elite 85. Bray Wyatt and Becky Lynch from that series have them.

[bababooey]

I’m kind of a casual fan. I watch Dynamite, but that’s about it. The figures are great though, and each wave has significant improvements.

[LA Times]

Im the opposite. AEW is the only thing keeping my interest in US wrestling but I dont have any AEW figures (because Ive never seen them in stores).

[Turnbuckle Zealot(Phil)]

I detest AEW 90% of the time, but the figures are objectively really really good. If Orange Cassidy was not a wrestler, but just an action figure separate from wrestling, I would consider buying him because even though he doesn't have hip joints, he is an innovation in action figures. I don't think there has ever been another figure ever with functioning sculpted pockets. As for the wrestlers I admire, I'm so glad we got proper Cody and Dustin figures. As soon as I make some green, I'm snagging Dustin and Cody. If I can find them lol

[TKO Propagandist]

I didn't watch any AEW till April 2020 since I wasn't watching wrestling for the majority of 2019 when it started up. Having gone back and watched all their stuff. Safe to say they are the best wrestling company since 2001. While the figures will over take Jakks over the next few years in terms of all time status.

[bababooey]

Feb 23, 2021 23:22:59 GMT -5 Turnbuckle Zealot(Phil) said:

I detest AEW 90% of the time, but the figures are objectively really really good. If Orange Cassidy was not a wrestler, but just an action figure separate from wrestling, I would consider buying him because even though he doesn't have hip joints, he is an innovation in action figures. I don't think there has ever been another figure ever with functioning sculpted pockets. As for the wrestlers I admire, I'm so glad we got proper Cody and Dustin figures. As soon as I make some green, I'm snagging Dustin and Cody. If I can find them lol

He does have hip joints. His pants are a rubbery overlay, so you can still get articulation.

[Turnbuckle Zealot(Phil)]

Feb 24, 2021 10:34:04 GMT -5 bababooey said:

Feb 23, 2021 23:22:59 GMT -5 Turnbuckle Zealot(Phil) said:

I detest AEW 90% of the time, but the figures are objectively really really good. If Orange Cassidy was not a wrestler, but just an action figure separate from wrestling, I would consider buying him because even though he doesn't have hip joints, he is an innovation in action figures. I don't think there has ever been another figure ever with functioning sculpted pockets. As for the wrestlers I admire, I'm so glad we got proper Cody and Dustin figures. As soon as I make some green, I'm snagging Dustin and Cody. If I can find them lol

He does have hip joints. His pants are a rubbery overlay, so you can still get articulation.

oooh. Well darn, now I'm debating getting this terrible wrestler's figure lol I do photography depicting skateboard culture and counter culture scenes in a fictional city and he fits the part so well its crazy.

[bababooey]

Feb 24, 2021 11:23:52 GMT -5 Turnbuckle Zealot(Phil) said:

Feb 24, 2021 10:34:04 GMT -5 bababooey said:

He does have hip joints. His pants are a rubbery overlay, so you can still get articulation.

oooh. Well darn, now I'm debating getting this terrible wrestler's figure lol I do photography depicting skateboard culture and counter culture scenes in a fictional city and he fits the part so well its crazy.

I recently got into photography myself. These are two pics I took the day I got Orange and Darby.

[underoos]

I rarely watch any current wrestling anymore, wwe sucks, aew is good but no fans in attendance has ruined it

[EMW Figure Shelf]

When it comes to the AEW hate, to each their own I suppose. I personally don't get the hate for AEW as not too many people have real reasons other than it's the cool thing to dislike AEW or because people listen to Cornette. I don't know. Maybe someone can fill in that blank for me. I love AEW. I don't think they're flawless. Wrestling isn't perfect. It never even was. But, in an era that we are in, it's easier to bash something than it is to compliment. I love the figures but there are many problems that bothered me like the first wave's skin tones, Adam Page's boots, Dustin's height and a few other things. Then again, each wave had problems. All of you guys probably remember the first few waves of the Jakks TTL figures where Stone Cold and Taker looked like they were dipped in some type of acid. The early Mattel scans were very plain looking but overtime improved. Everything will improve with the AEW line and Series 4 looks amazing.

