Now that that's been said, I would like to welcome you to the year 1998 and Part 3 of the "Updating The Past" series of posts where I will reminisce and hopefully clear the air of past BCA figure news and rumors.
Everything presented here is courtesy of the Action Figure Zone News website from many years ago.
Let's keep this train rolling now...
1/2 - "Iron" Mike Tyson has now signed a deal for WrestleMania; a Tyson BCA figure is sure to be released, although it would have to be a commemorative release since he did not sign a full contract with the WWF.
I wrote about this
1/4 - (Non-BCA) WCW gives OSFTM another chance to produce a series with DDP and others, but they will look to McFarlane to obtain the license if sales are not a success.
I find it very interesting to read little tidbits like this, and I still can't fathom why WCW would choose Toymakers over McFarlane.
1/5 - Best of '97 Series 2 is found at TRU and Wal-Mart stores.
I was always under the assumption that this series was exclusive to TRU stores, but maybe there was distribution elsewhere for a select few series. You learn something new every day, amiright?
1/6 - Rumors of Hogan signing with the WWF means that there could always be a Jakks figure in the works - not so much a Legends series figure, but a regular 6" BCA is possible if he signs.
Gosh, I remember the speculation at the time, but it was all fodder and Hogan never did re-sign with the WWF in early 1998.
1/7 - Again, more about Hogan and the WWF, but it's also worth noting that Jakks is interested in doing a George "The Animal" Steele figure since he just signed a two-year deal with the federation. Steele is set to manage Vader which could lead to one of three scenarios - a singles figure, a Special Edition Hall of Fame figure, or a Managers Series 2-pack with Vader.
I know Steele would have been a shoeo-in for Legends Series 2 if it had been made, but none of the other proposed figures were ever brought to life...err, plastic.
1/9 - Do not fret, because the Austin and Undertaker S.T.O.M.P. Series 1 figures are not shortpacked, just very hard to find. The clamoring is being compared to Bret Hart's Best of '97 Series 1 figure at the time. Also, Jakks will consider to make a commemorative Brian Pillman.
Austin is unbelievably common nowadays, but 'Taker and Bret are still somewhat sought-after figures. Unfortunately, Pillman nor Owen were ever granted a commemorative figure in the wake of their untimely deaths.
1/10 - The Legends series is a go, it seems, and Andre The Giant will be included.
The Razor's Edge Wrestling Figure Newspage once had a picture to support this finding, but it can no longer be accessed. Big credit to that site, too, for all of their excellent investigative work and customs.
1/11 - There is a 50% chance Jakks will make a Tom Brandi BCA figure; this is all dependent on if he becomes "a star." On the other hand, a new Yokozuna repaint (in white) is expected to hit KB stores soon.
Well, I can now confirm that there is a 100% chance that Tom Brandi will not be a star, but Yoko is/was and the repaint was just as good as the original.
1/12 - Jakks will "almost definitely" come out with a new Nation of Domination set in May or June; this is the supposed reason for the first boxed set's limited availability, and the new one should have Faarooq, Rocky Maivia, Kama Mustafa, and D'Lo Brown. In other news, Yoko's KB exclusive figure is said to be limited to 18,000 pieces and there is no repaint available as of now.
Yoko's single-carded figures were 1 out of 16,000, whereas the Nation of Domination #2 set is 1 out of, well, zero since it was never made.
1/13 - A Mike Tyson/Don King Managers Series 2-pack is rumored, but it could end up just being a regular 2-pack if it's indeed released.
You don't know what I would do to have a BCA Don King figure, as it just speaks volumes (and, no, I'm not talking about the fro) about his greatness. Sadly, as I mentioned before, Jakks opted not to go forward with either in figure form.
1/16 - More talk of a McFarlane/WCW alliance and, speaking of alliances, an NWA line is possible, if not believed to be inevitable.
Hmm, what's it going to take to get Jarrett in his Aztec gear?!? Okay, yeah, there was a Bendems figure and, yeah, the gear is awful anyway, but we're talking principle here! Jakks did not go through with the NWA line because...uh...the WWF didn't either.
