Wrestling Figure Reviews

WWE RUMBLERS!

2011-04-06T11:56:00.001-07:00

Typically, I am a stickler for realism when it comes to ANY kind of collectible, be it at any scale. I generally want size accuracy, as much detail as possible, dead on likeness, and realistic proportions.

Some of those categories, do not fit the WWE Rumblers at all... but you know what? That is part of the appeal to me! These aren't meant to be accurate representations of the Superstars of the WWE, they're cartoony, they're out of proportion, they aren't heavily articulated, and they are SMALL! Coming in around 2 inches tall at most... but man, this is a KILLER line to get into, and insanely fun to collect!

And, it's not like the detail on these are just non-existent either, in fact I'd go out on a limb as far as to say that for the size these little figures are, the detail is MIGHTY impressive. Okay, so 'Taker doesn't have his sleeves, Punk doesn't either, and Edge is missing his ink as well, but the Series 2 Randy Orton DOES have some tattoos. Sure, they aren't accurately placed, but if you've seen the figures in person, I think it's understandable and Mattel deserves a pass. Hopefully, this line gets a little more of a budget so we can start seeing what details are cut, eventually added on.

That said, one of the coolest aspects of this line, is that every character (aside from repaints) have their own bodies in a signature pose! Really lending themselves to having a very unique look figure to figure. They're also damn affordable, ranging around $3-$4 for a single carded figure, or $6-$7 for two! They also have a ring playset, aside from having single figures that come with accessories and "scenes". All I have really left to say is, I doubt Mattel was expecting this to be a real hit with collectors, and mainly sold as a line directed toward children... but I know a LOT of people over 18 that just LOVE these! I really hope we get a couple of more per series, and I'd LOOOOOOOVE to see some "Legends" released (especially The Road Warriors).

Below are individual photos of EACH Rumbler I own. Enjoy!

That's it for now, thanks for reading! - And congrats to Niko who won the "BOURNE TO BE FREE" contest! Your figure is heading out to you tomorrow!

-Adam

Defining Moments 2 - Ultimate Warrior

2011-03-02T11:20:00.001-08:00

It was written in the tablets, sent down from the Gods in the mountains, THE ULTIMATE FIGURE HAS ARRIVED.

I'm not even going to lie, we all know Warrior wasn't the best in the ring, but his charisma was damn near unmatched - and as a kid there was no bigger fan than me. In fact, my earliest memories of watching wrestling with my late father not only include the Ultimate Warrior, but heavily involve him.

This figure is practically right out of those memories, based on his Career Match with the "Macho King" Randy Savage at WrestleMania Seven in Los Angeles, California.

A lot of people have discovered inaccuracies with this figure, from the Warrior symbol on the back, to the missing tassels on the jacket (which has been explained by Mattel, that it's based on the moments after the match, in which the tassels were not there), and the face paint being a bit wrong. But you know what? I could not care any less! This is by FAR one of the most incredible figures I have ever truly seen in my life. The detail here is just... Holy sh...
Top to bottom, the detail is LOADED. You've got his trunks, reproduced here with both portraits of Savage and Warrior, the WWE Winged Eagle Championship on the back, wristbands with stripes and Warrior symbols, and the knee pads with individual portraits again, of both superstars. Warrior's reads, "Warrior Wildness", while Randy's says, "Macho Madness".

That is all of course, aside from the RIDICULOUS detail on the jacket. Featuring his name across the front, and an explosion on the back, with again, the two participants in the Career Match, both wearing the Winged Eagle belt.

Up until when this figure was released, I'd definitely say this was Mattel's best effort yet (though I think you'll all agree when you see it in person, that Steamboat is THE best, haha).

As far as an Ultimate Warrior goes, if you are, or were a fan, you HAVE to have this figure. Once you see this in person, you'll be absolutely floored and blown away just like I was.

I hope you all enjoyed the review and the photos! Keep those submissions for the Elite 8 Evan Bourne coming!

-Adam

Elite 7 - John Cena (Head Swap)

2011-02-26T07:50:00.000-08:00

I'd be willing to bet a lot of my readers thought I would never do a Cena review.

Well, think again!

This has been a long time coming, but I'm pleasantly surprised here. The former multi-time World and WWE champion comes sporting his bright orange gear and dog tags, black tennis shoes, and of course, his jean shorts.

Truth be told, I was never a big fan of the first head sculpt Mattel made for him, sure the likeness was there.... but it just didn't have the depth (for lack of a better term) that I wanted. Several figures later, finally a new head was made depicting a cocky, smirking John Cena.

Cha-Ching. When I had the chance to pick up a figure sporting that head, I also had to grab an Elite Cena, and swap 'em out.

This, to me at least, makes for the quintessential Cena in anyone's collection.

Now, is that debatable? Of course it is, but the likeness is just so killer that, to date, I personally feel this is the BEST representation of John you can possibly get.

Unfortunately, you'll just have to get two figures for it, but I hope my photos show how worth it, it actually is.

If you're looking to do this, and have never swapped out a head before, it's not a hard task. Some people use hot water to soften the plastic, however - I just use a hair dryer.

Set it to high, count to thirty (rotating the figure so it heats evenly), then simply pop one head off, and pop the other on. You'll be glad you did, I promise.

So that's that, before I go though, I wanted to say that the Evan Bourne, Elite 8 contest has gone over REALLY well! Much better than expected! Keep the entries coming!

Next up for review? DEFINING MOMENTS 2 ULTIMATE WARRIOR!

Thanks for reading!

-Adam

Elite 7 - David Hart Smith

2011-02-19T11:47:00.000-08:00

I'm finally back with another review!

It took me some time to acquire this figure, but the wait was well worth it! I'm a... errr... was(?) a huge fan of the Hart Dynasty, in fact I think it was a terrible idea to disband Kidd, Natalya, and Smith.

On the bright side, Mattel still released great Elite style figures of both Tyson and DH, and for that I am very grateful.

This former Undisputed Tag Team Champion comes with a serious headscan, a shirt that is exactly like Tyson Kidd's (no sleeves), some awesome knee pads, trunks that feature his last name across the front, and a pair of boots with the famous maple leaf/wings design.

On the extreme nitpicky side, the boots he is wearing (I am 90% sure) are inaccurate. I don't think Smith ever wore kick pads, but rather boots that were either short, about calve high with laces, or a pair that was without laces entirely... not exactly sure what to call them, but I believe Kane (and MVP) wore a similar style for a time.

Now, don't get me wrong, the boots do not in any way at all look bad, they serve their purpose just fine. To be honest, I'm glad they went with this mold for him, it allowed for them to add deco to the front - which laces would have hindered.

However, and I apologize for harping on the boots, had Mattel have had the WWE license when Undertaker was wearing his lace-less boots, they could have made a unique mold, that in theory, may have worked. For the life of me though, I don't remember how tall they were, and with Smith wearing shorter footwear, it may have not worked after all, but I digress.

The knee pads look phenomenal here too, matching the detailing on his trunks, and thusly matching Tyson Kidd's attire wonderfully. I guess large part of why I loved this team so much, was because I grew up watching The Hart Foundation... you know, aside from the undeniable talent Smith and Kidd have. That said, I just loved seeing the pink and black attack back on my television set... especially with the technical and high flying prowess Kidd has, matched with the strength and power of Smith.

I can't help but hope that one day we see The Dynasty get back together, and once again dominate the tag team scene in the WWE.

Until then, we'll have to watch as David Hart Smith, and Tyson Kidd continue their singles careers, thankfully (as I said before), I'm just happy we got Elite figures of the son of the British Bulldog, and the last graduate of the Hart Dungeon.

All of that said, I wanted to make another announcement and point out that their is a contest for you guys! Elite 8 is due out soon from Ringside Collectibles, and I'll have a spare Evan Bourne (MOC). If you'd like to enter to win it, you may do so by clicking the graphic on the sidebar and following the instructions!

As always, thank you for your continued support of this blog! Check back soon for MORE (and I do mean a LOT more reviews) in the very near future. Until next time, LONG LIVE THE HART DYNASTY!

-Adam

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

2011-02-01T09:46:00.000-08:00

No, this is not a review, this is in fact - what I have been hinting at for months. Finally ready to let the cat out of the bag... so bear with me, I'm not exactly sure how to properly word this.

