Macho King and Sensational Queen Sherri

 Macho King and Sensational Queen Sherri

WWE Mattel

I say this a lot...”I am so backed up on reviewing new ___ toys.”  This time, instead of filling that blank with a property name, I’ve got one of the few solo personalities worthy of their own sub-collection:  Macho Man Randy Savage.  Forever larger than life with the talent to back it up.  And so many different wardrobe changes that even Barbie couldn’t keep up.  

This is another variation of the Macho King era.  Who else would be man enough to rock pink leopard print?  Pink leopard print topped with an orange bandana?

This is one of the newer head scans with an open, teeth-exposed mouth.  He’s also the first Macho figure to get interchangeable hands.  Finally, pointing fingers!  He can finally be posed on the turnbuckle, pointing to the heavens before taking flight!

No crown this time, but he does come with his royal scepter.  It comes in two pieces which, I can’t recall any matches where he might have broke over some fool’s head, may or may not be intentional.

Not to diminish her own skill and talent as a wrestler,  but I recently picked up the ultimate Macho King accessory:  Sensational Queen Sherri!  She was the perfect yang to Miss Elizabeth’s ying during this uber-heel turn for Macho Man.  This is the first and only time so far, that Sherri has been featured as a figure from Mattel.  Removable robe and crown, killer makeup application...It’s a great figure, but I do hope she gets a standard “sensational” figure in the near future.

These were EBay purchases, since legends figures tend to be released as hard to find store exclusives now.  I probably paid about $5 more than retail for Sherri, and $10 more for MM.  I’ve never seen the latter on shelves, so I am glad to have done so.  Beats facing the endless disappointment of hunting for him at the worst Target in the world, Springfield, MO.  Sherri was a Walmart exclusive.  Of course, Ive seen her a couple of times at various stores since...but waaay after her original release.  $15 up front versus who knows how much gas money over a long period of searching.  These were worth it.  Macho Man is always worth it.  

Masters of the WWE Universe

Masters of the WWE Universe

Mattel

Mattel is selling us the same crap thrice (Original line, Classics) with the upcoming Masters of the Universe retro line?!  However, unlike most double-dips (Or triple-dips) into nostalgia, these figures sport all-new tooling and articulation.  So, while your He-man looks as squatty as you remember in the package, you can actually get him in some dynamic poses with added knee, ankle, head, elbow, and wrist joints.  Cool, huh?  Only one problem...they aren’t out yet!  For whatever reason, Matty decided to test the waters with a bizarre WWE/MOTU mash-up.

Weird, yes, but very fun!  I already jumped back in time with the Funko DC Primal Age figures, so why not?  Plus, who wouldn’t want to see the Rock (coming soon) and He-man cooperatively lay the smack down on the Joker or Skeletor?  As with my regular WWE figures, I’m sticking to Classic and Attitude Era only.

Some of the gimmick mash-ups are better than others.  Macho Man-at-Arms was what really sold me on the line.  Translucent “you-cant-see-me” Faker Cena is a riot!  I’m looking ahead hopefully to some more creative pairings, like a Slime Pit Piper (playset is a must).  If Andre the Giant’s size doesn’t make him the perfect fit for Ram Man...

 

The line debuted at Walmart last December with a special MOTU inspired ring, a standard Cena, and Terror claws HHH.  Even if this isn’t your bag, it isnt beyond belief that He-man might have a training ring like this in the basement of Castle Grayskull...so it fits in just fine with my MOTU Classics.  It even comes with some nifty “wooden” steps with accessory posts to help your warriors armor up before heading into the ring.

Again, these may not be for everyone, but there’s a lot to like at a $15 price point per figure.  If the throwback cards and overall style weren’t enough, you get a small mini comic with each figure.

These are pieces of the first two waves.  So far, there are two more on the way which I will cherry pick from.  Rock, Undertaker/Scareglow are definite locks.  Mr. T and Hulk Hogan are also making their way to Eternia soon...I have the power, brother!

