Remembering the end of Jakks run

[tenup]

I created this thread for those of us who experienced the end of the road with Jakks WWE line. At the time I remember going after Deluxe Aggression figures of larger wrestlers like Undertaker and Kane to better scale with the Mysterios of my collection😄. But as far as the regular RA figures went I was pretty much done. However I remember the abundance of bootleg Jakks figures that were available at retailers and finding it quite humorous.

There was one set that included a ring and figures that had both TNA and WWE logos on it. I seen a titan tron live style Rock figure with the WWE logo on front of his trunks. And who can forget naked sexual chocolate? The end of the Jakks WWE line was somewhat bizarre as it seemed like unlicensed toy companies were using salvaged factory parts to distribute their bootlegs.

I also recall several gift shops closing down at the time and I was lucky to snag a Candice Michelle for under $5.

[LA Times]

They went out with a whimper releasing all those figures with no deco, but at least the naked Mark Henry later turned out to be accurate

[Ohtimate Wahriah]

I remember being really bummed out that the Classic Superstars line was ending because I had so many and that was so awesome at the time. I’ll never forget my brother coming home from Wal Mart & saying they had an Ultimate Warrior figure & I just assumed like, they had an old Warrior figure that they found from the Bone Crunchers? It was unfathomable that they go back and make the old guys again. I don’t think people really know that, toy companies always produced the current stuff, I remember the Mighty Morphin & Zeo 10th anniversary Power Rangers figures popping up in Toys R Us around that time and that was the first I can remember a toy company playing into nostalgia (at least of the ones I collected).

So yea, when these came out it was unbelievable. Nothing like this had been done. And I was very dejected when it ended because I didn’t think anybody would pick up the ball, especially when Mattel revealed their initial WWE figures. I remember seeing WM12 HBK & Austin and I was like, gone are the days of Legends figs of Koko B Ware haha. They’re just gonna make the relative guys and throw them in with the current guys.

As it turns out, the Mattel run has been my favorite of all time and I’ve been collecting since the Galoob WCW figs. They have done an awesome job but JAKKS started it & it was an awesome ride for sure!

[LA Times]

Oct 10, 2021 16:23:36 GMT -5 Ohtimate Wahriah said:

I remember being really bummed out that the Classic Superstars line was ending because I had so many and that was so awesome at the time. I’ll never forget my brother coming home from Wal Mart & saying they had an Ultimate Warrior figure & I just assumed like, they had an old Warrior figure that they found from the Bone Crunchers? It was unfathomable that they go back and make the old guys again. I don’t think people really know that, toy companies always produced the current stuff, I remember the Mighty Morphin & Zeo 10th anniversary Power Rangers figures popping up in Toys R Us around that time and that was the first I can remember a toy company playing into nostalgia (at least of the ones I collected).

So yea, when these came out it was unbelievable. Nothing like this had been done. And I was very dejected when it ended because I didn’t think anybody would pick up the ball, especially when Mattel revealed their initial WWE figures. I remember seeing WM12 HBK & Austin and I was like, gone are the days of Legends figs of Koko B Ware haha. They’re just gonna make the relative guys and throw them in with the current guys.

As it turns out, the Mattel run has been my favorite of all time and I’ve been collecting since the Galoob WCW figs. They have done an awesome job but JAKKS started it & it was an awesome ride for sure!

CS1 Ultimate Warrior is one of the most important wrestling figures of all time. Without it, I dont think the Classic Superstars line really wouldve taken off (Jeremy admitted to cutting corners with some of the other figures in that wave to get more details on UW).

[Ohtimate Wahriah]

Oct 10, 2021 17:32:32 GMT -5 LA Times said:

Oct 10, 2021 16:23:36 GMT -5 Ohtimate Wahriah said:

I remember being really bummed out that the Classic Superstars line was ending because I had so many and that was so awesome at the time. I’ll never forget my brother coming home from Wal Mart & saying they had an Ultimate Warrior figure & I just assumed like, they had an old Warrior figure that they found from the Bone Crunchers? It was unfathomable that they go back and make the old guys again. I don’t think people really know that, toy companies always produced the current stuff, I remember the Mighty Morphin & Zeo 10th anniversary Power Rangers figures popping up in Toys R Us around that time and that was the first I can remember a toy company playing into nostalgia (at least of the ones I collected).

So yea, when these came out it was unbelievable. Nothing like this had been done. And I was very dejected when it ended because I didn’t think anybody would pick up the ball, especially when Mattel revealed their initial WWE figures. I remember seeing WM12 HBK & Austin and I was like, gone are the days of Legends figs of Koko B Ware haha. They’re just gonna make the relative guys and throw them in with the current guys.

As it turns out, the Mattel run has been my favorite of all time and I’ve been collecting since the Galoob WCW figs. They have done an awesome job but JAKKS started it & it was an awesome ride for sure!

CS1 Ultimate Warrior is one of the most important wrestling figures of all time. Without it, I dont think the Classic Superstars line really wouldve taken off (Jeremy admitted to cutting corners with some of the other figures in that wave to get more details on UW).