I take a lot of pride in providing what I, and many others consider high quality photos for WWE action figures. I have been a collector since the days of WWE's Hasbro and WCW's Galoob, all the way until the Jakks Pacific "Classic Superstars" line... alas, that was when I caved in and sold off my collection... mainly due to bad part choices, and lack of detail... nevermind the incorrect body proportions. What can I say? As I grew older as a wrestling fan, I started wanting the over look to be "more", I wanted higher quality.

I ended up settling on Sideshow Collectibles and Hot Toys (mainly) high-end collectibles... through those, I decided one day I wanted to do product photography - more specifically, toys. So I went out and got a point and shoot digital camera, and went off trying to replicate what I had seen.

Eventually, I made a huge upgrade into the DSLR world, and studied up on everything I could. Throughout that time, WWE made the transition from Jakks, into Mattel. I had no idea what to expect, but I was anxious... sculpts were revealed, eventually prototypes shown, and THEN I found them in stores.

So where is the news? Well, if you're a reader - you know I took what I gathered from high-end collectible photography, and applied it here to the BEST of my ability (though it seems everyday I learn something new). Eventually, it paid off.

Somebody at Mattel contacted me and offered me a deal (which no, I am not going to share all of the details online of). Basically, this is the thing - I am going to be provided figures to review for you guys, so long as I provide them with some shots of the figures. Also, if you've "LIKED" Mattel / WWE on Facebook, you'll soon be seeing my photos there as well.

As a life long wrestling fan, and a collector, I couldn't be happier. I hope all of you join me for the ride!

-Adam

Legends 4 - Demolition Ax

2011-01-22T13:18:00.000-08:00

Here comes the Ax, I can't find the Smasher - it's still one half of Demolition, walking disaster!

I wanted to hold off on this until I snagged Smash, and do a full on Demolition review, but I just couldn't wait once I started taking single photos of this guy. Mattel, we are NOT worthy.

This figure is AWESOME. I know I say that a lot, but man it's so true. This smokes previous variations of Ax something ridiculous! The head sculpt is off the hook, the "face paint" is killer, and the gear! HOLY CRAP THE GEAR!

It feels like Christmas, I'm telling you. I've been waiting to get my hands on just one of the Demolition figures since the prototypes were first shown off last year. The biggest reason... the entrance gear is just amazing. The pieces are made out of a soft plastic material, and the "spikes" are all sculpted out; on the vest, the gauntlets, and the mask. This is easily one of the best figures I have ever seen. THIS is the stuff Mattel will be known for with this line.

Top to bottom, this is just a mindblowing figure. I know price point has been an issue with other folks since Mattel picked up the license, but for $14.99 (MSPR), I don't see how you can go wrong at all. For my money, is is an absolute steal!

I do want to touch on the material that the straps, the vest, the gauntlets, and vest are made out of - I have read some concern about them. As we all know, well those of us who have been collecting since Elite Series 1, Mattel used a plastic for the Undertaker (hat and coat), and Edge (jacket) that was a harder plastic. Rest assured, earlier when I said SOFT PLASTIC, I really meant it.

It's decievingly soft, bends extremely well, and is easy to remove if you so please.

The only knock I can find to give this figure is that he does not come with a classic tag team championship - which Mattel has yet to produce, so it's really a non-issue. Whenever they do put them out, be sure my Ax (and Smash when I get him), will be proudly displayed on my shelf with the straps.

That's about it for this review! Thanks for reading!

-Adam

Basic 8 - Maryse

2011-01-21T11:05:00.000-08:00

Ohhhh Oui!

The blond bombshell herself has finally made her way strutting into her first Mattel series!

I have to say, I am awfully impressed - though this is a very simple figure, the only thing besides a little metallic purple that could make this figure sparkle any more would be a Diva's Championship (hint hint Mattel)!

The body is the same as Basic 7 Michelle McCool, and I believe Basic 5 Melina (I don't own Basic 6 Kelly Kelly to compare). It's pretty much a repaint, with a new head popped on, but it REALLY works for Maryse.

The torso could be leaner, heck, it'd be nice if ALL of the Diva's all had there own individually sculpted upper bodies, since they all were different tops and generally stick with the same style for a while - and none of them really look similar... but I know the idea just wouldn't be practical, though it is nice to dream, I digress.

While the attire isn't just bursting with detail, it does the job nicely. It's a great shade of purple, with metallic gold trim.

Rounding out this quick review, I have to mention the surprising inclusion of Maryse's own ink (of her father's name). I'm still getting used to a company really being this attentive to details!

Thanks for reading, keep your eyes peeled for more VERY SOON!

-Adam

Legends 4 - Ultimate Warrior

2011-01-11T11:54:00.000-08:00

I've been waiting to snag a Mattel Warrior for a while now, and that wait is finally over!

This figure is based on his early time in the WWF/E around '88, before his attires got ridiculously crazy with the colors, but this is still a great debut figure for the Ultimate Warrior regardless.

Some people have been harsh on this figure, mainly for the headsculpt, which while it DOES look like him, a lot of folks wanted something a bit more 'animated' - as Warrior was the epitome of intensity, and was a true larger than life superstar. This head is straight faced, no screaming, or really vicious look to it... but at the same time, he does look focused, and serious, so to me it's not a bad thing.

Just please, never release a smiling Warrior, hahaha.

Unfortunately, just like Elite 7, and Basic 8, this is the Legends Series in which the display stands were discontinued to allot Mattel money in their budget to keep detail a number one priority.

And while this figure isn't just BEAMING with the detail, it does have a couple of elements I really like. I love the sculpt of the hair, Warrior was a casualty of the big hair of the 80's (and early 90's), and the sculptor here captured that really well.

The face paint this man is known for looks awesome too, I was please to see it was done in the same fashion as Kamala's (series 2), where the "paint" element does not PERFECT lines. Let's remember that face paint in the real world is done by hand, and I love that Mattel does this in such a way that resembles that.

I didn't know how I would feel about the "tassels" not being "real" ala the Jakks Pacific Warrior figures, but I have to say, I LOVE the soft plastic used here. Gone are my days of frustration having to fight the bicep cut from getting strings untangled... what a headache that was.

As you can see from the photo, he also brings a classic Intercontinental Championship to the table, which strangely enough has a lighter blue paint on the globe than the Mr. Perfect Legends figure does.

In closing, I totally recommend this figure - while The Ultimate One may not have been the best technician in the ring, he was charisma, he was intensity, and he was exactly what the term "superstar" means. At the height of Hulkamania, the Warrior's popularity rivaled that, and while this figure may not be from that exact era of his super stardom, it's a Hell of a figure to kick start the celebration of his career. Pick him up!

Thanks for reading!

-Adam

Basic 7 - Sheamus

2011-01-01T14:25:00.000-08:00

Joking 100% aside, this was the HARDEST figure I have had to photograph.

I'm serious, this figure is as pale white as the real Celtic Warrior! On the upside, it led to me playing around with solid black for the first time!

So again - before this review is officially underway I need to apologize (again), for being so behind. I've acquired several great figures that I haven't been able to review due to my lack of proper internet (which WILL be remedied soon) such as Basic 8 Kofi, Basic 5 Melina, Elite 7 Triple H, and RSF Exclusive Rey just to name a few.

That said, let's get on with this!

Let me clarify right off the bat, on the trunks, there IS green - however, it was less than easy for my camera to pick up in the black photos below. Transitioning away from that, this guy has an all new body sculpt, which is absolutely killer! The headsculpt is awesome, and as I mentioned before, the pale coloring is spot on. Kudos to Mattel, again. Do these guys ever sleep?

The boots feature the cross design Sheamus is pretty well known for having, the back of the trunks also sport this, conspicuous by their absence though - are the crosses that should be on his wrists. A slight bummer for the extremely nit-picky, but it's just a very minor detail that is not there.

For a debut figure, I don't know if I have ever seen a better outcome - sitting on my shelf, this guy truly stands out and has a presence, and for you Elite collectors, I have his series 8 figure on pre-order (along with Evan Bourne) that is scheduled to ship out from Ringside Collectibles later this month... a figure I am dying to get a hold of - so keep on eye out for that one.

One last bit of info before I leave you with parting photos, I have something very new to do a quick review on in the very near future.

WWE has a new little venture going with aVinci Media, a company that specializes in photo prints, and other merchandise of the like. The prices are a bit steep, but I am looking VERY forward to seeing the quality, and I couldn't find any reviews of their products online. So I went ahead and dropped (gasp) $30 on a 24x36 inch poster of one of my favorite wrestlers, and my favorite diva - you guessed it, Michelle McCool. Keep an eye out for that sometime next week!

