By Michael Moore, PWTorch collectibles specialist

In Brief: A new figure of Bret Hart from Mattel is based upon the Hart Foundation's main event match at the 1997 Canadian Stampede pay-per-view, a sentimental favorite among many long-time fans.

Action Figure Spotlight #3: Bret Hart Mattel Defining Moments
Released: 2011
What you can expect to pay: $22.99
Recent sales: $19.99-29.99 (loose), $30-44.95 (packaged)

Collectors have been waiting for nearly two years for Mattel to produce a Bret Hart action figure. The wait is officially over.

Mattel just released the Bret Hart Defining Moments Series 5 action figure within the last few weeks. The company is apparently expecting this to be a hot seller, as full-page ads have appeared in WWE Magazine and other wrestling publications in recent months.

The figure captures Bret as he appeared during the famous Canadian Stampede pay-per-view in 1997. Bret comes complete with black jacket, sunglasses, WWF World title belt, and a Canadian flag.

While Mattel’s attention to detail definitely makes the Defining Moments figures stand out, the $22.99 price tag typically chases away all but the most hardcore collectors. Defining Moments figures of all-time greats like Shawn Michaels and Roddy Piper sat on shelves so long that large retailers like Target and Wal-Mart had to clearance them out to get rid of them. Figures of Randy Savage and the Ultimate Warrior have been sitting on retail shelves since this past spring.

Initial sales for the Bret Hart have been high, fetching as much as $44.95, but be patient; there’s a good chance you’ll be able to find one at your local store for the suggested retail price of $22.99 in the very near future.

Collectibles news

The latest WWE trading card set, 2011 Topps WWE Classics, is scheduled to be released within the next few weeks. Despite the “Classics” name, the product appears to include mostly current wrestlers, focusing heavily on the upcoming WrestleMania clash between John Cena and the Rock. An early checklist for WWE Classics lists 16 autographs and 16 memorabilia cards. An in-depth article on this new product will appear at pwtorch.com once the product is released. … If you’re looking to pick up a few TNA figures from Jakks Pacific, shoptna.com is offering lots of figures at discounted prices. A lot of 12 figures is being sold for $69.29. The website is also offering several autographed collectibles at heavily reduced prices throughout November; for example, an autographed Sting baseball bat that usually sells for $149 is being offered for $79.19.

Reader Responses

Question: If you could own one piece of wrestling memorabilia, what would it be?

Steven Tatro: “A torn up turnbuckle pad, caused by George 'the Animal' Steele."

A.J. Maltese from Lodi, N.J.: “I own the ultimate memorabilia. I own an ECW hat hand-signed by former ECW champion Chavo (Guerrero) and signed by Little Guido. I met them both at (an) ECPW show. They were both nice and Chavo mentioned he saw my tweet on Twitter to him before he got there.”

Carl Mastenbrook: “I would like the leather jackets from the Hart Foundation in 1997, especially (from) Owen (Hart) and Davey Both Smith.”

- Look for a new question of the week in Thursday’s collectibles column at pwtorch.com. If you have a question about wrestling collectibles, contact Michael Moore at michaelmoorewriter@gmail.com.

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