I agree 100%, he hadn’t had a modern toy since ‘96 and his look was made for toy shelves. Wrestling figs had come a long way since the last time he wrestled, and very far since his heyday. That figure to this day is a favorite of mine, it’s a great figure and yea, you can tell they really gave it all the bells and whistles.

Some of the other figures were great at the time but don’t hold up as well…haha. I didn’t really understand cost cutting back then so I had no idea why Andre had an R3 Big Show mold in package, but had the single strap on the back. To this day I don’t know WHY they used a Titantron Live base for Taker. (or why his boots are white…why ARE they white!?) they painted on his stirrups so I really don’t know why they didn’t just use any other RA figure as his base.

HBK, Bret & Hunter we’re all great figures though, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy Taker & Andre. I was just happy they were in old gear (for the most part 😅)

[wolfpac]

Oct 10, 2021 17:32:32 GMT -5 LA Times said:

Oct 10, 2021 16:23:36 GMT -5 Ohtimate Wahriah said:

I remember being really bummed out that the Classic Superstars line was ending because I had so many and that was so awesome at the time. I’ll never forget my brother coming home from Wal Mart & saying they had an Ultimate Warrior figure & I just assumed like, they had an old Warrior figure that they found from the Bone Crunchers? It was unfathomable that they go back and make the old guys again. I don’t think people really know that, toy companies always produced the current stuff, I remember the Mighty Morphin & Zeo 10th anniversary Power Rangers figures popping up in Toys R Us around that time and that was the first I can remember a toy company playing into nostalgia (at least of the ones I collected).

So yea, when these came out it was unbelievable. Nothing like this had been done. And I was very dejected when it ended because I didn’t think anybody would pick up the ball, especially when Mattel revealed their initial WWE figures. I remember seeing WM12 HBK & Austin and I was like, gone are the days of Legends figs of Koko B Ware haha. They’re just gonna make the relative guys and throw them in with the current guys.

As it turns out, the Mattel run has been my favorite of all time and I’ve been collecting since the Galoob WCW figs. They have done an awesome job but JAKKS started it & it was an awesome ride for sure!

CS1 Ultimate Warrior is one of the most important wrestling figures of all time. Without it, I dont think the Classic Superstars line really wouldve taken off (Jeremy admitted to cutting corners with some of the other figures in that wave to get more details on UW).

Can’t deny Bret either

Both of them, with how much heat they had with wwe at the time, now having new figures just makes the cs explode out of the gate

[CM Tusk]

For as strong as the Classic series started with Warrior and Bret, it ended on such a downer note. I wasn’t collecting anymore at that point but I’d stay up to date here and when I saw that last reveals, I was glad I wasn’t collecting anymore.

[FigFanVader]

I remember finding the first series of Classic Superstars in Toys R Us on my way home from work one night and being blown away that the set even existed. It was one of the few times I can remember finding a set and buying every figure from it in one shot.

Fast forward a few years and I was losing interest in WWE and collecting. I remember going into TRU again at the end of the Jakks run and finding stacks of figures just piled up, including a lot of those later series Classic Superstars. I especially remember finding the Rock n' Roll Express, who are one of my all-time favorite teams, and not buying them because the figures were SO terrible. I didn't buy anything, and now I wish I had even if they were bad figures because they are harder to find and not cheap.

I was done with collecting at that point and not at all interested in jumping in with Mattel--of course now I'm probably buying more figures than I was at the height of the Jakks days and kicking myself for not buying more when they were so plentiful back then!

[hbkjason]

I loved collecting Jakks, but the way it ended was such a bummer. It was made even worse by the fact they phoned it in those last 12 months big time and then expected those same people to support their TNA line even though they had been giving them a terrible product for a year prior!

[rexdaman]

I collect jakks and it is still in my collection

[wwefigures]

Shame how’s the classic line ended. Just very basic reprints - suppose they was trying to make the last bit of money they could at the lowest cost.

[kanepilk]

The thing I always found confusing was that, although I can understand Jakks trying to spend nothing and milk the end of the contract for all it was worth.. I don't understand how WWE gave them a thumbs up on some of the stuff they did.

I mean, we all know how anal WWE are about their image, and we know they check everything and everything has to be approved. So that's what got me. I can understand Jakks wanting to release naked Mark Henry, but I can't understand WWE saying "yeah that looks good, go ahead".

[JC Motors]

Jakks was just being Jakks during the end run

[HardyHeft]

yea regardless of the ed of Jakks run the final AD set is pretty great

[Deleted]

I kept falling in and out of love with wrestling throughout the mid 2000s. Sadly I think by late 07/08 I just couldn't find much passion left for the product on TV. And after 15 straight years of collecting all the figures and video games I was ready to let it go. This was a bittersweet decision though since the Classic Superstars line was really starting to get off to the races. I was in my very early 20s and didn't have the disposable income to keep up with it, and I've always regretted those figures I missed out on the last 4 to 5 years of the Jakks line.