As always guys, thanks for reading!

-Adam

Elite 7 - Tyson Kidd

2010-12-13T09:31:00.001-08:00

Has it really been over a MONTH since my last update?

I'll first apologize for that right now, in truth - the last month has been a virtual Hell for me. I moved into a new apartment, started a new job working overnights, and have yet to get the internet actually set up in my new place.

I meant for this next post to bring some good news, news I had been waiting to let out of the bag for months now. First things first, let's get down to the nitty gritty on Elite 7 Tyson Kidd!

Off the bat, I have to point out the packaging for the Basic and Elite figures have changed, and it looks pretty good to me. They have also discontinued the bases and the name plates (which I do sorely miss) due to rising production costs - opting to get rid of them and keep the extreme detail Mattel is known for.

This is a gorgeous figure, the silver, white, pink, and black are eye catching, and the lines are sharp and crisp, as you should expect from this company!

The likeness is a bit hit or miss.... in the right lighting, it looks dead on, other times it looks a bit off. I hope my attempts to show off this figures sculpt does it justice.

The shirt (even on Elite 7 HHH) feels different - like they're using a thicker screen print ink.... I'm not sure, but I'd be betting on it.

All in all, it sucks that the stands are gone, but I'd rather Mattel sacrifice that and keep their detail, than cheapen out on what I feel sets them apart from other manufacturers out there.

Do I recommend you pick this up? For sure! It's a great figure and is well worth the money!

Keep your eyes open for my next reviews as well, I'm getting so far behind it's ridiculous. I still have several figures aside from my latest buys (RSF Rey, E7 HHH, B8 Kofi) to get to. I'll be posting more as soon as I can, and again I am very sorry for the lack of updates - and I hope you can understand!

Thanks for reading!

-Adam

Elite 4 - John Morrison

2010-11-09T13:47:00.000-08:00

I have had a lot of people ask if I was ever reviewing this figure, and up until yesterday... it just wasn't really in the cards. It's not that I thought it was bad, I just felt like Mattel could have done a better job, and now I take that back.

Getting this home, and out of the package I have to say I am very impressed. A lot of the photos I've seen around the net just didn't wow me, at all. In hand though, the likeness to the real John Morrison is 100% there, I do LOVE the coat, and the deco is awesome.

Going into this, I did not know what to really expect. I was afraid of staining from the coat, onto the plastic (didn't happen), getting goofy eyes once I took the sun glasses off (didn't happen), and I was afraid I would not like the head scuplt/scan - which I did end up liking just fine. However, the biggest concern I had was down to the material the coat is made out of. Time and time again I have seen toy companies do accessories like this one, with the sort of flocked faux fur - and it ends up being a BIG mess. The "fur" falls out, sticks to everything... just bad. Really really awful stuff. Not the case here!

Luckily here, the coat is sturdy, and not a cheap piece of junk. VERY happy with that.

I also know there has been a lot of fuss over something I mentioned earlier that pertains to every single Morrison figure, and that is the head.

I'm not going to lie, I think the heads that have been used on all of the "Basic" figures thus far look nothing at all like him. Period. Even with this new one, there has been a lot of criticism about it, and for my tastes it works - it works damn well. The half smirk they gave him, packed with the entrance jacket and the shades just looks awesome in my book. Though, I do think they should try it ONE more time...

I know this review is probably coming off really critical, but in my mind, it's pretty deservingly so. If you're on the WFigs forums, anytime you read a thread about one of John's figures, it's packed with back and forth arguing about the likeness. Though my opinion is no more important than anyone else's, I do firmly believe this is a very passable effort.

In closing this brings us to the deco on the tights, which is awesome! The red really pops, and the silver bits simulate the accents John actually wears pretty damn well. I also DO like the soft plastic "fur" on the boots. I know a lot of people may not be big fans of that, but as worried as I was about the coat, I'd be just as concerned about that falling out or getting caught/stuck in joints.

Coming up real soon here, are the Hall of Fame Dusty Rhodes figure, and Basic 5 Melina! Stay tuned! - And yes, the news is still to come. Just don't want to be stepping on any toes before I announce it.

So that's it guys, thanks for reading!

-Adam

Hall of Fame - "Stone Cold" Steve Austin

2010-10-31T23:07:00.000-07:00

FINALLY MY K-MART RESTOCKED!

It seems like it has taken forever for me to find something in store around here. Now, when the first Legends series was released, my K-Mart had them ALL, and at the time, I just didn't have the cash. I waited until the next day, and that was a big mistake... Austin, and Dusty Rhodes, were GONE when I went back.

Now, I'm pretty glad I held off since I got a Steve Austin, with a GOLD base. I know you're probably rolling your eyes at that last statement, but I really do dig the gold bases that the Hall of Fame figures bring to the table, they stand out really well, and just look really nice.

I'm not even really going to delve into the history of this man, because any fan of pro-wrestling, even the most casual one out there, HAS TO KNOW who Stone Cold is! His popularity was through the roof, his moments are flat out legendary, his antics are unparalleled, and he has left a legacy behind that will stand the test of time. The B.M.F., The Texas Rattlesnake, The Bionic Redneck... no matter what name you call him, Austin 3:16 says...

...branching off into discussion of the figure, I have to give Mattel props again for doing another killer job. As simple as Steve Austin's attire in the ring was, they still found a way to make it eye-catching.

The vest is done with everything it should have - AUSTIN running down the right side, and a skull with 3:16 on the left. The back features his moniker with three more skulls below it, and all of this is done in metallic silver paint with small copper colored accents to simulate that they are attached to the vest.

-My only complaint is that I'd LOVE to see an Austin figure made in the future, with those details at least sculpted out just a tad. Minor nitpick, but it's always been something I have wanted to see happen.

Aside from the vest and the usual base, this also comes with the infamous "AUSTIN 3:16" t-shirt... now, I didn't photograph it, because I don't plan to display him wearing the shirt. However, if anyone of you would like a photo of that, please let me know and I'll totally post it up for you.

As you can see above, he also has his Texas state tattoo on his left leg, and features shorter boots, rounding out the figure to being pretty close to perfect. If you haven't got 'em yet, I recommend you remedy that and pick one up soon!

Before I let you go, I do want to say that you can FINALLY expect that big news very, very soon! Get ready, it's a very exciting change!

Thanks for reading!

-Adam

Legends Series 3 - Mr. Perfect.

2010-10-19T17:09:00.000-07:00

Grabbed this guy off of WWEShop.com just six days ago with a promo code for 10% off, plus free shipping. After being antsy as Hell, I'm happy to say I have Legends Series 3, Mr. Perfect.

--And let me tell you, Perfect it IS. From the boots with "Mr. P" emblazoned on beautifully, to his signature blond curly locks, this figure lives up to Curt Hennig's moniker, of PERFECT.

Growing up, I distinctly remember this man in the WWF/E, having battles that would become nothing short of legendary with men like Bret "The Hitman" Hart, "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels, and Lex Luger (among others). He was a real easy man to hate through his mannerisms, vignettes, and over all heelish ways, but his talent could not be denied.

This one of a kind athlete had a career many could only dream of, and he never even tasted world championship glory (in the WWF/E), although many people do remember him as one of the BEST Intercontinental Champions of all time... and with good reason.

Mattel once again, swung for the fences and knocked this figure right out of the park. The head sculpt is beautiful, the hair looks AWESOME (and isn't a flat one tone), and the singlet is a brilliant blue (with yellow on the back).

Perfect comes with his signature towel (surely you remember the behind the back toss he'd do, and how he would flawlessly catch it right?), not to mention he comes with Mattel's FIRST offering of a championship belt - the CLASSIC Intercontinental Title... which, yeah - hi, IS ALREADY PAINTED!

This figure is so impressive from top to bottom that it looks like it could come alive, spit gum out of it's mouth straight into the air, swat it away, and then tell you how not only unbelievable it is, but how PERFECT it is.

Really, the only thing I plan to do to to make this a little better, is see if I can't trim off a little access plastic from the center plate on the IC Title, which should be no problem at all. I would have gotten to it before, but man... as soon as I opened the package, I couldn't wait to get to shooting, and do this review.

Now speaking of the belt, there is a couple of things I wanted to specifically address here.

* It is a little big, but I think it's mainly due to the waist size of the figure, and not entirely being out of scale.