1/17 - DOA to come with Titan motorcycles? It's merely a suggestion at this point. Meanwhile, WCW is looking to compete with WWF by having new 5 1/2 to 6" scale figures in their OSFTM line.
The DOA rumor is not a bad one either, but the price tag would've been a killer for these figures. Also, the OSFTM WCW line could have only dreamed of being as good as the BCA figures.
1/19 - Here is a straight copy and past of the next bit of info: "The Jakks Pacific ECW line that was once confirmed to be made has just been put on hold. It will be released when ECW comes back to the WWF, which should be sometime within the next six months. The line would include Sabu, Taz, Sandman, Tommy Dreamer, and a few more. Just thought that this needed clarification."
I just want to say...damn. Could you imagine ECW wrestlers in the BCA line? What would this have meant for the OSFTM ECW figure line released just one year later? So many questions and yet so few answers.
1/20 - Snuka and Blassie are added to Legends Series 1.
1/21 - A Jakks Death Match Ring? Barb wire instead of ring ropes? A variety of weapons? It isn't confirmed, but it may soon be, according to AFZN. Not to mention, they hit the nail on the head with a correct prediction of D'Lo and Kama in an upcoming 2-pack; although, the name of series 2 reads "2 Tuff" and not "Tag Team."
The Death Match ring sounds like a Pipe Dream ring to me, but kudos for the D'Lo/Kama prediction.
1/22 - A proposed deluxe line for Jakks figures would include Austin with his truck, DOA with their bikes, and others. However, Jakks is not taking this series idea seriously, but the DOA with bikes could be scheduled for a June or July 1998 release on their own.
More on this later, but there are many hurdles to be overcome with a deluxe line, which is why it was never made.
1/23 - The Signature Series 1 Stone Cold figure is said to be shortpacked, believe it or not.
Eh, I could believe it at first, but I doubt that status lasted for long.
1/24 - Jakks will "most likely" make Tyson, but Don King is uncertain. Jakks is working on a "Three Faces of Foley" boxed set as we speak, and a new Mankind could be introduced.
Mankind would end up being a re-release of his Slammers Series 1 figure, and Tyson/King continue to be a non-release (unless you count the Rocky Balboa Series RA Tyson figure).
1/26 - Kane might be added to Superstars Series 6, along with Dude Love, Shawn Michaels with a chair, a new Stone Cold Steve Austin mold, and possibly The Patriot.
Can you guess which ones weren't in Series 6? Yeah, okay, none of them were. Moving on...
1/27 - Forget the post five days before this, because Jakks is seriously considering a deluxe line of figures. They would include real hair, real clothes, and maybe even entrance gear. The probable lineup includes Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, Jeff Jarrett, Ken Shamrock, and Goldust. This is all speculation, though.
And that's all it would turn out to be - speculation. Jakks did not have the resources to commit to such a line, and I don't think the price range would have been desirable for most collectors. Also, in non-BCA news, McFarlane was effectively out of the running for the WCW line once Toymakers retained the license in late January '98, and there's more to the story coming in Part 4!
1/28 - Austin's Signature Series 1 figure is valued at $13 on the secondary market.
You could probably chop off $10 of that for its current value, sad to say.
1/30 - Aguila is set for the Light Heavyweight division series, and Jakks is planning a new Ripped and Ruthless line with Stone Cold (in vest or t-shirt), The Undertaker, Mankind, and Goldust. It's expected to be released prior to June 1998.
R&R essentially took over for the failed Legends series, but neither series could be deemed a success. The Light Heavyweight division series plans were dropped after the WWF abandoned the new division following WrestleMania XIV, but that's just how it was in the fast-paced WWF Attitude days.
It's a miracle Jakks ever got anything done and out on time then.
Keep an eye out (or both, if it floats your boat) for "Part Four" soon!
Until next time, thanks for looking and have a nice day!
- Alex
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1 comment:
Keep up the good work captain!
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