By Michael Moore, PWTorch collectibles specialist

If you were a wrestling fan and/or child in the 1980s, there’s a good chance you owned at least a handful of the WWF Wrestling Superstars figures produced by LJN.

The eight-inch, heavy rubber figures were produced from 1984 to 1989 and included everyone from Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage to Jimmy Hart and “Mean” Gene Okerlund. They weren’t articulated and couldn’t move, but were very well-sculpted and closely resembled the wrestlers after whom they were modeled.

Today, more than 25 years after the first figures became regulars in toy aisles everywhere, the LJN WWF figures remain popular with collectors looking to recapture a moment from their youth. The first few series were mass produced and sold extremely well, and are extremely easy to find online or at local thrift stores or garage sales.

If you’re going to start collecting these figures, one of the biggest challenges you’ll face is finding them in good condition - and that will determine how much you’ll pay. The big rubber figures were easily scuffed when they banged together, and the paint chipped off very easily. The early Roddy Piper figure, for example, featured him in his trademark white “Hot Rod” T-shirt. However, after just a few make-believe bouts with Hulk Hogan or Junkyard Dog, Piper’s shirt was reduced to little white specks.




The initial figures were released in 1984 and caught fire with the birth of Hulkamania and the accompanying Saturday morning cartoon. The first series featured most of the regulars from that cartoon - Hogan, Piper, JYD, Andre the Giant, the Iron Sheik, Big John Studd, Hillbilly Jim, Nikolai Volkoff, and “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka. These figures had a long shelf life, with many being made, and all of them are very easy to find today.

Two more series were produced in 1985 and 1986 that were mass distributed and are still pretty easy to find today. That set included figures like King Kong Bundy, Brutus Beefcake, Ricky Steamboat, and Randy Savage. A fourth series followed in 1987, which included figures like Hercules Hernandez, Kamala, and even Vince McMahon. The fourth series also included the rare Bret Hart figure, which is one of the most sought-after of all the LJN WWF toys.




By the end of the decade, interest in the WWF was somewhat waning, and the fifth series wasn’t nearly as widely distributed as the previous four. It included stars like “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, Bam Bam Bigelow, a new Hulk Hogan in either a red or white t-shirt, and Ted DiBiase, among others.

The sixth series was released in 1989 after LJN closed down its toy division, and was distributed by Grand Toys of Canada. The figures were sold through an ad in the Pro Wrestling Illustrated family of magazines, and included Haku, “Ravishing” Rick Rude, the Warlord, Big Boss Man, and a heel Andre the Giant. This series also featured the first Ultimate Warrior figure, which is one of the most popular and difficult figures to locate. These figures were packaged on a black card, and several other older figures were repackaged on these black cards as well.

A quick Google search will turn up plenty of fan sites, Wikipedia pages, and Facebook pages about these figures.

Top Ten LJN WWF Superstars Figures to Collect

(1) Hulk Hogan. The original 1984 figure with his yellow tights and boots and WWF Championship belt was most fans’s first wrestling toy. There are plenty out there, and you should be able to find one pretty cheap.

(2) Bret Hart. If you’re fortunate enough to find one still in the package, you can expect to pay about $400 to $600 for one of these rare figures of “the Hitman.” You’ll have better luck finding a loose figure that has been played with, and the condition of the toy will determine its price. In January, there were a handful of Hart figures that sold on eBay, one as low as $10 that was pretty beat up, and one in excellent condition that sold for $80.

(3) Ultimate Warrior. This figure is much scarcer than the Bret Hart figure, but sells for about the same price.

(4) Roddy Piper. What would Hogan have been without Piper? No wrestling collection is complete without both. The real challenge will be finding a piper in good condition along with his removable cloth kilt.

(5) Randy Savage. The “Macho Man” was one of the biggest stars of the ‘80s, and should be included in any toy collection. It’s pretty easy to find, and you should be able to find one for under $10.

(6) Vince McMahon. This pre-Mr. McMahon figure captures Vince in all his babyface commentator glory, complete with microphone, cheesy smile, and hideous red sport coat.

(7) Andre the Giant. Andre’s surprising heel turn in 1987 set the stage for the biggest WrestleMania main event of all-time. There are three versions of Andre to choose from: long hair or short hair, both in blue trunks, or the heel version of Andre in a black singlet.

(8-9) The British Bulldogs. Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid remain two of the most popular figures with collectors. They were sold in a tag team box set in 1986, and as individuals in 1987.

(10) Junkyard Dog. Next to Hulk Hogan, JYD was arguably the most popular WWF wrestler of the mid-‘80s, and many collectors have a soft spot for this classic figure.

Do you have a unique collection or item you’d like to share with other wrestling fans? Contact Michael Moore at michaelmoorewriter@gmail.com.

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