* A lot of people have wondered what kind of material the strap is, and I am pleased to find out it is indeed similar to that of the NWA Title that Marvel/Toybiz released a few years ago.

All in all, I think the belt is a very passable effort by Mattel, and it looks very good around the waist of the figure, but even better over the shoulder.

There isn't a lot left to say here, except that I am happy Mattel put this guy out so early on in the line, and didn't make us wait longer. The towel looks and feels wonderful, the head is awesome, the belt is superb, and I am honestly very happy with my purchase. Now, I need to hunt down Rock and Vader and get them up on here!

As always, I appreciate your reading, and support! Thanks a lot guys!

-Adam

Over the Limit (PPV 5) - CM Punk

2010-10-17T10:01:00.000-07:00

Finally back with a new review, and it's of a figure I have been anticipating for a good while now.

You'll remember me reviewing the Elite 6 CM Punk not to long ago, and that'll come into play pretty soon.

Anywho, on to this figure. As the PPV series suggests, this is based on his attire at the WWE Over the Limit PPV. While this figure is pretty good, it's not without fault.

Firstly, while I love the military green color, his attire is not accurate being that the actual attire was camouflage at the pay per view. I get that Mattel has budgets for this line, and I understand, so honestly, it's not a huge deal to me. Along with that, the "DRUG FREE" knuckle tattoos are not there... to me, that is a little more disappointing than the lack of camo... again though, the figure still looks awfully great.

The bread and butter of the figure in my opinion are the brand new (awesome) headscan, and the detailed out kickpads on the boots. THOSE two things make this figure, count on that. NOTE: Microphone is not included.

Now I told you all I was going to do this, and I held true to my word. I mainly bought the OTL Punk to do a headswap onto the Elite 6... and I think it turned out STUNNING to say the least.

In my opinion this makes the Elite 6 figure absolutely over the top and truly does make it elite.

For anyone who would like to do this, and is a little afraid, it's really not hard at all. All I did was take a hair dryer, put it on the highest setting, and I just rotated the figure heating the head evenly for a count of 60 seconds. Now, my hair dryer cycles from high to low automatically after around 20 seconds to compensate for getting too hot, your's may not. So take that into consideration.

I popped the OTL head off first, then did the Elite 6's - popped that right onto the OTL figure while it was still warm, and had to reheat the underside of the new head for about 20 seconds, and popped that right onto the Elite body. Now, if you've never done this, sticking out of the neck is a stem, with a ball on the end, and the heads just pop right on, and off. Not a big deal at all.

I totally recommend everyone doing this! Here are a few more shots if you're not convinced yet!

Thanks for reading guys! Stay tuned, Legends Series 3 Mr. Perfect is coming VERY soon!

Elite Series 6 - BATISTA

2010-10-04T13:52:00.000-07:00

YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HIS FRIEND!

I'm back with another review from the Elite 6 series, and this time it is of the ANIMAL, Dave Batista!

Now, I'm not going to sit here and say that I was enamored when I heard we were getting yet another Batista action figure... I mean, I wasn't really a fan of the guy for a very long time. I did love him as Evolution's enforcer, but as a "good guy" face... ehhh, it just didn't work for me. However, this last run of his in the WWE as a heel, capped off by turning on Rey Mysterio - I think made a lot of people a fan of his again, including me.

So, as I was saying, I wasn't thrilled when this figure was announced, but once I saw the prototype, my jaw was left hanging open. The detail is mind blowing, and we're about to get right into that.

So, has there ever been a Batista figure that measures up to this one? I think you're about to learn, the answer is a big fat NO!

Mattel absolutely NAILED this from head to toe, again. I have to even say, I don't think they've even done "stubble" on a figure this well prior, the five o'clock shadow looks REALLY good and crisp this time around.

Of course, he also does come with a couple of accessories, now don't get too excited, as they're only a pair of sun glasses, and a microphone. - I'm guessing that's so your new Big Dave can firstly not have to look at the crowd, and secondly to talk down to them as well. Haters... they're gonna hate.

Now, that said - what Dave lacks in accessories, he makes up for HEAVILY in detail.

This is one thing Mattel has impressed me with since day one, they never really skimp on much if they can do it. Batista's attire is dead on and VERY sharp, the front of his trunks
feature his last name, and the back have a very cool dragon/tribal logo. Again, he comes with his own boot mold, and the small elbow pads. The only thing I would change, are the knee pads. The Animal never wore these large ones, he always sported regular knee pads... but you don't want me to talk about his attire do you? Oh no, let's get on to the INK!

Being that this is more than likely the last figure we will get... at least from his last stint in the WWE, it's awesome that Mattel went all out and gave us (in AMAZING detail), the additional forearm tattoos that made his right arm into a full sleeve.

A tribute to his home town that he now proudly wears, you can plainly read:

Washington D.C.
Not a state
A state of mind.

Along with that, are a slew of designs around it, making that full arm one entire piece, and as you can see Mattel carried it all over underneath his elbow pad.

Everyone knows I rave about the tattoo work that is represented on these action figures, and this is no different. I'm sure the design phase must be a pain to scale it all down, and fit it perfectly, but I rarely see "ink" on figures done as well as what Mattel gives us. It really is magnificent work that their team puts into these.

So I'm sure you want a verdict, for me to tell you whether you should pick him up or not?

Maybe you're saying, "eh, I have the WrestleMania Heritage figure, a couple of Basics, and the Elite 2 figure... do I really need this?"

YES YOU DO! You do NEED this! And here is why:

This is probably one of the most SOLID efforts Mattel has released, and easily the cream of the crop for a Batista, making all of his predecessors completely obsolete. He's completely updated from the trunks to the tattoos, and if you want a more "current" Batista for your collection, that's gotta be a big plus for you.

Also, a couple of notes:

The microphone only has ONE WWE logo on it... I have no idea why, but the Elite 4 Jericho I have, has it on all four sides. Not a big deal, but worth pointing out.

Also, the sunglasses stay on extremely well, and it doesn't feel like they are going to fall off if you jostle him around a bit to get him into a new pose. All in all, I give this guy a BIG A+ grade.

As always, thanks for reading, and for supporting this blog!

-Adam

Breaking the Code: The Chris Jericho DVD Set

2010-09-30T16:44:00.001-07:00

Yes, I realize that primarily this has become a WWE figure review blog, but I had to make a post for the new Chris Jericho DVD set.

As anyone who is a visitor here knows, I am a HUGE fan of Y2J, and when I heard that he was FINALLY getting a DVD set from the WWE, I flipped. I haven't been so excited for a video collection, frankly, ever. Chris Jericho, along with Ultimo Dragon are my two favorite wrestlers to ever step into a squared circle, and when I learned that one of the matches featured on here, was from the Japanese WAR (Wrestling and Romance) promotion from early on in both of their careers, that in itself was a selling point.

I'm not going to delve to far into the set, because it just came out and I personally strayed away from any reviews that might have contained spoilers, but I will say that the collection of matches and moments are 100% classic Jericho, and the biographical portion of disc 1 was put together wonderfully. This is easily one of the top five WWE produced DVD's I have personally watched in all of my years of being a fan.

The entire set is presented beautifully, I really love how they themed the artwork around his entrance video, and the SAVE_US.Y2J vignettes that were used for his 2007 return.

Even the menu screen looks fantastic!

Featuring 19 matches, this is a collection I don't think any Jericho fan... or even wrestling fan for that matter, should be without. It's nine hours of pure wrestling entertainment, hambone. Here's a list of some of my personal favorite matches included:

Jericho vs. Ultimo Dragon (1995 in Japan)

Jericho vs. Eddie Guerrero (WCW Fall Brawl 1997 - for the Cruiserweight Title)

Jericho vs. Juventude Guerrera (WCW SuperBrawl VIII February 22, 1998 - Mask vs. Title)

Jericho vs. Dean Malenko (Monday Nitro 1998 - Cruiserweight Title)

Jericho vs. Triple H (Monday Night Raw, 2000 - WWE Title)

Jericho vs. Rock (No Mercy 2001 - WCW Title)

Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels - (WrestleMania XIX 2003)

Jericho vs. Shawn Michaels - (No Mercy 2008 - World Heavyweight Title, LADDER MATCH)

Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio (Extreme Rules 2009 - Intercontinental Title -No Holds Barred)

- Now that's only nine of the NINETEEN incredible matches you get here. Other bouts include face offs with The Undertaker, John Cena, Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Cactus Jack, teaming with Lance Storm as the Thrillseekers, and taking on Edge at WrestleMania!

