Think Mattel can do a deal with Powertown ?

[ctm814]

Maybe Mattel can work with Power town to get more talent ? 
Even notice one company had an announcer Lord Alfred Hayes.
How are they getting all this talent ?

[voicesinmyhead]

Isn’t this common knowledge at this point? Mattel cannot sign talent. Other companies can independently sign talent. It’s that simple.

[stc13]

We've beat this to death. If WWE were interested in these wrestlers, they'd certainly be signed. They aren't, Mattel is content working from talent signed to WWE deals, and both companies make more money from that arrangement. It's as simple as that, whether collectors like it or not.

[Fighter Hayabusa]

I know PowerTown initially sold themselves as a talent agency of sorts but that doesn’t really seems like the case. They appear to be only a toymaker from what I can tell. So no, I don’t think WWE would have to go through them to get Hansen or Magnum or whoever like they would have to do with CMG to get Savage, Andre, Bulldog, etc.

[azraelms]

Jun 23, 2024 19:32:13 GMT -5 Fighter Hayabusa said:

I know PowerTown initially sold themselves as a talent agency of sorts but that doesn’t really seems like the case. They appear to be only a toymaker from what I can tell. So no, I don’t think WWE would have to go through them to get Hansen or Magnum or whoever like they would have to do with CMG to get Savage, Andre, Bulldog, etc.

I think they also have shirts too, but yeah, for the most part, toys is their bread & butter.

[Crossfit Jesus]

Nah

[AxelSmackdown]

Jun 23, 2024 19:02:45 GMT -5 stc13 said:

We've beat this to death. If WWE were interested in these wrestlers, they'd certainly be signed. They aren't, Mattel is content working from talent signed to WWE deals, and both companies make more money from that arrangement. It's as simple as that, whether collectors like it or not.

Not necessarily. Sometimes the talent doesn’t want a deal with WWE. Hopefully that’s changed and/or will change with the new regime though.

[GR81J]

Bc nobody wants some of the talent they have. Just alot of those names don't sell. Very select few want who they offer. Yes it may be 1k-3k who knows but they aren't wanted mostly I think

[coldblooded]

Since Mattel can't work with certain talent if not on deals.

Why not license their molds to them? Is that even possible?

[Flair Forever]

WWE contracts Mattel to produce action figures of WWE Superstars.

Mattel is then contractually obligated to produce action figures of WWE Superstars.

Powertown would be considered a low-level rival to Mattel, as Powertown signs independent wrestlers in order to make action figures and infringe on Mattel's business. Why would Mattel "work with Powertown" when they already have a much more lucrative WWE license worth millions and millions of dollars? Your suggestion doesn't make sense.

Mattel would be jeopardizing that million-dollar WWE contract - - - for what, some Stan Hansen action figures?

[PJ]

Mattel used to go out and sign their own talent. (Von Erich’s, Steamboat, Savage) But now just make whoever the WWE sign to a legends/merchandise deal. Which if I am Mattel makes perfect sense. Bill’s boss’s would rather the WWE pay for contracts over Mattel having to pay for contracts.

[Joe/Smurf]

Jun 23, 2024 18:50:37 GMT -5 voicesinmyhead said:

Isn’t this common knowledge at this point? Mattel cannot sign talent. Other companies can independently sign talent. It’s that simple.

Well, let’s rephrase that: Mattel won’t. Maybe the Design Team can’t. But someone up the chain of command at Mattel is choosing that they won’t. Cause it’s not like they don’t have money to do it themselves or work with WWE to do it if there was a desire.

[arthur214]

Jun 24, 2024 8:54:45 GMT -5 Joe/Smurf said:

Jun 23, 2024 18:50:37 GMT -5 voicesinmyhead said:

Isn’t this common knowledge at this point? Mattel cannot sign talent. Other companies can independently sign talent. It’s that simple.

Well, let’s rephrase that: Mattel won’t. Maybe the Design Team can’t. But someone up the chain of command at Mattel is choosing that they won’t. Cause it’s not like they don’t have money to do it themselves or work with WWE to do it if there was a desire.

Pretty sure WWE is choosing that Mattel cannot sign outside talent.

[Joe/Smurf]

Jun 24, 2024 9:01:23 GMT -5 arthur214 said:

Jun 24, 2024 8:54:45 GMT -5 Joe/Smurf said:

Well, let’s rephrase that: Mattel won’t. Maybe the Design Team can’t. But someone up the chain of command at Mattel is choosing that they won’t. Cause it’s not like they don’t have money to do it themselves or work with WWE to do it if there was a desire.

Pretty sure WWE is choosing that Mattel cannot sign outside talent.

I guess that wouldn’t surprise me if that’s the case! Thanks for the correction.

[stc13]

Jun 24, 2024 15:43:11 GMT -5 Joe/Smurf said:

Jun 24, 2024 9:01:23 GMT -5 arthur214 said:

Pretty sure WWE is choosing that Mattel cannot sign outside talent.

I guess that wouldn’t surprise me if that’s the case! Thanks for the correction.

It's most likely both.  It's financially a win for both.  WWE signs a bunch of talent directly, paying a percentage from their net profit.  They license that slate of talent to toy, trading card, video game, etc manufacturers, which makes them more money in the long run.  The companies license that slate of talent, saving them costs and admin burden in exchange for giving WWE a larger cut of of revenues.

