WWE Howard Finkel Wave

WWE Howard Finkel Wave

Mattel - Walmart Exclusive

We all need a little Fink in our lives...or at least on your WWE classics shelf.  One of the most popular in-ring announcers from yesteryear finally make it to plastic form with the help of Walmart and some notable companions.  Seeing as how poor Howard might pegwarm hard as a solo release, they chopped him up and distributed him piece by piece with a classic wrestler.  What's more, each wrestler is featuring a new outfit that had not been previously done by Mattel!

Not to undersell his career as a whole, but Cowboy Bob Orton was more or less remembered as an accessory to Rowdy Roddy Piper in the WWE.  This might single him out as the least exciting of this wave, but his first figure was waaay back in the early days of the Mattel line.  So, if you dont already have him, he's worth adding to the collection...you may never get another chance!  This one does come with a hat, which is great for me, as my Elite figure was purchased from Ebay missing his.

This is the third outing for Rick Rude in plastic, and only the second in long hair format.  While Elite Series 40 was perfection, ladies and sweat hogs collector's could always use more of the Ravishing One.  The purple tights are nice, but it's hard to do any of his signature posing with basic articulation.  C'mon...he at least needs an ab crunch for all that classic hip thrusting!

Finally!  The Million Dollar Man in green tux!  He might be better off with soft-goods clothing and Elite articulation (as he does look a tad bulky and stiff),  but it's not like he's gonna wrestle in it or anything.  For what it is, it's great for cutting all those classic promos.  More with Virgil later!

The most demanded figure of this wave has to be Iraqi-sympathizer Sargent Slaughter.   I mean, its really the only noticeable costume change for him, and quite an infamous one.   He gets more accessories than your standard basic, featuring removable sunglasses and headdress.  Now we're only missing Iron Sheik redressed as Colonel Mustafa...maybe in a two-pack with crazy Desert Storm Hulk Hogan?

The Howard Finkel figure is a great bonus to this wave.  A black tux may not be all that exciting, but you do get a fully, Elite-articulated figure with a microphone accessory.  And, as I said before, how can you collect this era and pass him up?  These figures do run a couple dollars more than your average basic ($12), but all-in-all its worth it.

Mean Gene Okerlund, Rowdy Roddy Piper, and Jake the Snake Roberts

Mean Gene Okerlund, Rowdy Roddy Piper, and Jake the Snake Roberts

Mattel WWE - Flashback Series(Walmart), Hall of Fame (Target)

Three more WWE Legends immortalized in plastic!  Piper and Jake have had several Mattel renditions over the years, with differences in attire and articulation.  Do these have what it takes to make the collection?  Plus, everyone's favorite wrestling interviewer Mean Gene Okerlund finally joins the fray!

Jake is sporting tights from his feud with Ravishing Rick Rude, hence the giant rat in a robe on his left leg.  It was a decent feud, but pretty specific and frustrating for those looking for the definitive Roberts.  (The one that came closest was the All Stars two-pack with Randy Orton.)  It's still a good figure, but may have needed an accompanying Rude with Cheryl Roberts face painted on his tights to really sell it.  You do get two snakes for accessories, but it would have been nice of them to throw in a carrying bag.  C'mon, Mattel...you put a bag in the basic two-pack with Dean Ambrose!  There have been some complaints about the torso on this figure being more defined than the real Jake ever was (and I agree), but the weird body hair stubble paint job is too gross to make you want to look at it too long in scrutiny.

This may be the difinitive Piper for the time being.  It sports the longest hair of the releases so far, and the head sculpt looks pretty darn good.  The open mouth may not be everyone's cup of tea for display but, c'mon, Rowdy Roddy rarely kept his mouth shut for more than a second or two.  The cloth shirt is nothing new, but It's kind of puzzling that they didn't go the same route with the kilt.  The rubbery material cuts down on some of the leg movement when on and it can be difficult to fasten again once removed.  Still, all-in-all, this is my go-to for awesome backstage promo-cutting Piper.

Did someone say promos?  You can't cut a classic promo without Mean Gene Okerlund reigning it all in.  Like Howard Finkel, they originally planned to cut him up and distribute him as a build-a-figure some years back.  This wave made it out with limited distribution (maybe overseas), leaving a lot of fans in the cold.  Thankfully, we got another shot at him as a Walmart Exclusive...single packed...with accessories!  With additional arms and blazer (red), you get two different display choices.  He also comes with a big production light to help assemble your backstage area.  Oh, and of course he has his microphone to catch all that beautiful wrestling prose.

These are great figures of the greats of wrestling.  The only one I could see passing up is Jake because of the specific attire.  Though, to be safe, pick him up...you never know when it might be your last shot at this era.

RIP Rowdy Roddy Piper...RIP Mean Gene Okerlund.  Gone but never forgotten.