It's truly an incredible package, I also want to note that bio portion I mentioned earlier has a terrific highlight video at the end with music provided by Jericho's own band Fozzy (which is also used throughout the bio entirely).

Now like I said, get out and purchase this if you haven't already!

Now aside from the DVD, coming soon you can expect a review of the Elite Series 6 Batista figure by Mattel, and I also have HUGE news about myself, and this blog that will blow you away. I've been told I can let the cat out of the bag, but I'm going to sit on the info a while longer, and let everyone know what's going on at a later date. I just wanted to extend a personal thanks to anyone who has commented or just visited here, viewed my photos, and had encouraged me through my work with photography. Good things are happening, and I owe a lot of it to you guys.

Thanks for reading!

-Adam

Elite Series 6 - CM Punk

2010-09-17T15:16:00.001-07:00

He can save you, he can make you better, he can make you... STRAIGHT EDGE.

It's a pretty well known fact I am a very big fan of CM Punk, having followed his career since he was performing on the independent wrestling circuit all the way up until right now in the WWE.

When the prototype image of this figure was revealed at the San Diego Comic Con, I was a little disappointed that we weren't getting a new head scan/sculpt, but I was ELATED to see that a couple of upcoming Basic figures would have a brand new head, with a fully molded beard. I said right then, I would own this Elite version, and do a head swap as soon as possible - which, when I get one of the other figures, I WILL post those results.

So how did the second Elite CM Punk turn out? What's the verdict?

Firstly, I have to say I am thrilled to see a more colorful attire than the Elite 1 counterpart, while I love this figure's predecessor, the gray and yellow were a bit dull to me and a bit of a turn off to be frank. The goldish/yellow, white, and blues on this figure just look so much better with Punk having so many wonderfully colored tattoos, it just helps the figure stand out and "pop" that much more.

And secondly while we're bringing up his tattoos, it's notable that Mattel has also improved how they look, and added on a few more.

How did they improve the tattoos? Well, if you have the Elite 1 figure, I'd like for you to go get it while you're reading this, so you can click on one of my photos here, and compare them for yourself. Go ahead. I can wait....

...okay, you got the figure? Look at the tattoos, look at how how vibrant they are. Looks pretty good right? Yeah it does, until you realize no human being on the planet has ink that is THAT bright.

Tattoos, while they can be very bright, sort of fade into the skin... I don't really know how to explain that, I mean, I have several tattoos myself, and while the color is exceptional, having an action figure with ink, and trying to keep it accurate, you just can't have them that powerful. Mattel here, toned them down considerably.

On top of the tattoos being corrected, and being MUCH lighter in color, we also have the inclusion of "chest hair". Which is done in the same fashion as the Basic "PPV Series" Royal Rumble CM Punk, and the Basic 5 Mike Knox.

Once again, even THAT looks killer.

I also have to point out, that while the trunks are the wrong shade of blue, they are NOT as light as a lot of people on the WFigs message board thought. - Heck, even I thought they were extremely off. Luckily however, I think it was only the flash from the cameras that made them appear that way.

Sure, it's still a lighter blue than what is on the kick pads, but I assure you the trunks do look awesome in person. As expected by Mattel Elite figures as well, the paint here is extremely tight, and looks wonderful.

Now as I am sure you have noticed by now, this figure comes with one of the most unique and coolest accessories I have EVER seen.

...HAIR CLIPPERS!

Yes, that's right, now you too can "save" your other action figures by shaving their heads bald and ridding them of a life of drug, tobacco, and alcohol abuse! In fact, CM Punk and those buzzers have a little meeting later on tonight with my Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead) action figure. Sorry Lemmy, hahaha.

But really, while the clippers are a solid back, the sculpt here is quite good! PLUS, guess what? It even fits snugly in his open hand!

Yet another added bonus is the inclusion of a white elbow pad to represent the tape Punk has been wrapping his elbow with for the past several months. While a new sculpt for that would have been nice, this is a good looking alternative, and a only very minor gripe to have.

In yet ANOTHER improvement Mattel has made with this figure, is the t-shirt that comes with the Straight Edge savior.

To be totally honest, I HATED the first shirt, I just couldn't stand it. It was too baggy, and just flat out looked BAD. Real bad.

While the arms are still a little too big (to make it easier to put on and remove, I'm sure), I am happy to say that much like the Elite 3 Miz, this one seems to be a LOT better fitted - AND it has the velcro all the way down the back of the shirt. No complaints here!

So all in all, I have to give this, and Mattel as a whole a big thumbs up - once again the joints were good and tight, the paint was damn near perfect, the tattoos look awesome, the added accessory is genius, and the color of the attire is just about as nice as you can ask for.

The one and only thing I think could have taken this straight over the top (rope) was a new head. That is absolutely it. This is one purchase I am more that satisfied with. Oh, and speaking of the purchase, I picked this up over at Ringside Collectibles!

I sure hope you enjoyed this long, in depth, and picture heavy review! I haven't had such a blast really getting into a figure like this in a good while! THANKS FOR READING!

-Adam

TOPPS - M. McCool ELIMINATION CHAMBER Card

2010-09-10T17:06:00.000-07:00

Nope, not a figure review today. I know, I know, I primarily have been doing WWE figure reviews, but I saw this on Ebay and HAD to have it for my collection.

First things first, if you're new around these parts - I am a VERY big fan of Michelle McCool. I love watching her in the ring - she's extremely solid and works great matches, I love her look, and honestly, I think she's just awesome.

So this is the Elimination Chamber 2010 card, with a piece of the actual ring canvas from the event embedded in the card itself!

Naturally, being a fan of this gifted woman, and being that while I do have autographs, I don't have ANY memorabilia like this - I had to grab this. Luckily I got it at a STEAL too! I was previously "watching" an auction on Ebay for one, but just forgot about it, and it sold for $30.00, I got mine for $8.00 and some change!

I also have to say that I was surprised by the thickness of the card, and while I know NOTHING about cards, I know now that it's 130pt. Luckily, when I bought the card holder, I lucked out and got the right size.

I just went into my WalMart looking for a UV protective "Ultra Pro" holder, saw a pack of two for $2.50, and grabbed them. So now, having a spare one, I'll probably poke around ebay some more and see what other cards from this years series of TOPPS share this same thickness.

...and I gotta say, both of the McCool cards I have look very nice next to one another. Anyway, that's it for me! Look out for an Elite 6 Punk review soon, I'm just about to bite the bullet and order 'em from RingSide Collectibles!

Thanks for reading!

-Adam

Elite Series 5 - Dolph Ziggler

2010-09-09T17:08:00.000-07:00

Mattel's second offering of Dolph Ziggler is upon us - and it's a MUCH STRONGER one than the Basic Series 4 figure.

One of my best experiences from seeing a WWE SmackDown! house show was being able to see this guy take on Kofi Kingston live. Both men have all the talent in the world, and didn't disappoint at all. - Unless you've been living under a rock, currently they are embroiled in a feud over the Intercontinental Championship, putting on tremendous matches over and over again.

How I only WISH Mattel would have a current (figure-sized) representation of the I.C. title released already, this figure just looks incomplete without it, and the JAKKS counterpart is just flat out awful looking.

That said, let's get into the figure itself.

The detail here is gorgeous and just stunning, he comes with a removable vest with his DZ logo on the back, matching logos on the front of his trunks, two-toned boots, and his leopard print wraps to complete his ring gear - not to even mention the eye of detail Mattel had to paint on a zipper.

The details come through on this figure VERY strong, Hell, I'd say Mattel practically outdid themselves there.

The DZ logos on the trunks (both front, and back) are outlined with blue and white, then filled with gray and feature the accommodating animal print with that. For the size and scale of the figure, that is awfully impressive - especially on the two front designs being incredibly small.

The vest surprised me, it's a faux leather on the outside, and actually has a cloth inside to it... sorta feels like a mirco-fiber cloth to me. Very nicely done!

My gripes here? Not many.

-Firstly, the headscan (I think) is off a bit. Not TOO much, but I think the Basic counterpart bears a much better likeness to the real deal.

-Secondly, the vest is a bit large - but I DO understand why. It can be a little tricky getting it removed at first, but for the most part, it's not difficult at all.

