We’ve long held that professional wrestling is just as valid a branch of geek culture as comics or video games — it captures some of the same emotional beats, just in a different context. In some ways, it’s even more impressive, because the performers need to physically train themselves to accomplish all of the intense staged combat without any special effects. And, like many other geek franchises, the WWE (formerly the WWF) has a long and storied history in the toy business. Here are our picks for the toughest, roughest, most sports entertaining WWE toys.
Tamashii Nations Undertaker Figure
One of the most legendary Superstars of all time gets a high-end action figure treatment courtesy of Bandai’s Tamashii Nations line. Their take on the Undertaker is ready to drag his opponents to hell with massive amounts of articulation, detailed tattoos, multiple articulated hands and heads and his iconic hat for entrances. One of the hands is even the thumb sticking out of a fist so you can do his classic neck slicing taunt. A WWE collection without a Taker is fatally flawed, so make sure you pick this one up.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles John Cena Figure
One of the best things about the WWE is how their iconic characters can be morphed into other franchises with ease. It seems bizarre on the surface to mush together professional wrestlers and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but they did it and it rules. Here’s TMNT leader Leonardo stepping into the shoes of John Cena for some ring-rattling action. If there’s any pro wrestling catchphrase that’s suited for a ninja, it’s “you can’t see me,” so it makes sense. The poseable grappling turtle comes with a championship belt, a chair for beating down Foot Clan foes and Cena’s trademark chain.
WWE M.U.S.C.L.E. Things
One of the most interesting toy fads of the 1980s was M.U.S.C.L.E. Things, the Americanized rebrand of Japan’s Kinnikuman manga franchise. The original series featured dozens and dozens of bizarre, cartoonish wrestling monsters, who were brought over here as little flesh-toned rubber figures. The concept came back in a big way a few years ago, with indie designers Super 7 and others folding different pop culture franchises into the mix. This is probably the most sensible one, with classic WWE wrestlers like Sgt. Slaughter, the Iron Sheik, and Andre the Giant getting the treatment.
Summerslam Elite Mix Mankind Figure
Perhaps the least likely WWE superstar of all time, Mick Foley went from a roof-jumping backyard wrestler in New Jersey to a multi-time champion beloved by the audience for his willingness to put it all on the line. His fall from the roof of Hell in a Cell is one of the most iconic moments the promotion has ever televised, and he’s a beloved elder statesman whenever he returns to the ring. This super-slick Mankind figure comes with deluxe articulation and a bunch of cool props, including his sweat-stained Mankind mask, Mr. Socko and a World Heavyweight Championship belt.
WWE Elite New Day Figures
It can be hard to get out from under a bad gimmick in the wrestling world, but it’s possible. Big E, Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston were saddled with a quasi-racist “power of positivity” preacher gimmick and through force of personality they transformed it into one of the biggest merch-moving units in the game today, the New Day. The trio have held the tag titles a record-breaking number of times, Kofi is a world champion and they have massive success outside the ring as well, especially Xavier with his gaming YouTube channel. Here’s a set of all three of the New Day to bring pancakes to your toy chest.
Bret Hart Funko Pop
Widely regarded as one of the best technical performers to ever step inside a wrestling ring, Bret Hart was born into the business. Trained by his legendary father Stu at the Hart Dungeon, Bret brought the workrate era forward in mid-90s WWE, showing audiences they could expect more athleticism than the bumbling beefcakes the company was known for. He also was a hell of a promo in his prime, cutting his opponents down with well-chosen words that left them sputtering in rage. Memorialize the Hitman with this sweet Funko Pop that presents him clad in his iconic ring jacket and shades.
WWE Monsters Jake The Snake
The WWE Monsters line consists of ridiculously absurd re-interpretations of wrestling superstars and legends as supernatural creatures, for some reason. One who certainly fits the mold is Jake “The Snake” Roberts, who ran rampant over the federation in the 1980s courtesy of his murderous DDT finishing move and his pet snake Damien, who he’d let out to slither all over fallen foes at the end of the match. His monster form gives him a pair of prominent fangs for poisoning his opponents in the squared circle, as well as a massive boa of reptile muscle for good measure.
Bleacher Creatures Becky Lynch
The women’s revolution in the WWE has made the show a lot more palatable to a mass audience. Now that the federation isn’t presenting women in the embarrassing, sexist way they did in the Attitude Era, there’s space for female performers to develop rich, nuanced characters who kick as much ass as the men do. Case in point: Becky Lynch, the biggest female success story of the modern era. Starting out with an unfocused steampunk gimmick, she won hearts with her brutal ringwork and sharp wit. After an accidental forearm broke her nose, she had a timeless moment standing tall with a face covered in blood. Capture her softer side with this stuffed Bleacher Creature.
Braun Strowman Elite Collection Figure
The mighty meat castle of the WWE, Braun Strowman has been responsible for some pretty can’t-miss moments on the show in recent years, from flipping ambulances to dumping dumpsters. One of the best, immortalized in plastic for this figure, was during his feud with snarky musician wrestler Elias, who typically totes a guitar with him to the ring. Braun wanted it known that he could make beautiful music too, and demonstrated that fact by playing an upright bass like a ukulele before smashing it over Elias’s back. Figure also comes with the Money in the Bank briefcase.
Giant Size Hulk Hogan Figure
If there’s a superstar in wrestling history who should be presented larger than life, it’s Hulk Hogan. His star has fallen pretty hard in recent years thanks to his leaked racism tapes, and he was never the best in the ring, but it’s inarguable that he brought the WWE to their highest points in the 1980s by saying his prayers and eating his vitamins. This massive figure lets the Hulkster loom over the rest of your toy collection, standing a whopping 31 inches tall. He’s not super poseable, but neither was the real Hogan so we’ll let it slide.
The Rock Figurine
It’s easy to forget that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson wasn’t always the world’s most beloved and profitable movie star. He learned his trade in the ring, and brought that captivating charisma and insanely buff frame to the silver screen from there. During his WWE tenure, the Rock was known as the most electrifying man in sports entertainment, capable of popping a crowd just by bringing a microphone to his mouth. This super-detailed statuette from Eaglemoss stands just under four inches high and will leave you wondering how they managed to capture his tattoos so well.
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