[Kollector_Kombat]

I got back into collecting wrestling figures as a whole thanks in part to the AEW line. I haven't watched WWE regularly since about 2011 and only sporadically check in on what's happening with the current product.

I did watch the debut of AEW and really enjoyed the tag match between the Lucha Bros and The Young Bucks so much I bought their figures. I'm hooked again and I'm gonna be building myself a Roster soon.

[cso]

I find AEW pretty corny as an overall show, but they've had some great moments. The figures though... are amazing!

[stc13]

Feb 25, 2021 0:20:10 GMT -5 EMW Figure Shelf said:

When it comes to the AEW hate, to each their own I suppose. I personally don't get the hate for AEW as not too many people have real reasons other than it's the cool thing to dislike AEW or because people listen to Cornette. I don't know. Maybe someone can fill in that blank for me. I love AEW. I don't think they're flawless. Wrestling isn't perfect. It never even was. But, in an era that we are in, it's easier to bash something than it is to compliment. I love the figures but there are many problems that bothered me like the first wave's skin tones, Adam Page's boots, Dustin's height and a few other things. Then again, each wave had problems. All of you guys probably remember the first few waves of the Jakks TTL figures where Stone Cold and Taker looked like they were dipped in some type of acid. The early Mattel scans were very plain looking but overtime improved. Everything will improve with the AEW line and Series 4 looks amazing.

I think there are more than a few different anti-AEW camps.  But most common seem to be people who are just accustomed to WWE's product.  Which is fine - but it's been the only readily available wrestling in the past 20 years, and the product and in ring style has always had a very distinct and specific template going back to the territory days.  Some people like what they like or is familiar and anything else is terrible in their eyes.  

You also have the 20 year narrative that there was this "war" with WCW, which was mostly grudge in Vince's mind and a dash of Bischoff's ego.  Pretty much everybody I knew at the time was watching WCW, WWF, and ECW.  But it's a really good way to build brand loyalty to tell your audience that you smashed the only competition into oblivion.

I'm a big AEW fan and am loving the figure line.  But there are definitely cases where I find myself buying figures of brands I'm not really a fan of.  I have a decent sized ML collection of Spider Man villains, even though I can't stand Spider Man.  Don't have a single Spidey figure, but I have most of his rogues gallery because they're unique characters who make really cool figures.

[celflessness]

Feb 24, 2021 16:24:31 GMT -5 underoos said:

I rarely watch any current wrestling anymore, wwe sucks, aew is good but no fans in attendance has ruined it

I forgot about that. Yeah, the lack of a crowd really hurt my interest. Once the novelty wore off, it just lacks atmosphere, and that atmosphere was a big draw. WWE is unwatchable to me, but AEW felt alive. Until it didn't. Now it's just characters I don't find engaging, and matches I find repetitive at best and botchy at worst. It's the best American wrestling on TV... but it's too similar to the WWE product I'm sick of, for me to want to watch it. 

[kinnikuman]

I only watch AEW and NXT, so it's more that I buy RAW/Smackdown roster figures but never watch.

[airbud]

I like some of the guys in AEW. But i stopped watching when Marko Stunt and Jungle Boy wrestled competitively for like 20 minutes with the Lucha Bros. I might watch highlights from each week but I mainly just listen to Jim Cornette’s reviews of AEW.

[The One Who Collects]

Feb 26, 2021 9:39:28 GMT -5 kinnikuman said:

I only watch AEW and NXT, so it's more that I buy RAW/Smackdown roster figures but never watch.

I had only been watching NXT. I haven't watched any wrestling since December.

[shanieomaniac]

I rarely watch TV at all. Most programs I watch I catch through recaps or I read the results. It isn't a knock on AEW or any other show, it's primarily an issue with over-stimulation when consuming media.

That said, from what I do know and have seen, I am happy to collect AEW figures. Orange Cassidy is an amazing figure for any toy line and my Grrl Power thing I have going drives me to collect all women's wrestlers regardless of promotion. I also really like Hangman Page for reasons I'm not about to get into on here.

So to answer your question, no. I don't watch AEW. But I love the figures.