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.

Hot Rod Halloween

Back the in 80's the WWF was full of living cartoon characters duking it out in the ring for championship gold. Hulk Hogan was a super hero and with his friends would face some real nasty characters. Roddy Piper was one of the vilest of them. Announcer Vince McMahon (back when he tried to hide that he owned the company) visited Roddy one Halloween night when Hot Rod was getting ready for trick or treaters. Look, when Vince McMahon is the most normal person in the room....

Weekly Halloween: Origin of the Demon

What is it about face pant that's so scary? A clown without it is just a guy in a silly outfit. KISS was just some pop rock band that were linked to Satan because of it. Your favorite wrestler? Just a little make up and evil inccarnate.

Blind Boxed Beast Mode

I had recently started noticing these new WWE Beast Mode blind boxes at Walmart and finally bought one this weekend. I'm glad I did, this is a neat little series. Imagine a stylized mini figure of a wrestler with a Pretender shell. Sounds pretty cool huh? That's exactly what you get with these and I'm definitely getting more. The shell is the 'beast mode' making your little wrestler a monster that's hard not to like.

Unfortunately the shell isn't articulated, but the wrestler is at the shoulders and hips. They're pleasantly rubbery and even have a cool blind box delivery system. The pull tag is a 'chain' that you rip off revealing a red cardboard crate. Tear that thing open to see who you got.

I paid around $5 for one and that's not bad. Unfortunately the cool Undertaker in the picture I used above isn't in the currently available series 1. There's a code system to ensure you don't get a million Triple H's thankfully. Just look at the bottom of the box and you'll see a code above the UPC. The last letter dictates which is inside (I got a Rock).

A: Braun Strowman
B: Finn Balor
C: Becky Lynch
D: Roman Reigns
E: Triple H
F: AJ Styles
G: Daniel Bryan
H: The Rock

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.

Meng Picks The Toppings

I could go for a slice right now.

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.

Friday Night Frights- Jake The Snake, The The Ultimate Warrior, The Hell Am I Doing With My Life

Oh, yes, it's Friday Night and the Frights are right, it's Friday Night...Frights. Summer is a Spooky season, as you all are used to seeing by now, and as a spooky season that leads up to THE spooky season... there's some spooky shit to be had. What am I talking about, well, that was literally just filler. I have no clue how to start this.

*cough*

Back in 1991, The Ultimate Warrior was in a feud with The Undertaker. Which means all sorts of stuff filmed in a graveyard while Paul Bearer did that face thing... the hell was that? Did... did he poop himself or something? As The Ultimate Warrior was facing a dark evil foe, he needed the help of another dark and evil individual, Jake The Snake! If nothing says dark and evil in the early 90's it's a guy with a mullet in a silk shirt who owns a snake. Jake begins showing the Ultimate Warrior the ways of the darkness and to believe in a thing called love. Just listen to the rhythm of your heart, Warrior. Which beats the blood of the warrior.

We are then treated to various clips of Jake and Warrior in a graveyard doing such things as digging up bodies, closing the Warrior in a casket, and other spooky shit until the culmination in a shed full of snakes. It's a carnival haunted house come to life with SO MUCH HEAVY BREATHING.

Jumpstarter Detroyers

Work with me here, but I had an idea. What's the one G1 toy anybody can get without any effort? Jumpstarters. The pull back motor driven Autobots whom flip into robot mode with style and grace (kinda). I've always been quite fond of duo, but even I can't deny just how easy it is to get a hold of a bunch without even trying. I'm willing to bet most Transformers fans have several that they can't even account for. Bootlegs or official, they're aplenty.

With super gimmicky Transformers aimed more at children these days, I can't help to think these guys would be a great idea to put on the shelves. Maybe not reissues, but newer figures with the gimmick. But kids these days demand more from their toys, they'll want more from their Jumpstarters, and then it hit me.

Canadian Destroyer Transformers. 

What The WWF

These day's I'm mainly an AEW fan, but back in the day I would switch the channel between WWF and WCW basking in the glory of both companies. The wrestling video games during that time were pretty great as well. I vastly preferred WWF Superstars and WWF WrestleFest in the arcades, but they were long gone by the time WWF Wrestlemania hit my local arcades in 1995. When the home console versions came out, my Genesis found itself occupied with the likes of Lex Luger and The Undertaker. It was a good time. Something I was able to do at home that I couldn't at the arcade was beat the game... and that's what we're here for today. Brace yourselves.

Colossal Rubber Tussle

I'm sure we all have a lot on our minds right now. Me, I've got the obvious things we've dealing with as well as preparing for our move in the summer. That's not the best introduction to this post, but I'm not afraid to admit it. I was dreaming about being quarantined in our new place and organizing M.U.S.C.L.E toys. Honestly it's the kind of this I'd do normally.

