Return of cancelled WrestleMania 40 Series

[dxc]

One user on the forum made an interesting find. It looks like the cancelled WrestleMania 40 Series appeared on Amazon. If anyone is interested in Muhammad Ali basic he is available for order, while two other figures are currently presented on the site with pictures (Rollins, Batista). This might be some kind of mistake but some users here might be interested in seeing the proto images. Steve said in an inteview that these figures didn't make it but they will try to do their best to release at least some of them. 

Muhammad Ali - LINK

Seth Rollins - LINK

Batista - LINK

[kirk815]

The Ali is a 3rd party selling it (PigglyToyVille) and it isn't in stock - expected to ship in March.

Most likely a scalper that doesn't know that the set is cancelled yet (or they somehow "acquired" some stock).

Won't be the first time retailers had a placeholder for a cancelled figure (and now retailers allow third parties to sell on their sites so people can add anything).

[dxc]

There are many possibilities. In the past I was able to find or even purchase some cancelled figures and sets thru different sites.

The fact that they have actual photos of the figures in packaging is interesting. It verifies that they got them into very advanced phase of production.

[kirk815]

Jan 23, 2024 5:44:30 GMT -5 dxc said:

There are many possibilities. In the past I was able to find or even purchase some cancelled figures and sets thru different sites.

The fact that they have actual photos of the figures in packaging is interesting. It verifies that they got them into very advanced phase of production.

I know you want your WM basics, but your post is starting to lean into promoting/discussing stolen/illegally obtained territory.

You might want to proceed with caution so you don't get banned.

[Old Zeke]

Jan 23, 2024 5:44:30 GMT -5 dxc said:

There are many possibilities. In the past I was able to find or even purchase some cancelled figures and sets thru different sites.

The fact that they have actual photos of the figures in packaging is interesting. It verifies that they got them into very advanced phase of production.

Careful with that first line there.

And the packaged shots mean nothing - Chief Jay Strongbow is also out there in-box, but completely and utterly illegally.

[dxc]

Just to let everyone know and make it clear I'm not talking about illegal purchases but cases where something was already out and pulled from stores. For example the Hogan/Austin/Rocky/Becky four pack with first packaging or 80's legends three pack with Hogan instead of Steamboat. So you may call these products pulled from stores rather than cancelled and locked in warehouses from the start. When I'm talking about sites I mean used products from Ebay from people who bought them legally at reatail.

[mad2009]

When I heard these were cancelled I was surprised. These were selling like hotcakes at $20 a pop at last year's WrestleMania fan experience. I was shocked 😲😂

[ℍ𝕒𝕣𝕕 𝕋𝕠 𝕂𝕚𝕝𝕝]

Had no clue this was cancelled. Any reasons why?

[cableV]

Jan 23, 2024 13:11:30 GMT -5 ℍ𝕒𝕣𝕕 𝕋𝕠 𝕂𝕚𝕝𝕝 said:

Had no clue this was cancelled. Any reasons why?

Steve said not enough retailer interest in the wave.

[Lariat Tubman]

Did Batista ever wear this hideous attire?

[Grenouille]

Jan 23, 2024 19:09:32 GMT -5 Lariat Tubman said:

Did Batista ever wear this hideous attire?

Mania XXX

[rkmo: Autonomous Meat Shield]

Ali be built tho

[dxc]

Jan 23, 2024 13:13:43 GMT -5 cableV said:

Jan 23, 2024 13:11:30 GMT -5 ℍ𝕒𝕣𝕕 𝕋𝕠 𝕂𝕚𝕝𝕝 said:

Had no clue this was cancelled. Any reasons why?

Steve said not enough retailer interest in the wave.

If I was a retailer the WM basics would be the ones I wouldn't want to miss out on especially during WM season. Usually the WM or SummerSlam basics were the best ones - often with special or first time attires.

So at first I was pretty surprised when they got cancelled. But my reaction was solely based on the first photo we saw. I thought we were going to get first WM38 Rollins with that cool attire, retirement match updated WM35 Batista and first time WM39 Reigns with red boots. 

But now after seeing the proto photos I understand this set was just going to be three straight rereleases with new articulation and added Ali who looks a bit oversized in height. 😂

[hordakgrim]

Jan 23, 2024 13:13:43 GMT -5 cableV said:

Jan 23, 2024 13:11:30 GMT -5 ℍ𝕒𝕣𝕕 𝕋𝕠 𝕂𝕚𝕝𝕝 said:

Had no clue this was cancelled. Any reasons why?

Steve said not enough retailer interest in the wave.

I personally found it interesting it was cancelled after the disappointing CC Alis. That, coupled with the fact that Mattel concealed the fact that the 4th figure in Legends 22 was an Ali until fairly recently makes me think these moves were made to try to shift more CC Alis. If your $70 product isn't selling, revealing a $12 and $23 version isn't going to help sales.

[Flair Forever]

Jan 24, 2024 4:21:54 GMT -5 hordakgrim said:

Jan 23, 2024 13:13:43 GMT -5 cableV said:

Steve said not enough retailer interest in the wave.

I personally found it interesting it was cancelled after the disappointing CC Alis. That, coupled with the fact that Mattel concealed the fact that the 4th figure in Legends 22 was an Ali until fairly recently makes me think these moves were made to try to shift more CC Alis. If your $70 product isn't selling, revealing a $12 and $23 version isn't going to help sales.

THIS. I agree with you 100%.

Nobody wants to talk about it but the SDCC Ali was a big flop. Not what wrestling fans want from these promotions. It'd be like marketing a line of NFL action figures and then all of a sudden randomly throwing in Michael Jordan...... Yeah, it will appeal to a lot of SPORTS fans..... but not necessarily translate to the core audience.

