By Michael Moore, PWTorch Collectibles specialist

In Brief: Zeus's only wrestling toy has been selling at higher levels over the last week with the release of "No Holds Barred" on DVD.




- Action Figure Spotlight #35: Zeus Jakks-Pacific WWE Classic Superstars Series 15
- Originally released: 2007
- What you can expect to pay: $10-15 loose, $15-25 packaged
- Recent sales: $7.50, $10, $17.99 (loose); $11.99, $21.99 (packaged)

It’s hard to believe that wrestling fans could be nostalgic for Zeus, the actor-turned-wrestler who took WWF pay-per-view main events to new lows in 1989. But, with WWE hyping the DVD release
of “No Holds Barred” in recent weeks, Zeus’s lone action figure has actually increased in value.

Zeus’s WWF run lasted only for the second half of 1989, and by then LJN had ceased production of its WWF Wrestling Superstars Line. “The Human Wrecking Machine” resurfaced in WCW briefly as “Z-Gangsta” in 1996, but he wasn’t around long enough for then-WCW toy maker OSFTM to sculpt any figures in his likeness.

Zeus’s only wrestling toy was released in 2007, nearly 20 years after he tormented Hulk Hogan (and audiences) in “No Holds Barred.” The detailed figure features Zeus with his trademark “Z” patch of hair and right cross eye. He is shown wearing the long black pants he wore in “No Holds Barred” and in WWF rings, and also comes with a toy chain.

Three or four weeks ago, packaged Zeus figures could be found for under $10, which is considerably less than their original retail price in 2007. However, since WWE began plugging the “No Holds Barred” DVD, packaged figures have been selling for over $20, with loose figures usually selling in the $10-15 range.

Jakks-Pacific made plenty of figures over the years of Zeus’s nemesis, Hulk Hogan. Shockingly, collectors have yet to see the first toy of Rip.

Collectibles News

- Congratulations to Michael Tisdale, who was the first reader to correctly identify all 10 sloppy signatures in last Thursday’s contest. Here are the answers to that contest:

(1) Austin Aries
(2) Hawk
(3) Matt Hardy
(4) Johnny Devine
(5) Sheik Abdul Bashir
(6) Salinas (Shelly Martinez, Ariel)
(7) Kendall WIndham
(8) Zack Ryder
(9) Nikki Bella
(10) Brian Kendrick

- The latest WWE Legends Internet exclusive action figure from Mattel is now on-sale. Arn Anderson is the fourth of six figures in the debut series and can be purchased at MattyCollector.com .

- Collectors have been waiting for months for the new Leaf Originals Wrestling cards, which are scheduled to be released this month. In the meantime, BlowoutCards.com has been whetting
appetites with pictures of wrestlers signing the cards; you can view those pictures here at BlowoutCards.com . More information on the product can be found at LeafTradingCards.com .

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If there is a specific wrestler or figure you would like to see featured in this column, contact Michael Moore at michaelmoorewriter@gmail.com .

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