So, there I was, setting up the new Zone Base headquarters and decided it was time to hold a giant wrestling event with my toys. A real life issue is my childhood M.U.S.C.L.E toys are in various forms of storage at my Mom's house. Real talk, most have probably evaporated in that parents house wormhole that eats things. My 2000's Ultimate M.U.S.C.L.E figures are all sorts of assorted throughout multiple boxed next to most of my Microman toys. My current ones are readily handy as well as multiple other keshi lines.

I traveled to the local Dollar Tree to pick up a good $10 worth of those tiny crappy wrestling rings they usually have with el cheapo jobbers included. For the record, I was taking advantage of all current wrestling events being filmed without audiences. Clearly I have cats and Vince McMahon doesn't. Also my event was streamed on Instagram, completely free like this site. So hey, if you like what I do, please share, it's all I ask.

So I divided my teams up. Universal Monsters, The Worst, WWE, Transformers (Beast Wars and G1), Peanuts, Star Wars, etc. I set up a ranking system based on a very crucial formula (which ever I grabbed first). One of my many tablets served as the titan tron and in the crowd... my fish. I think he was awake. Play that 'click, click, boom' song, it was on. And by on I mean I woke up having to pee another ocean. In my defense, if they sold Surge in normal sized cans at the gas station... I'd still get the tall boy.

A Six Pack of Whoop Ass for Christmas

Nothing says Christmas like throwing a burly man through a table. It's not uncommon for wrestling promotions to put on a Christmas show, I mean... it's a good time to take advantage of most folks retiring for the night in front of the TV. And bam, there's a redneck in a Santa outfit kicking somebody in the junk in front of an audience. I don't think you even have to like wrestling to appreciate the artistry of Christmas time wrasslin.

I have the Championship!!

One of the toy lines for 2020 that I'm super excited for is Masters of the WWE Universe. Mattel is doing a lot with He-Man in 2020 with the Origins toy line due in fall as well as other fun stuff like more Mega Construx toys (love) and the upcoming Netflix series. Mattel also makes the WWE action figures that are pretty popular among wrestling figure collectors.

Somebody had the idea to mash He-Man and WWE together in a fun toy line exclusive to Walmart. That somebody is a genius. I hardly watch WWE anymore, they lost me somewhere awhile back. I keep casually informed as to whats going on, but I'm more into other wrestling companies. That however doesn't keep me from loving this. Fortunately a good deal of the figures are older wrestling stars that I'd be more likely to buy like Sting or The Ultimate Warrior.

The toys seem to be using Origins bodies and weapons, so they'll match right along with those figures. It's kind of funny. Back in the day, companies like Remco would use their MOTU 'inspired' toy molds to make wrestling figures. Battle Tribes homages this with their figures. Now Mattel is even in on the act.

It's silly, but it's fun. The Grayskull Mania set is proof of that. Five point five customizers have been using wrestling figures for year, because duh. I'm really looking forward to where they go with these. Specially after some of the Savage World/Primal Age customs I've seen. It's just neat, you know?

Pro Wrasslin

I often find myself wishing for a sequel to this amazing game. Spiritually, the Fire Pro Wrestling games are follow ups as the programmer went on to work on those. Though there's no official sequel. I want to see what happened to the gang and what all new roster came into the promotion. It's pretty important that I find out.

M.U.S.C.L.E MAYHEM

It was sometime in college that I learned more about M.U.S.C.L.E figures origins. I had bought quite a ton of the little guys as a kid, which lead me to being interested in other similar figures. Monsters in my Pocket, Transformers Decoys, random little rubber figures in vending machines and ticket redemption booths at the arcade (hey, this one's He-Man!). Turns out they were a type of figure called keshi with roots in Japan (it's by absolute coincidence that so many things I like come from there). M.U.S.C.L.E was based on a series called Kinnikuman but here in America was given a sort of Garbage Pail Kids treatment (larger packs of the toys even came in garbage cans).

Kinnikuman is kinda similar to Dragon Ball in ways (light comparison, don't come at me) while M.U.S.C.L.E just gave the figures a basic story of weirdo creatures (Millions of Unusual Small Creatures Lurking Everywhere) that just happened to be wrestlers who fought a lot. Even though the early 2000's U.S reintroduction of the series (Ultimate MUSCLE) was a pretty direct adaption of Kinnikuman (boy I bought a ton of those), I'll admit to preferring the M.U.S.C.L.E setting. No real reason I suppose, it's just a fun light setting for these little weird dudes to exist in. Not to mention, whenever I get newer M.U.S.C.L.E figures, it's cool to see Ric Flair to enter the wrestling anarchy.

Great Puma

Star Man

Fighter Hayabusa

Giant Panther

King Slender