Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Brian Pillman

Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Brian Pillman

Mattel WWE Then Now Forever basics (Wal-mart)

It's the battle of the Hollywood Blondes!  Just kidding...still waiting on that Mattel tag team 2-pack.  Here we have the Texas Rattlesnake, Stone Cold Steve Austin with a set of gold knee braces and "smoking skull" belt. 

 Nice accessories for a basic figure ($10 and less articulation than the $20 Elite figures), as most basics get zilch.  I know the origin of the custom "smoking skull belt" but I'm having a hard time remembering when he had the gold braces and for how long.  Anyway, cool figure, even with the lack of Elite articulation.  I even like this head scan better than the Hall of Fame Target exclusive one I have.  The only gripe I have here is that the belt would look better with the shiny, vac-metal plastic.  That is the only time you will ever hear me say that about a toy...I hate vac-metal on my Transformers!

Next up, Flyin' Brian Pillman!  No, it's Loose Cannon Brian Pillman!  The tights on this figure are from his brief time with the 4 Horsemen in WCW.  He comes with a crutch accessory, which I assume has something to do with the ankle injury sustained from the car accident he had right before coming over to the WWE.  He was still in the action while laid up, feuding with his former WCW tag team partner Stunning Steve Austin...er...Stone Cold Steve Austin.  Which brings me to much-needed-but-lacking accessory:

Oh, yeah!  Now that's pure Attitude era there!  Stone Cold coming to Pillman's house, Pillman threatening to shoot him, a scuffle, shots fired, camera goes to black...pretty extreme stuff for the time.  Weird and exciting, but still just an angle, folks.  I know it's a big departure from seeing Ultimate Warrior run around and do the same 3 moves over and over, but calm down.

This figure came in a 2-pack with Dean Ambrose as a "loose canon" themed set.  I've seen Dean Ambrose wrestle, but have not been all that impressed or excited.  The set was a $20 Wal-mart exclusive, but I got it for $5 after Christmas clearance.  

Sorry, Dean...you're just a cheap accessory/bonus here.  Get in the bucket of misfit toys!