MOC Review: Mattel WWE Action Figures
Time for another AFC Mint On Card Review! Our good buddies at Mattel are on the block this time around with their new line of WWE action figures. Mattel certainly has some big shoes to fill after the impressive JAKKS run with WWE. The JAKKS line started off a little rocky way back when, but improved year after year. Let's see how Mattel shapes up right out of the gate!

We received a total of 5 Mattel WWE products, totaling 6 action figures:

• Wrestlemania Heritage Series Stone Cold Steven Austin
• Wrestlemania Heritage Series John Cena
• Elite Collection Series Edge
• Elite Collection Series The Undertaker
• Ultimate Rivals 2-pack Sean Michaels vs. Chris Jericho

Let's go over each type of figure and look at the pros and cons.

The Wrestlemania Heritage figures and Ultimate Rivals 2-packs are your basic style figures. Lots of great articulation all around... well except in the hips. These figures for some odd reason only have very basic back and forth leg movement in the hips. So executing HBK's "sweet chin music" is a little awkward (apparent in the HBK vs Jericho 2-pack packaging). The figures could have used a couple more points of articulation in that sense. That really rounds out the cons of these figures. For a basic type of figure, they are rather impressive.

The Mania figures are packaged in a blister and cardboard backer card. The card back lists the various Mania figures available along with a large photo and description of the particular figure you've purchased. The Wrestlemania figures are intended to depict a memorable moment in the 26 year history of the big event and the card back contains details of each Wrestlemania Moment.

Similarly the 2-packs come packaged in a blister with cardboard cardback which tells the tale of the two grapplers. Each cardback also features the other figures available in the series.

The Elite Collection is just that... Elite. The figures are packaged in a great looking window box packaging which is rather easy to open without damaging the cardboard. You can even see the back of the figure from the back of the packaging. Nice feature! Again, the package back shows an image of the character along with a bio and other figures available in the series.

The figures themselves are much more articulated with several added joints compared to the Mania and VS figures. Think Marvel Legends meets WWE. You can pose these guys any which way you like. Additionally the Elite figures are packed with some great accessories! For instance, Edge comes with a removable ring jacket and elbow pads.

The likeness of each figure is rather impressive considering this is Mattel's first go around with WWE. A big problem with JAKKS in the early years and even up into their last year producing WWE figures was likeness of the characters. Some were close, some were terrible, and very few were really fantastic. Mattel is right on the money with their first series of figures. It's not perfect, but it's showing some great potential for what's to come from the Mattel / WWE partnership!

Each type of figure, Mania, VS and Elite, is detailed in it's own right. For instance he Mania John Cena is detailed with his trademark WW wrist and arm bands along with a shamrock wrist band. The Mania, VS and Elite figures are also decked out with tattoos as well adding an additional level of really cool detail and likeness to each WWE character. It is obvious to see that Mattel has gone to great lengths to make this debut line as great as it could be. And it can only get better.

Those of you looking for really close likenesses of the characters should definitely stick with the Elite Collection. The Wrestlemania figures aren't bad, but the Elite figures are far superior. Then again, if price is key for you, then the Mania figures are your best bet.

To sum it up, the Mattel WWE figures aren't bad at all! In fact they're pretty cool in this reviewer's opinion. As a long time WWF/WWE fan, I would definitely put my money down for my favorite wrestler action figures. Check them out at your stores, decide what you think for yourself and hopefully you'll support this great effort put forth by Mattel. There's great things to come from from Mattel and the WWE!

Check out the images below...

AFC gives Mattel's WWE Figures:
out of 5 's

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