-Third and lastly, the legs. I understand the backs of trucks get hot, and the plastic can warp slightly in shipping... and with Mattel figures, the legs are notorious with this problem. Not to go off on a tangent here, but when I was seeing people post images online of this figure, more often than not... it looked to me like the legs were bowed outward at the knees. When I got my figure, I quickly realized this was the case, yet again. About thirty seconds with a hair dryer later, I was able to correct the issue, and cool it down to set the legs perfectly.

On the UPSIDE, both Basic 5 figures I own (Knox and Helms) and the Elite 5 figures (Ziggler and Chavo) had pretty tight joints straight out of the box. Being that I display my figures, and rarely touch them, I really don't want them falling over, and these hold their stance very well. Kudos to Mattel on that.

All in all, I'd have to say this figure was a MUST have for me, and I'd recommend you picking it up as well regardless if you have the Basic version.

Thanks for reading, and check back soon for MORE reviews!

-Adam

Elite Series 5 - Chavo Guerrero

2010-09-07T20:15:00.000-07:00

OHHHH CHAVO! - This review (along with the upcoming Elite 5 Ziggler) was made possible by WF member Gawd6sic6!

One of, if not the MOST underrated (not to mention misused) wrestlers in the WWE has hit Mattel's Elite Series!

"Chavito Heat" is a former WCW and WWE Cruiserweight Champion, former ECW (WWE) Champion, Tag Team Champion with his late uncle Eddie Guerrero, and one of the most skilled wrestlers in the business today.

Wrestling is in the man's blood, aside from his link to Eddie, Chavo Jr. is also the son of the famous Chavo Sr. and grandson of Gory Guerrero. With the skillset and family lineage he has, I can't understand why this guy hasn't been a champion in years. It makes no sense to me, but I digress.

Mattel once again went to the ballpark, grabbed a bat, and swung for the fences. When the dust settled, it was a REAL big shocker...

...would you believe another home run? You better. The detail is ridiculous here, from the poncho, to the bandana, to the boots, to the tights. DAMN - definitive Chavo figure.

Now, I do have a couple of minor things to gripe about.

-Firstly, this torso ALMOST works for Chavo, but it's still a little bit off.

-Secondly, the word, "WARRIOR" is missing from the front of his tights. That bugs me.

Those two things kept this home run, from being a grand slam in my opinion. It's still a good figure though, and one you SHOULD own, if in fact my reviews do have any influence on you at all.

I really do hope with the next Elite Chavo, Mattel DOES include the word missing from the front of his attire (maybe even give him the matching "WARRIOR" poncho), and instead of the gold flames on his boots, opt for the red flames. I'd be okay with that!

Now, before I get into closing - I really, REALLY had to commend the makers for the extremely small detail work on the removable bandana, that just sets the figure off SO well with the headscan. Hopefully some day soon we get an Eddie figure to go right along side this guy. I know I'd like to have "Los Guerreros" on my shelf! My verdict before I get on with a couple of last photos? This is THE gem of Elite Series 5, as impressed by Dolph's figure as I am, I have to hand it to Chavo.

Thanks for reading guys!

-Adam

Legends Series 2 - Iron Sheik

2010-09-05T19:40:00.000-07:00

Whether you know him as The Iron Sheik, Sheiky Baby, or "the guy who drops F-Bombs all over youtube", you have to know this man is a bona fide legend! The man who ended Bob Backland's illustrious reign as World Champion (though not without controversy) has come to Mattel's Legends line - and what a fantastic figure it turned out to be!

Mattel based this figure on Sheiky's look around 1985, threw in a robe and head dress, along with packing in a ton of detail on the shorts - not to even mention the fantastic head scan this brings to the table, a brand new torso (which works fabulously for Sheik), and yet another character specific boot mold.

Mattel absolutely KILLED on this figure.

The detail here, as with all of Mattel's Legends (and Elite) is second to none. The shorts are packed full of it, the head is painted BEAUTIFULLY, the gold trim on the robe is fantastic, and his boots feature great deco of a Camel on one side, and sword on the other. Whether you know him for feuding with Hulk Hogan, beating Backlund, teaming with Sgt. Slaughter, or just being crazy old Iron Sheik, this isn't a figure to pass up if you see it. Once again the team over at Mattel nailed it right out of the park, and photographic evidence is below, if you don't believe me.

I apologize for the short review, but this truly is one of those times where the product, TRULY speaks for itself! Enjoy, and thanks for reading!

-Adam

Basic Series 5 - Mike Knox

2010-08-29T11:35:00.001-07:00

Before I start, I have to say that I never understood why the WWE released this man. Mike Knox was a very imposing man - and even more impressive with his size, was the way he moved.

For a "big man", when he wanted to turn things up to 10, he could REALLY move in the ring. It's not often you see a man of his size throwing dropkicks, crossbody blocks, and doing leg drops from the middle rope.

Some would even say that Mike Knox became the Bruiser Brody of this era of pro-wrestling, and sadly after being drafted from "ECW" to Smackdown, he never got to show his true potential in a WWE ring.

Quite honestly, you're looking at (what I feel) is easily one of the best figures Mattel has made to date. They've captured Knox damn near perfectly in my opinion.

Quick notes: He uses the same torso mold as the Basic 2 Kane, though with the "body hair" it's not SO noticeable, and it does work very well for this figure. Also, this figure did NOT come with elbow pads, I just took mine off of the Basic 2 Kane, and frankly I think this figure looks even better with them on.

Unfortunately there just isn't a WHOLE lot to say about this figure, I mean Mike wore all black gear, tall boots, and had long hair and a killer beard - and all of that is represented very, very well. It does look just like him, there is just no "flash" here with the attire, and rightfully so. All of the flash this man had, was in his intense and intimidating appearance, and the way he moved in the ring.

If you see this figure, don't even think twice, Mattel NAILED this.

Thanks for reading!

-Adam

WWE Exclusive Cup, and New Autograph + MORE!

2010-08-25T19:44:00.001-07:00

So, after a couple of days of recovering from an amazing event, I decided it was time to give my readers another update!

First of all, I want to give a BIG thank you to PWTorch.com for using some of the info I posted right here on my blog (which I sent them) about the live SD! show I saw on Sunday, August 22nd. - Not only that, but they also linked back this blog, and mentioned I had photos from the event posted - which got me a TON of traffic.

Also it's come to my attention that PWPix.net has posted a photo I took at the same event of AJ Lee - and I wanted to tell them thank you as well for not cropping out and removing the address of this blog from the photo. I also have to thank Diva-Dirt.com for posting a snippet of my post regarding the Layla El vs. AJ Lee match - and also linking this blog back. I'm very grateful to ALL of the sites for helping me out while I in turn provided them with a little something.

Aside from that, as you can see in the above images (and the one to your right), this entry is mainly about the swag I picked up the day of the event.

The photos above are of the exclusive cup that can only be bought at live WWE shows (at the concession stands) for $2.00 - it features a LOT of superstars on it, and most prominently is John Cena. The other stars are CM Punk, The Miz, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, Sheamus, Randy Orton, Edge, The Big Show, Christian, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, Kofi Kingston, John Morrison, and Mark Henry. - It's also the same size as one of the promotional 7-11 WWE Slurpee Cups.

And speaking of those cups, as you can see, I also snagged Eve and Edge from a 7-11 store in Odessa after the event!

--Also, it's the first image posted, and it IS the matted Kofi Kingston autographed photo, and it measures 11x14 inches total in size (up close photo below) which sold for $15.00 a piece, and let me say, these were a HOT item that evening. Anyway, that's about it for me tonight. I wanted to again extend a thank you to to PWTorch and James Caldwell, PWPix, Diva-Dirt and I have to say a special thank you to ANYONE who read my report, and viewed my photos. I hope you enjoyed it!

Thanks for reading! And expect reviews of Elite Dolph Ziggler (with a special background), Basic 5 Mike Knox, and Basic 5 Hurricane very soon!

One last thing, keep your eyes peeled, if WWE grants me permission to post up professionally printed 8x10's of some of the photos I took at the live event for cost + shipping, I'll be doing that too! Take care!

-Adam

WWE Smackdown World Tour 2010 - Odessa, TX

2010-08-23T02:36:00.000-07:00

Oh man, "time of my life" does not begin to describe last night. First things first I have to thank someone I look up to, and highly admire - WF member Hellboy, for the tips for the photography you'll see here. PLEASE check out his amazing stuff by visiting his Flickr account. I've never shot at a WWE event before, and had no idea what to expect lighting-wise, or how to prepare. His advice paid off in spades.

