Undertaker [WWE Superstars/Series 3]

Masters of the WWE Universe was a fun toy line by Mattel featuring WWE wrestlers as MOTU characters. It was a fun series that used the MOTU Origins bodies and weapons that was totally interchangeable with Origins toys similar to Turtles of Grayskull. When the line ended, it shifted to a traditional wrestling toy line featuring the WWE wrestlers in their classic gimmicks. This new line, WWE Superstars has been running fairly successful ever since. Interestingly enough, these toys still use the MOTU Origins bodies and are still interchangeable with other Origins figures. That's pretty neat! Personally, I wasn't interested in these but have noticed their popularity with MOTU fans. There is a lot of customizers in the MOTU fandom and Origins bodies are made with that in mind, The joints and body parts can be disassembled with ease and combined with others.

These WWE figures are basically blank He-Man bodies perfect to use. My mother is an avid clearance aisle shopper who picked up this Undertaker figure from the toy line because she knows I like the Undertaker. Despite not being to interested in the line, it was neat to get one and of a wrestler I've always liked. The figure is based on The Undertaker's early 90's appearance around when the character first debuted. The figure is a MOTU Origins body with a pretty decently sculpted head that even has his hairstyle from that era. He features a removable hat with a cloth overcoat and tie. Underneath the coat, it's mostly a painted Origins body but with boots to match his 90's ring gear. The Undertaker even comes with extra hands to swap out so you can recreate some of his poses. This is a pretty cool concept that reminds me of in the 80's when companies like Remco would take the molds from their fantasy figures to make wrestler toys. Even though I don't have the urge to make a custom MOTU figure, I can see in this figure alone how all the parts would be just right to use. It's also a pretty great representation of The Undertaker from his early years. I'm pleasantly surprised with this toy and it's overall neatness. It's pretty great.

DDT Stands For The End

Masters of the WWE Universe is a weird toy line. I know I've talked about them before here, but it's one of those concepts I can't help but to describe each time. Are they wrestling figures or He-Man toys? 

Both. They're both. 

These are literally MOTU Origins toys with wrestlers as characters in an alternate timeline. I'd been really wanting to get a hold of the new Jake the Snake Roberts figure since learning about him. Jake is one of my favorite wrestlers of all time and I was instantly sold on him being in the MOTU ranks. Thankfully, the wife got me one for Christmas. Or as she said, she got me a weird old man toy.

Playing into his scary guy who carries around a snake gimmick, Jake is WWEternia's answer to King Hiss. In human form, Jake pretty much looks how you'd expect. With MOTU style armor decorated like his tights carrying his trademark snake. I'd like to think it's Lucifer, not Damien.

But remember, you can't trust a snake! By removing his armor and mask a reptilian freak is exposed! A reptilian freak with a mullet! I've mentioned a million times about how Masters of the Universe is a bunch of Halloween decorations. This is literally a toy of a person who removes his disguise to reveal a demonic true form. It's January, doesn't matter, trick or treat mother fuckers.

If you haven't gotten you hands on a MOTU Origins figure yet, let me explain one to you. Imagine all the charm of an original He-Man figure with modern day articulation. They're literally using Origins molds to make these with oddball WWE parts and whatever other stuff they have laying around. 

Jake might have the most original molding with his face mask and reptilian head. I'm sure the snake is from other figures. The armor is the same that came with Macho Man, but sans the additional chest plates for battle damage. I kind of wish he came with a weapon. The snake works, but a knife would have been perfect.

Jake is an obvious choice for a Snake Man on WWEternia. I really like the playing up of 'one with the darkness' into his overall presentation. Jake always seemed like that guy in a random episode of Tales from the Darkside. The shady dude in a silk shirt, cowboy boots, and was involved with a voodoo priest. Later who turns into a snake to kill the guy who wronged the voodoo priest. Or I guess that guy from the old PSA. Come to think about it, I always saw that during Tales from the Darkside. Dang.

Running Wild On Rattlesnake Mountain

I had totally assumed Masters of the WWE Universe was going to end when MOTU Origins started, but here I am being wrong and happy about it. Previews of the new Rattlesnake Mountain set have been popping up on various toy news sites and let me tell you something brother, I want it. My luck with the line has been pretty spotty unfortunately. So far I haven't been able to find anything past wave one. Which is pretty disappointing as I've really wanted figures like Macho Man and The Undertaker.

I'm hoping this set will be like the Grayskull Mania bundle from last Christmas. They were pretty easy to find and hung around for awhile. You can get a Greyskull ring no problem, but the set with Terror Claws Triple H and John Cena was only around then. It just makes sense that this would be on a pallet for the holiday season. Give me a hell yeah. The theming of a Snake Men Stone Cold to match one of his shirts vs. Hulk Hogan as early He-Man is pretty great. And that's the bottom line, because Stone Cold Rob said so.

Transform Squadron 18: I don't want an HHH

Listen Now

This month: Rob talks Toylanta, Masters of the Universe and Transformers with a dash of Aliens and a few other select herbs and spices! Save the Earth and listen!

Crash The Rocket Ship To WWEternia

I can't express just how great the Masters of the WWE Universe toys are. As one can easily deduce, the line is a crossover series with wrestlers in MOTU bodies and styling. But it goes far beyond that. The toys are combining the classic homages of MOTU characters and each wrestlers personality. The Ultimate Warrior was born for this line and he's in the fist wave. At first glance you'd see him and laugh that it's just Warrior as a He-Man toy. They play that up quite a bit. The text from his character bio is taken from one of his promos as is the crashed space capsule in the artwork. It's insane and it's perfect.

However, he's not just the Ultimate Warrior as a He-Man toy. Before Prince Adam and the backstory we all know, He-Man was originally a warrior from a jungle tribe that came into owning the power sword differently. Later the Prince Adam origin came to be and this was dropped until the MOTU Classics series made a figure of this incarnation. Now a character known as Oo-Larr, whom was a previous He-Man prior to Prince Adam. It's amazing that Mattel took such lengths with a toy seemingly meant to be a novelty and made it so dang cool.