By Michael Moore, PWTorch Collectibles specialist

For Brian Heffron, 2015 has been a good year to be “Da Blue Guy.”

Heffron has been best known to wrestling fans for the past 20 years as the Blue Meanie. In January, he received his first solo trading card when he was included in Leaf’s 2014 Leaf Best of Wrestling Series. As mentioned in last week’s PWTorch Collectibles Column, the Blue Meanie will be one of six wrestlers in the first wave of Figures Toy Co.’s new legends of wrestling line. And oh yeah - he’ll be reforming the Blue World Order with Big Stevie Cool and Hollywood Nova at Chikara’s King of Trios Tournament in September.

Meanie spoke with PWTorch Collectibles specialist Michael Moore about his new collectibles, his favorite wrestling figures growing up, his own collection, and more.

- Moore: What are your thoughts on having a figure in this new line from Figures Toy Co.?

Meanie: It's amazing. I've never had an official wrestling action figure. Whether it was due to bad timing of me being WWE when ECW made theirs or me returning to ECW when WWE made theirs, somehow it's never happened. Of course, I’ve been flattered by fans who have made custom Blue Meanie figures. But my career goal - I’ve always wanted to have a company trust in me enough to invest in making an action figure, to say,"We believe you deserve one.” The fact that I never had one always bothered me; it bummed me out. So when the great folks at Figures Toy Co. informed that they thought I was worthy of their investment, I was ecstatic. I couldn't thank them enough for making this dream a reality.

- Moore: How much input will you have into the design?

Meanie: A good amount, actually. They asked (me) to submit photos of how I would like the figure to look. It's going to be part old-school Meanie mixed with my current look, which is funny since I've been growing my hair out like I used to back in the day. So technically, it's current Meanie. I'm very happy they were receptive to my input.

- Moore: As a kid, did you play with any wrestling figures?

Meanie: Absolutely. From the original LJN figures, to the WCW figures, to WWE thumb wrestlers, which really aren't figures, but I could have matches between them. I had the Hulk Hogan (Rocky III) Thunderlips figure and the AWA figures.

- Moore: Any favorites?

Meanie: I'd say my favorite growing up was the AWA figures, because oddly enough some of them came with the NWA World Title belt and not the AWA belt. Plus I loved the AWA rings. I had the first one that came out and then when they made the steel cage version with the red canvas, I lost my mind. I would have matches, take photos of said matches as if I were Bill Apter. The cool thing about the AWA figures was that they were roughly the same build as the Thunderlips figure, so I could have Hogan in some AWA matches. I definitely got my use out of those.

- Moore: Do you collect any sort of wrestling or other memorabilia now?

Meanie: Not really, because I know I would go broke and run out of room. I'm really obsessive compulsive when it comes to collecting. I can't do things one at a time. I have to do it all at once or not at all. I recently went to a store called the Wrestling Universe in Flushing, New York for a signing and they had wall to wall figures. If it were up to me, I would have left with everything. But I do still have some figures. I have my tag partner Nova's figure. I have Al Snow's figure. I have the Blue Blazer figure and Captain Lou Albano's. Luckily those were the only figures in the vicinity when I acquired them, or it would have been a struggle to get just one.

- Moore: You were recently included in the 2014 Leaf Originals Wrestling trading card set; what were your thoughts on your cards?

Meanie: I thought they were fantastic. Again, to have a company want to invest in me for something like that was awesome.

- Moore: Was that the first time the Blue Meanie was pictured on a trading card?

Meanie: I had been on a WWE trading card as a member of the J.O.B. Squad, but never by myself - at least that I know of - because I hadn't seen any. But those Leaf cards were very cool. I was blown away by how they turned out, just like I'm blown away by Figure Toy Co. investing in me and making the first ever Blue Meanie action figure.

PWTorch Collectibles specialist Michael Moore can be reached at michaelmoorewriter@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @MMooreWriter.

We suggest these recent related articles...

10/5 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Natalya vs. Paige, Owens vs. Cara, Stephanie McMahon, Sasha Banks, Xavier Woods

COLLECTIBLES COLUMN: The History of Foam Hands in Pro Wrestling

9/28 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Kane's Split Personality, Divas Revolution, Heyman & Big Show, Reigns vs. Wyatt