I guarantee you that if Mattel thought they could make more money signing talent directly, they would have negotiated for it.  It's not WWE just saying "you can't do this."  Mattel isn't a victim here.  It's two businesses agreeing on a structure that makes them both more money.

[voicesinmyhead]

Jun 24, 2024 8:54:45 GMT -5 Joe/Smurf said:

Jun 23, 2024 18:50:37 GMT -5 voicesinmyhead said:

Isn’t this common knowledge at this point? Mattel cannot sign talent. Other companies can independently sign talent. It’s that simple.

Well, let’s rephrase that: Mattel won’t. Maybe the Design Team can’t. But someone up the chain of command at Mattel is choosing that they won’t. Cause it’s not like they don’t have money to do it themselves or work with WWE to do it if there was a desire.

I don't think that is how it works. I am not going to pretend to work for WWE, Mattel, or any toy business, but I am pretty sure that decision is up to WWE.

[WCWThunderRosa]

Jun 24, 2024 9:01:23 GMT -5 arthur214 said:

Jun 24, 2024 8:54:45 GMT -5 Joe/Smurf said:

Well, let’s rephrase that: Mattel won’t. Maybe the Design Team can’t. But someone up the chain of command at Mattel is choosing that they won’t. Cause it’s not like they don’t have money to do it themselves or work with WWE to do it if there was a desire.

Pretty sure WWE is choosing that Mattel cannot sign outside talent.

2K signs outside wrestlers so I think it’s a Mattel choice

Also they had the option at the start and I don’t think they lost the right to do it, I just think they were losing money on it and didn’t see the need to when they had a built-in roster to work with from WWE

[voicesinmyhead]

Jun 24, 2024 15:56:16 GMT -5 stc13 said:

Jun 24, 2024 15:43:11 GMT -5 Joe/Smurf said:

I guess that wouldn’t surprise me if that’s the case! Thanks for the correction.

It's most likely both.  It's financially a win for both.  WWE signs a bunch of talent directly, paying a percentage from their net profit.  They license that slate of talent to toy, trading card, video game, etc manufacturers, which makes them more money in the long run.  The companies license that slate of talent, saving them costs and admin burden in exchange for giving WWE a larger cut of of revenues.

I guarantee you that if Mattel thought they could make more money signing talent directly, they would have negotiated for it.  It's not WWE just saying "you can't do this."  Mattel isn't a victim here.  It's two businesses agreeing on a structure that makes them both more money.

But it is WWE saying "They can't do this." If WWE doesn't want Mattel to make figures of people outside of Legends deals, then Mattel will not have that option. It is ultimately WWE's decision. Your theory of Mattel "negotiating" for a talent is still ultimately WWE's decision. They would have final call.

Here are two cases:

1. Mattel signing their own talent like Jakks --> WWE would have to approve the notion of and give the go ahead for Mattel signing their own talent. So, WWE has final say.

2. Mattel requests, negotiates, etc for a certain talent to be signed --> WWE would have to sign them to a legends deal or nostalgia contract. Ergo, WWE has final say.

Yes, Mattel saves money by not having to independently sign the contracts, but don't pretend Mattel can do whatever they want. I won't call them a "victim," but they do need approval and do have people to answer to.

I could be wrong here and be misremembering this, but I swear I have heard in the past that WWE even has final say over the individual lineups. In every scenario, whether Mattel can negotiate for something or not, WWE has to approve it.

My point is, the licensor has final say.

[voicesinmyhead]

Jun 24, 2024 18:21:28 GMT -5 WCWThunderRosa said:

Jun 24, 2024 9:01:23 GMT -5 arthur214 said:

Pretty sure WWE is choosing that Mattel cannot sign outside talent.

2K signs outside wrestlers so I think it’s a Mattel choice

Also they had the option at the start and I don’t think they lost the right to do it, I just think they were losing money on it and didn’t see the need to when they had a built-in roster to work with from WWE

Mattel may have chosen to not add "signing talent independently" to their licensing agreement, but it would have still been WWE's call to approve that. 2K must have the rights to do so per their licensing agreement, but it was WWE's call to allow that and approve the terms of the contract.

We can't pretend to know that terms of either contract. However, in the 2K case, it is possible that 2K pays the talent, but WWE still has final say.

[Flair Forever]

I feel like we just had this discussion several weeks ago.... with the guy who insisted that talent doesn't have to to have a WWE "Legends Deal" and even Steve "Action Figure Attack" himself chimed in to say that they DO need a WWE deal, and the guy didn't even believe Steve of all people....

Mattel can't just slap the WWE brand on any old wrestler - I'm not sure how JAKKS was doing it, but Cancel Culture wasn't a "thing" back then (not to the extent that it is today) and there is absolutely no doubt that WWE would not allow Mattel to sign random wrestlers and produce their figures with the WWE brand attached. Can you imagine if Mattel tried to market a Snuka or a Benoit WWE Legends figure that wasn't approved by WWE? WWE would cancel Mattel's contract so fast our heads would spin.

WWE chooses which Legends to keep under contract, and on the flip side, some talent would rather not do business with WWE, for various reasons. The Owen Hart estate is one example.

Are we suggesting that Mattel create a Non-WWE line and sign their own talent (guys like Von Erich, Hansen, Missing Link)? I really doubt Mattel would have any interest in that when they already have the most lucrative wrestling brand in the world, WWE, in their portfolio.

You're asking McDonald's to start selling Whoppers...... because, well, some people like Whoppers.