On to the show!

I arrived at the arena RIGHT before it started, as I am walking to my second row seat (Section AAA, Row 2, Seat 8 - right in the middle) - the lights go dim... the crowd erupts, and Kofi Kingston's music hits. This was my FIRST WWE show ever, and I couldn't believe this man was live and in person.

Opening contest: 10 Man Battle Royal - Kofi Kingston vs. Cody Rhodes vs. MVP vs. CM Punk vs. JTG vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Matt Hardy vs. Tyler Reks vs. Chris Masters vs. Vladimir Kozlov - Winner faces Ziggler for the IC Title later in the night.

The match was what you'd expect from a WWE battle royal, it was paced semi-fast, a LOT of near eliminations to start it off.

I don't remember the order of eliminations, but a few funny spots happened in the match, most notibly was CM Punk being thrown out, Luke Gallows catching him, and then carrying Punk around the ring over his shoulder. The crowd was HOT, tons of boos, and Punk was pointing to his head signaling he's always thinking - the referee saw this and got all over them saying, "HEY, YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" Absolutely priceless moment for me.

It came down to Cody/Punk/Kingston - Cody and CM Punk ended up working over Kofi, Punk went for his own "boom drop" and COMPLETELY missed, which the crowd erupted in laughter over, Cody then accidentally eliminated Punk, leading Kofi to get the elimination, and move to face Dolph Ziggler later on in the evening for the Intercontinental Championship. Great opener, pics below!

Next up: Layla vs. AJ Lee

First things first, I have to say that Layla is EASILY the most beautiful and gorgeous woman I have ever seen in my life. Just absolutely stunning.

Layla enters first, followed by AJ Lee (who was billed from Odessa, TX - I'm assuming they're doing this for all house shows to get the crowd behind her from the get go... which worked immediately).

"REAL TALK!" - Layla cuts a promo about her being simply flawless, and jokingly looks at AJ and says, "THIS, THIS is the best Odessa has to offer? Give me a break!"

The match starts out slow, but picks up, only to get slow again, great psychology from Layla, working on Lee's head and neck the WHOLE match. She get's Lee in a headlock with her legs, becomes VERY boisterous with the crowd mocking them to the point of doing push-ups while still having the scissored headlock on. GREAT moment, had me cracking up.

Layla was all over AJ, but Lee did get in a lot of offense, VERY fast paced and a bit of high flying action from her, before being grounded by Layla again, who hit a GREAT low dropkick to the back of her head and neck. The two had great chemistry with one another - the end came when Layla hit her "LayOut" neckbreacker. Again I stress, Layla El is absolutely stunning. Pics below.

Jack Swagger arrives to cut a promo, trash the town, and announce a match between himself, and Kane for the World Heavyweight Championship...

IN A CAGE!

Swagger get's TONS of heat from the crowd, an "I want my daddy" chant broke out, mocking him. Swagger fires back at the crowd running down Odessa, another chant comes out "OKLAHOMA SUCKS" - Swagger then acts like he is leaving, but walks to Chimel, and has him announce that "Jack Swagger would like to remind everyone that he is in fact, an ALL AMERICAN, AMERICAN!"

Swagger starts to leave again, walks BACK to Chimel and tells him to say, "Also, Jack Swagger would like to add, Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner, and... Boomer Sooner!"

I wasn't a Swagger fan before that, but the "Boomer Sooner" thing had me in tears. Before he leaves, he does several push up's in the ring, which gets him a little bit of added heat. Pics below.

Third match on the card: Dashing Cody Rhodes vs. Matt Hardy

Cody enters to a chorus of boos - his entrance music is AWFULLY catchy too... still stuck in my head too. I looked over to look at who Cody was focused on for a brief second, none other than Rick, "The Sign Guy" - had a GREAT sign for Cody to boot, "Douching Cody Rhodes".

Matt Hardy comes out, and just like in the Battle Royal, gets one HELL of a massive pop. Fans just love the guy.

The match is VERY slow to start, with Rhodes getting the most negative chants, boos, and just heat in general I've ever heard. A "Cody Sucks!" chant breaks out... Cody became frustrated, left the ring, grabbed a mic and said, "well apparently, according to YOU people, I suck. Well apparently, I'm also going home." He throws the mic down, and begins to walk out.

Of course, Matt (still favoring his ankle) follows him down the isle, and hurls him back into the ring. Fun ensues.

Rhodes REALLY worked Matt's ankle in this one, and Hardy had the crowd solidly behind him. Every time he'd be down, another "MATT! MATT! MATT!" chant would pop up.

All of the moves you'd expect were pulled out, I missed a shot of a FANTASTIC moonsault by Rhodes, thanks to someone walking right in front of the shot - Matt hit his leg drop, and middle rope elbows, Cody nailed Hardy with a LOUD middle rope springboard kick.

Hardy fought his way back, hit a VERY loud "Side Effect" - set up Rhodes for a "Twist of Fate" which was countered into a backslide for a near fall, then Matt tries again, and NAILS him with the Twist of Fate for the one, two, three.

Once again, the crowd goes wild, RIGHT before Drew McIntyre hits the ring, and he and Cody put a beat down on Hardy, targeting his ankle. Picture perfect knee drop to the ankle from Rhodes, followed up by the "Future Shock" DDT by Drew.

Match #4 - Nexus (Gabriel/Tarver/Slater) vs. Masters/Kozlov/JTG

Nexus enters and cuts a promo, saying that even though they lost to Team WWE and Summerslam, they're stronger than ever, and are looking to take out Smackdown! - Gabriel (who looked comfortable speaking) hands the mic over to Tarver, who says that the thing Raw and SD! have in common, is that when Nexus hit's the ring, the outcome is always the same.

The WWE team runs out together, Nexus leaves the ring - and after a standoff, Tarver starts out the match - Justin Gabriel did a VERY cool stretch to warm up, doing a handstand on the top rope, and doing the splits upside down.

-Let me just say, Tarver is a BEAST, and his actually good for playing the role of the "enforcer" on their team. He and JTG had some great chemistry together. Also, JTG is damn quick in the ring, and after watching him go, I have to say he is incredibly underutilized on TV, the crowd went nuts for his moves.

JTG and Tarver had a see-saw like performance together, going back and forth, which actually had Tarver showing personality mocking J's "CHEA!" over and over again.

Tags were exchanged often with the Nexus, and when JTG finally did even up with a tag, after flipping over Tarver from the apron, running the ropes, and hitting his flipping shoulder block, it looked like Team WWE was going to pick up the win.

Tarver made the tag to Slater, who got demolished by Kozlov, soon after Gabriel was brought back in to meet a fantastic flapjack from Masters. The match ended up spilling out on the floor, and Gabriel picked up the win for his team with a 450 Splash.

-And I WOULD have got a shot of the 450, but a security guard happened to get right in front of me, obstructing my view. Easily my one let down of the night.

Fifth Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. Kofi Kingston, for the Intercontinental Championship.

I was pumped up for this one, first of all, Dolph is one of my favorite superstars in the WWE, he reminds me of an amalgamation of a young Chris Jericho and Mr. Perfect. He is SO gifted it's unreal. - And if it wasn't for his Twitter account, I wouldn't have known about the event.

Kingston is no slouch himself you know, these guys had a phenomenal match together, with the crowd strongly behind Kofi.

Before the match started, someone in the front row was yelling at Ziggler while he was on the middle turnbuckle. "HIDING BEHIND VICKIE! WHAT KIND OF CHAMPION ARE YOU?!" - In a hilarious nonchalant fashion, Ziggler looks at the guy, shoots him a look and says, "Pfft, an undefeated one." Then he proceeded to look at himself and fix his hair in the reflection of the I.C. title. Great little moment. LOVING the crowd interaction here. By the way, being my first time seeing a real title, I have to say, that belt is just killer looking in person!

Kofi arrives (again) to a great pop from the crowd, everyone LOVED doing the "BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!" thing along with him.

This match was fast paced, lots of mat wrestling, a bit of high flying, and some brawling outside of the ring.

A few memorable things that happened - Kofi sends Dolph into the corner and goes for his jumping mounted punches, Dolph moves and Kingston hits the ropes, bounces back, and takes a fall.

Ziggler slaps on a sleeper, Kofi reverses it into one of his one, Dolph scrambles to get out of it, and leaves the ring, Kingston follows and takes him into the guard rail right in front of me!