Take a look back at the MOTU/DC mash-up:
DC Primal Age

Slim Jim Macho Man

Slim Jim Macho Man

Mattel - SDCC Exclusive

Now this is one piece of 90s nostalgia I could not live without!  Slim Jim turned the already awesome Macho Man Randy Savage into a Kool-Aid Man ("Oh yeeeeah!") type spokesman, crashing through walls to dispense meat sticks and combat hunger at the drop of a hat.  The bonkers commercials were a great fit for Macho Madness.  So good, that if you watch a certain sequence of them together, it looks like a murderous decent into madness for the sake of snack treats. 


























Killing Shakespeare:

Terrorizing the elderly:

Beating on kids:

Finally brought to justice:

Alone with the madness:

And now we have a figure to commemorate it all!  This was a San Diego Comic Con exclusive (*throws up in anger), but was pre-sold on Entertainment Earth before the show.  I was lucky to get one before he sold out.  It comes in a snazzy Slim Jim replica box (another package I am forced to keep.)

The figure is a bunch of reused parts from other Macho releases, but features a new paint job and two plastic Slim Jim box accessories.  It's rare to get a MM fully decked out from head to toe with hat, glasses, and tassels galore.  Everything looks great, but I have one gripe with the hat.  It's a bit small on the head they used, which is one of the newer scans.  It's not terrible, but even looking at the picture on the back, that hat should be riding lower on his head. 

Even with reused parts and an ill-fitting hat, I won't pass up a Macho Man figure.  Yes...that goes for WCW era, too.  In fact, one MM I want the most:

If Mattel can get me that truck in figure form, all past SDCC transgressions will be forgiven.  Even the Gleek fiasco.

USA Macho Man

USA Macho Man Randy Savage

Mattel - Gamestop exclusive Retrofest figure

 

Oooooh yeeeeeeah!  Another Macho Man figure here in time to help us celebrate the 4th of July!  He's a Gamestop exclusive under the "Retrofest" banner that I assume is a Gamestop exclusive as well.  He's pretty much the "Ultimate Maniacs" Mach repainted to match an attire from when he was working the early days of the Monday Night RAW program. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He looks great, but for an inflated price tag of $30, the only real extra you get is a snazzy box.  The box, designed to be a stand-up arcade cabinet, is great and all (nice retro fonts and character bio on back), but I am not a mint-in-box/card collector.  It was virtually impossible not to damage the box taking the figure out even if I did want to keep it.  In the trash it goes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You would think an extra ten bucks would at least get you another key clothing item, his long-sleeved, tasseled coat as well.  Or maybe Macho Mini?  Heck, we know Mattel has a little person buck that they haven't used in a while.  It couldn't take that much retooling.  Ah, well...as I said before, I cant pass up a Macho variation and I know I would regret not picking this one up later on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Independence Day! USA! USA! USA!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Defining Moments Macho Man

Defining Moments Macho Man

WWE Mattel

From what is arguably the greatest wrestling match of all time, the Defining Moments line delivers the Macho Man Randy Savage in all his Wrestlemania III glory.  WMIII may have had Hulk Hogan bodyslamming Andre the Giant at the top of the card, but Ricky the Dragon Steamboat challenging the Macho Man for the Intercontinental Championship stole the show; thanks to Macho's demand to work out the entire match start to finish, and both performers ability to execute the plan to a tee.  Pretty impressive for a spectacle that also featured Aretha Franklin, Alice Cooper, and Bob Uecker!

This figure sports match-accurate bandanna, glasses, and "fur" lined, cloth robe.  The color of the trunks has met with contention from fans on wrestling toy boards, some feeling this is too pink and not enough purple or the other way around.  Also, it has been criticized for not having the IC title belt included.  Spoilers:  He may not have left with it after the match, but this is depicting the beginning of the match, right?  Pretty cheap of Mattel.  I had to yank this belt from another figure in my collection. (Sorry, Razor Ramon)

Mattel did up it's game in giving us an all-new head scan/sculpt.  Some fans have been crying "too much underbite" and that he looks more like Karl from "Sling Blade."  I disagree.  While it's not perfect, it's pretty darn good.  I definitely think it's more "Savage" than the previous sculpts.  From it's announcement, I knew that this would instantly become my favorite Macho Man figure...and like the match it is based on, it does not disappoint.  Please, watch the match, read the stories behind it...and get down with the madness!    Oh, and, Mattel?  Please make the miniature ring carts from Wrestlemania III.