FULL TRANSPARENCY: I will confess that I bought the SDCC Ali as part of the awesome Mattel BOGO sale. I did not buy one at full price because I didn't feel I needed it (for full price) for my collection.

[hordakgrim]

Jan 24, 2024 6:32:10 GMT -5 Flair Forever said:

Jan 24, 2024 4:21:54 GMT -5 hordakgrim said:

I personally found it interesting it was cancelled after the disappointing CC Alis. That, coupled with the fact that Mattel concealed the fact that the 4th figure in Legends 22 was an Ali until fairly recently makes me think these moves were made to try to shift more CC Alis. If your $70 product isn't selling, revealing a $12 and $23 version isn't going to help sales.

THIS. I agree with you 100%.

Nobody wants to talk about it but the SDCC Ali was a big flop. Not what wrestling fans want from these promotions. It'd be like marketing a line of NFL action figures and then all of a sudden randomly throwing in Michael Jordan...... Yeah, it will appeal to a lot of SPORTS fans..... but not necessarily translate to the core audience.

FULL TRANSPARENCY: I will confess that I bought the SDCC Ali as part of the awesome Mattel BOGO sale. I did not buy one at full price because I didn't feel I needed it (for full price) for my collection.

I probably would have bought it if it was Ali & Inoki instead of 2 Alis. Just didn't make sense to me.

[kirk815]

Jan 24, 2024 6:32:10 GMT -5 Flair Forever said:

Jan 24, 2024 4:21:54 GMT -5 hordakgrim said:

I personally found it interesting it was cancelled after the disappointing CC Alis. That, coupled with the fact that Mattel concealed the fact that the 4th figure in Legends 22 was an Ali until fairly recently makes me think these moves were made to try to shift more CC Alis. If your $70 product isn't selling, revealing a $12 and $23 version isn't going to help sales.

THIS. I agree with you 100%.

Nobody wants to talk about it but the SDCC Ali was a big flop. Not what wrestling fans want from these promotions. It'd be like marketing a line of NFL action figures and then all of a sudden randomly throwing in Michael Jordan...... Yeah, it will appeal to a lot of SPORTS fans..... but not necessarily translate to the core audience.

FULL TRANSPARENCY: I will confess that I bought the SDCC Ali as part of the awesome Mattel BOGO sale. I did not buy one at full price because I didn't feel I needed it (for full price) for my collection.

So Mattel spent time and money on this WM basic series and then cancelled it in favor of trying to shift more sales of one figure that everyone claims isnt selling and that nobody wants? How does that make sense?

Will the whole set of Legends 22 be cancelled too to shift more SDCC Ali's?

I do agree that they held off announcing Ali in L22, but that is marketing 101. They also held off showing pics of e106 Usos (to help drive sales of the RSC UE exclusive).

Ali's perceived success/failure (only Mattel knows for sure) has been debated ad neuseum by people that don't have access to sales numbers - they didn't cancel a whole series over him.

Per a previous post from Fighter Hayabusa in another thread, Steve addressed around the 51:40 mark:

www.youtube.com/live/7whXKw1XFp8?feature=shared

[Flair Forever]

Jan 25, 2024 6:47:46 GMT -5 kirk815 said:

Jan 24, 2024 6:32:10 GMT -5 Flair Forever said:

THIS. I agree with you 100%.

Nobody wants to talk about it but the SDCC Ali was a big flop. Not what wrestling fans want from these promotions. It'd be like marketing a line of NFL action figures and then all of a sudden randomly throwing in Michael Jordan...... Yeah, it will appeal to a lot of SPORTS fans..... but not necessarily translate to the core audience.

FULL TRANSPARENCY: I will confess that I bought the SDCC Ali as part of the awesome Mattel BOGO sale. I did not buy one at full price because I didn't feel I needed it (for full price) for my collection.

So Mattel spent time and money on this WM basic series and then cancelled it in favor of trying to shift more sales of one figure that everyone claims isnt selling and that nobody wants? How does that make sense?

Will the whole set of Legends 22 be cancelled too to shift more SDCC Ali's?

I do agree that they held off announcing Ali in L22, but that is marketing 101. They also held off showing pics of e106 Usos (to help drive sales of the RSC UE exclusive).

Ali's perceived success/failure (only Mattel knows for sure) has been debated ad neuseum by people that don't have access to sales numbers - they didn't cancel a whole series over him.

Per a previous post from Fighter Hayabusa in another thread, Steve addressed around the 51:40 mark:

www.youtube.com/live/7whXKw1XFp8?feature=shared

I get what you're saying and no, we don't have access to sales numbers.....

But every other year when the SDCC Exclusive was announced, users on this forum went nuts with excitement...... with Ali? Seemed like most of the reactions were "Okay...... I'll probably buy it" or "Nah I'll pass on this one."

Every other year the SDCC completely sold out within MINUTES...... remember Sgt. Slaughter? Remember No Holds Barred? Ultimate Ali is STILL available 8 months later and Mattel offered them "Buy One Get One Free" in December.....

I have no idea if they cancelled a line to push sales on Ultimate Ali (my gut tells me they did not)..... but there is a strong argument that the Ali SDCC was NOT the big seller or as popular as past Exclusives like Slim Jim's Macho Man, Sgt. Slaughter, and No Holds Barred - which are all STILL difficult and expensive to obtain on the secondary market.

[rkmo: Autonomous Meat Shield]

Methinks "supply-demand" is as alien to the consumers as it's claimed to be for the producers...

[J-MANN]

These basics definitely look better, just not for me.