Another cool spot saw them both fighting in the corner, with Kofi delivering a kick to the midsection, Dolph doubles over while Kofi springs to the top and nails a splash right to the lower back taking him to the mat. The match ends with Kofi looking for a sunset flip, and Dolph hooking a leg and grabbing the rope for leverage.

Post match, Ziggler goes to attack Kingston with the title belt, Kofi ducks, Ziggler drops the title, and Kingston beats him down - then HE hits Dolph with the title. KO'ing him in the process.

Tony Chimel asks us all to, "please welcome our special guest Diva, Rosa Mendez!

Muy caliente Rosa, muy muy!

Rosa came out to show off some of the stuff available at the merchandise stand in the lobby area of the arena.

When they pulled out some matted, hand signed Kofi Kingston pictures, I knew what I was buying! I'd have killed for a Punk, or Ziggler one too.

They also had special cups available at the concession stands they had the same look as the Summerslam WWE cups (these were the size of the Slurpee cups) - and I also decided to grab one of those, since they are only available at live WWE shows.

Rosa threw a few shirts into the crowd (girl has a HELL of an arm) - and then they announced intermission.

So I took that chance to hang out, go talk to Rick "The Sign Guy", and grab my merchandise I wanted.

Rosa also stuck around for a while and mingled with the fans, took photos, and signed autographs. She's a real sweetheart and put a LOT of smiles on people's faces.

**INTERMISSION**

While I was still in line... or in the swarm rather, intermission ended and I heard Alberto Del Rio's music hit. NOOOO!

Match Six: Alberto Del Rio vs. Chavo Guerrero

I missed his promo, I missed most of the match, and got very little pictures. I did see Chavo do a SICK tornado DDT, and Del Rio work his arm over - including a nice armbreaker that looked like a "Code Breaker" - which saw him grab Chavo's arm, holding it horizontally, and jump with his knees up falling backward to his back.

Chavo DID fight back, and hit the Three Amigos suplex maneuver which got a RIDICULOUS pop from the crowd and chants of, "EDDIE, EDDIE, EDDIE!" over and over.

Chavo responded by placing his hand on his heart, pointing toward the sky, and then pointing to the top turnbuckle. Frog Splash was coming.

Del Rio however had other plans in mind and got his knees up - then, quickly took back control, resulting in a beautiful armbar submission, and the victory. This guy is going to be a star.

Match 7: CM Punk vs. MVP

So probably the coolest moment of the night came when MVP was out, Punk made his entrance, and got on the mic.

While this was happening, everyone around me was yelling for MVP's attention, he looked RIGHT at me, and said with a laugh, "you kinda look like a leprechaun I know with that beard!" Referencing that I and Hornswoggle have the same facial hair. Then he says, "that's cool though, I like leprechauns. Get some good photos of me!" That was a something I won't forget.

So Punk has taken the mic right? Well, he says he wasn't even going to bother with it, or talking down to us since Del Rio ran Odessa down earlier... but since he's hearing a chorus of "Punk Sucks", why not?

So Punk is going on, and can barely talk with all of the boos and jeers, then he says, "Okay, okay? You want me to leave? How about this? If I can't beat MVP tonight, I will NEVER come back and wrestle in Odessa, Texas for the rest of my life."

The crowd went NUTS at that.

MVP takes the mic and says that Punk thinks he's better than everyone because he's Straight Edge, but in MVP's VIP Lounge, everyone has a good time - and that means doing shots, partying, and drinking champagne... not sure that's the EXACT message you want to send to kids, but hey - whatever.

The match is underway and a feeling out process begins, they lock fingers and Punk powers MVP over into a bridge, which was DAMN good looking too I might add.

Punk got the upper hand and did his own version of "BALLIN!" which had me in stitches.

I wouldn't mind seeing a feud between these two really develop, they worked very well together throughout the match, and Gallows played the part of body guard very well for Punk. One point in the match also saw Punk with a "bow and arrow" submission on MVP, to which he said, "ASK HIM REF! .....isn't that what Jericho says?"

MVP ended up hitting Punk with his running big boot in the corner, and setting him up for the Playmaker - Gallows hopped on the apron, MVP got distracted and ran at him, MVP turns around and Punk hits a SICK roundhouse kick to the head, gives him the Go To Sleep - and that's that. - Your winner, CM Punk.

**Brief Intermission to set up the Cage**

MAIN EVENT: Jack Swagger vs. Kane for the World Heavyweight Title

Swagger is out first, and receives no welcoming at all, his music was damn near drowned out to the amount of boos he received.

Kane then storms out to by far the largest pop of the night, lights went dark and red... I swear, it got chills at that point. - Also noted, Kane is a VERY large man. Remind me to never piss him off.

Very brutal match here, Kane punished Swagger with the cage, and it was awesome! Jack then came back with some shots to the legs of Kane, took him down and applied a chinlock while HE yelled at the crowd and how much better Oklahoma is compared to Texas. Good stuff.

Kane got some more offense in, but Swagger took him down with an ankle lock, which Kane powered out of by rolling through.

Several attempts at a chokeslam before FINALLY hitting one... and then... NEXUS hit the ring climbing over the cage, beating Kane down. Swagger looked like he was getting up to help fight them off, then decided to stay down and play possum, and rest.

Matt Hardy, Kozlov, and JTG came out to fight them off, Matt brought a chair... before leaving, he threw it down and told Swagger, "USE THIS!" - WTF moment of the night right there.

Anyway, Kane knocked the chair out of Swagger's hands, chokeslammed the daylights out of him, and picked up the win via pinfall.

-And thus ends the night. Well worth the money, and I couldn't have gone home any happier. I can't wait for WWE to come back to this area - I won't miss it for the world! I did stick around and take a few shots of the ring as well:

Thanks for reading, and sharing my first WWE Live experience!

-Adam

Elite 4 - Chris Jericho

2010-08-20T00:37:00.000-07:00

The most charismatic showman to ever enter your living room via a television screen is here getting his FIRST treatment of Mattel's "Elite" style - and while we've all been led to believe his more mediocre figures are excellence, this Elite 4 Jericho is here to say, "Uh-uh, this Jericho IS excellence."

Chris Jericho... where do you even begin to start when talking about the actual man? The guy has held (on my last count) somewhere in the neighborhood of 35 championships across the globe. Among them were the ECW TV title, WCW Cruiserweight title (4x), WCW TV title, WWE European title, WWE Hardcore title, a 5 time WWE Tag Team Champion (World Tag 4/1 Time WWE), WWE Intercontinental title (9x), WWE Champion, WCW Champion (2x) and WWE World Heavyweight Champion (3x).

He is one of the BEST men bar-none to ever step into a ring, and someone I personally love watching on my television as much as possible. When Chris Jericho enters a ring, you know you're in for something special, so naturally I was super excited when I heard he was being included in an Elite wave of figures. Yeah, I know it's kind of a basic looking figure - since Jericho doesn't exactly wear gear that is as flashy as what he used to perform in... but the detail is still there, and still represented very well.

This Jericho comes in his blue and silver "Save Me" attire you might recognize from... oh say, the Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 video game, or from his first Mattel figure that was in a 2-Pack with Shawn Michaels.

It's not a bad attire, but I would have LOVED to had seen something more recent. That said, the paint deco is REALLY sharp on this figure, the silver has a metallic fleck to it, and the blue is a brilliant shade that contrasts fantastically with the silver and the black - and like the trunks, the kickpads are done the same way (photo below).

Unfortunately, the only accessory he comes with is a little microphone... now I remember some people saying that wanted him to come with a removable cloth suit, but I honestly think it would have looked God awful at this scale - especially since Jericho wears well tailored fitted suits.

I would have liked to have seen more with The Ayatollah of Rock and Rollah, but I'll take what I can get.... but really Mattel, a World Heavywieght title, or a tag title would have been nice... but I understand they're not done.

If you're out making rounds at a Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, Toys R Us, or anywhere else WWE figures are sold, and this happens to catch your eye - I'd say snag it.

With that said, I'd also like to mention that this figure is pretty bare bones, if the attire isn't to your liking I'd recommend holding out for something else... possibly a future Elite Y2J with some better accessories, and a more current attire.

It's also worth mentioning that there is a variant of this figure that, instead of being blue, is purple and silver. Not anything to REALLY be excited for, but I guess a choice isn't a terrible thing, right? Now all that is missing is a World title to go with this figure.

Thanks for reading, you gelatinous parasitic tapeworm hypocrites!

-Adam