By Michael Moore, PWTorch Collectibles specialist

In Brief: Older toys of Goldust, C.M. Punk, and the Usos were some of the hottest in 2013.

Last week’s Collectibles Column took a look at the 10 hottest action figure debuts of 2013. This week looks at older toys that got hot this year – some that already sold well and just kept selling for more, and others that seemingly came from out of nowhere.

- Elite/Real Scale Rings and Specialty Playsets: Released in 2010, the Elite Scale Ring was Mattel’s answer to Jakks’s Real Scale Ring. It was a much larger ring with a cloth canvas and ring skirt, solid ring posts and padded turnbuckles. While most Mattel rings have a retail price of around $20, this big monster had roughly a $60 price tag. It didn’t sell well and as recently as early 2013 could be found at discount stores like Big Lots for $30.

But, many collectors never found the Elite Scale Ring in their hometown markets, or passed it over. Today it is one of the hottest wrestling toys on the secondary market. In recent weeks, the few packaged rings that have popped up on eBay have sold for anywhere from $449 to $799.

The Jakks Real Scale Rings haven’t been quite as hot, but they still fetch a pretty penny at auction. Jakks made several different Real Scale Rings, such as a WrestleMania 2 ring and blue cage and Hell in a Cell. Some of those have sold for as much as $300 in recent weeks.




- Mattel’s Elimination Chamber – which includes a standard-size ring – has also become a hot item, usually selling in the $200-250 range. The Mattel Ringside Battle Playset has been selling in the $150-$200 range.

- Jimmy and Jey Uso Mattel WWE Battle Packs Series 11. When the only toys to date of the Usos were released in 2011, they sat on shelves for quite some time. The Usos were off TV and a seemed a real possibility to be future endeavored.

But, thanks to a babyface turn and a run near the top of the card in 2013, the Usos got over in a big way. Collectors went scurrying to find figures, and before long were paying big bucks. The loose figures together usually sell for $60-100, and the few packaged sets that have popped up on eBay are selling for a whopping $150+.




- C.M. Punk Mattel WWE Elite figures. Several Punk figures continued to increase in value in 2013, none more-so than his Ringside Collectibles Straight Edge Society Exclusive. This detailed figure was sold exclusively at Ringside Collectibles and captured Punk as the leader of the Straight Edge Society. It’s the only bald Punk figure to date, and comes with a lucha libre-style mask and a towel to cover up his head, as well as a sling for his arm.

The figure was released right as Punk was getting hot in 2011 for right around $30. For most of 2013, the figure was selling in the $50-$70 range. Then as November drew to a close, collectors went on a bidding frenzy. Over the past three or four weeks, packaged figures have soared to as much as $150. Loose figures don’t fare as well, but are still commanding a respectable $50.
Punk’s first Elite Mattel figure – from the very first series of Elite toys – has also become a must have for serious collectors. The figure presents the Punk who held the World Title in 2008 and 2009, with long scraggly hair and a vintage T-shirt. Packaged figures almost always sell for over $100, with loose figures selling in the $35-50 range.

- Goldust figures. Dustin Runnels was a forgotten man for much of 2013, but when he teamed up with brother Cody in mid-2013, something magical happened. The veteran became one of the most popular wrestlers in WWE, with crowds regularly chanting, “Goldust! Goldust!” and “You’ve still got it!”

Goldust’s modern era figures from Mattel and Jakks have always carried a high secondary market value, due in part to their scarcity. With Goldust’s renewed push and rising popularity, secondary market prices went up even more. At the top of the list is Goldust’s Elite Series 6 figure, which has been selling for as much as $100 loose and packaged.

Goldust also has two very popular Jakks figures. In 2008 Ringside Collectibles offered up an exclusive Goldust figure with wig, robe and gold Intercontinental Title belt. These figures are very tough to find and sell for at least $50 loose and complete. The Ruthless Aggression Series 3 figure from 2003 is also hot and very tough to find, selling for around $80 packaged.




PWTorch Collectibles Specialist Michael Moore can be reached at michaelmoorewriter@gmail.com.

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