Now that I'm at an age where I can spend a lot more towards collecting, I feel like the mattel line in some ways is geared towards fans my age that couldn't complete a classic superstars lineup in its original run. I don't watch much wrestling at all these days outside of catching up on AEW ppvs and big shows a few times a year. But collecting these little fockers again after all this time brings a goofy smile to my face. Especially in an age that's so digital now. Spent a lot of time, money, and effort consolidating all my physical media onto a home server, video games have gone much of the same way. So it's nice to be able to look at a shelf and actually pick these figures up and admire the tributes in little statue form to all these great characters over the decades. Not really sure how much of this ties back to the end of the Jakks line but somewhere between opening the thread and hitting the reply button my ritalin kicked in so it is what it is.

[tenup]

Nov 20, 2021 16:23:11 GMT -5 @virgintonykhan said:

I kept falling in and out of love with wrestling throughout the mid 2000s. Sadly I think by late 07/08 I just couldn't find much passion left for the product on TV. And after 15 straight years of collecting all the figures and video games I was ready to let it go. This was a bittersweet decision though since the Classic Superstars line was really starting to get off to the races. I was in my very early 20s and didn't have the disposable income to keep up with it, and I've always regretted those figures I missed out on the last 4 to 5 years of the Jakks line.

Now that I'm at an age where I can spend a lot more towards collecting, I feel like the mattel line in some ways is geared towards fans my age that couldn't complete a classic superstars lineup in its original run. I don't watch much wrestling at all these days outside of catching up on AEW ppvs and big shows a few times a year. But collecting these little fockers again after all this time brings a goofy smile to my face. Especially in an age that's so digital now. Spent a lot of time, money, and effort consolidating all my physical media onto a home server, video games have gone much of the same way. So it's nice to be able to look at a shelf and actually pick these figures up and admire the tributes in little statue form to all these great characters over the decades. Not really sure how much of this ties back to the end of the Jakks line but somewhere between opening the thread and hitting the reply button my ritalin kicked in so it is what it is.

Thanks for contributing to the discussion Virgin Khan. You brought up an interesting fact about all things going digital and recently that has been one of my main drives in collecting not only figures but physical books and other forms of media as well.

And despite the state of the current wrestling scene I can always appreciate a decent figure especially if it represents era's I enjoyed. And nothing beats finding odd figures at second hand shops.

[Deleted]

Nov 21, 2021 2:57:20 GMT -5 tenup said:

Nov 20, 2021 16:23:11 GMT -5 @virgintonykhan said:

I kept falling in and out of love with wrestling throughout the mid 2000s. Sadly I think by late 07/08 I just couldn't find much passion left for the product on TV. And after 15 straight years of collecting all the figures and video games I was ready to let it go. This was a bittersweet decision though since the Classic Superstars line was really starting to get off to the races. I was in my very early 20s and didn't have the disposable income to keep up with it, and I've always regretted those figures I missed out on the last 4 to 5 years of the Jakks line.

Now that I'm at an age where I can spend a lot more towards collecting, I feel like the mattel line in some ways is geared towards fans my age that couldn't complete a classic superstars lineup in its original run. I don't watch much wrestling at all these days outside of catching up on AEW ppvs and big shows a few times a year. But collecting these little fockers again after all this time brings a goofy smile to my face. Especially in an age that's so digital now. Spent a lot of time, money, and effort consolidating all my physical media onto a home server, video games have gone much of the same way. So it's nice to be able to look at a shelf and actually pick these figures up and admire the tributes in little statue form to all these great characters over the decades. Not really sure how much of this ties back to the end of the Jakks line but somewhere between opening the thread and hitting the reply button my ritalin kicked in so it is what it is.

Thanks for contributing to the discussion Virgin Khan. You brought up an interesting fact about all things going digital and recently that has been one of my main drives in collecting not only figures but physical books and other forms of media as well.

And despite the state of the current wrestling scene I can always appreciate a decent figure especially if it represents era's I enjoyed. And nothing beats finding odd figures at second hand shops.

The second hand hunt can be so much fun. Its cool to see what franchises have stood the test of time and made a connection with people over the years

[JCF]

Jakks definitely did what they did in their final year for a reason. And I get it. However at the time in 2009 it felt like a stab in the back to all of us who were with them for the ride.

[Scott!]

I just started collecting again in 2010, and I remember buying a lot of Classics that were still in Forbidden Planet, mostly the last couple series.

When you look at the line overall and what we ended up getting in the end, it was so disappointing and clearly a “don’t give two shits” attitude in the last year.

Many of us on this board alone had pardoned Jakks over the years for the BS they ended up giving us compared to what it was advertised and shown as.

I think the last year was a slap in the face to everyone!

[wolfpac]

I know we are talking about the end / but I don’t think jakks gets the credit for taking the figure game in the direction they did.

They went from wrestling figures always had poses with little to no articulation to Mattel style - they introduced joints, real scan, Classics, interactive figures, accessories, real scale rings - all started with them

It’s a real shame the last year of production just made people remember the bad over the good

What new wrestlers main roster stars did we even get in 2009? R truth, Tyson Kidd, nattie, jack swagger? They had decent figures but all I remember from 09 is naked mark henry, or the wm 25 hbk in tights / taker with no tats