Variant Spotlight - Special Guest Referees

It's hard to believe that the Ringside Collection Series 1 Referee BCA figure was based on Harvey Whippleman.

In the words of current WWE champion The Miz: Really? No, really Jakks?

If his likeness in figure form never piqued your interest, there was always the alternative of a special guest referee figure of one of your favorite WWF Superstars.


Unfortunately, you would have to wait until more than halfway through the BCA line's existence (think spring 1999) to see the first repainted referee attire - Vince McMahon in the Judgment Day 3-pack.


Next comes Mrs. Foley's baby boy, Mankind, donning the vertical zebra stripes in the second Raw Is War 4-pack, this one released in the late summer months of 1999.


Finally, "Big Nasty"...err..."The Big Show" Paul Wight would be transformed into the world's largest referee in the No Chance 3-pack which was available in the fall of '99, or nearing the end of the BCA figure run.


Though none of these would be considered variants by figure collectors, they are exclusive repaints that were a special treat in the BCA line.

Only those three wrestling personalities would receive the treatment as Jakks had started the process too late in the game.

Or, one could assume that Jakks saw to it that the market wasn't flooded with referee repaints in every BCA boxed set, so they only greenlighted three of the many that were surely considered.

I mean, couldn't you picture them releasing a special guest referee Undertaker? Not to mention, it's a Festivus miracle that Austin never had a referee repaint of his own.


The concept would continue on through many other Jakks figure lines including RA and CS as special guest referee figures can never be put down for the count.

Until next time, thanks for looking and have a nice day!

- Alex