Since we are officially at the beginning of SummerSlam weekend, I thought now would be the best time to review WWE’s newest flashback line of Basics, WWE SummerSlam Retro!
If you remember a few months back, the WWE and Mattel released a line of WrestleMania XXX Series figures which were a very strong Basics Series featuring many of the superstars that competed at WrestleMania 29 & 30. This season, WWE & Mattel went a little old school with their assortment.
The first figure we have is The Undertaker from the 1994 SummerSlam when he fought The “Fake” Undertaker managed by Ted DiBiase. This was the first time The Undertaker broke out the purple ring attire instead of his normal gray attire he had used since his WWE debut. This figure intrigued me the moment I saw it as I believe this is the first time Mattel has release a figure with hair as long as this. And it doesn’t stiffen the head movement one bit as you can see for yourself in the last photo. This might be the most prevalent figure per box but definitely a distinctive one.
The next figure up is former World & WWE Champion, Rey Mysterio! In fact, Mysterio held the World Championship just a few months before he wore this gear in a SummerSlam match against Kane. Kane had cashed in on the Champion Mysterio at the Money In Bank PPV, capturing the World Championship and setting up this rematch at SummerSlam 2010. Rey Mysterio, oversized & overmatched, took Kane to the limit before eventually falling to the champion. This orange outfit has been loved by some and hated by others. Either way, I believe this was the only time Mysterio entered the “Orange” section of the color spectrum.
Triple H’s figure will probably be recognizable to many wrestling fans. It’s the attire Triple H wore in his classic Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship at the 1998 SummerSlam against the “People’s Champion” The Rock. This match featured two future Hall Of Famers as they began their run for main event status. Triple H, wearing his trademark smirk and signature purple, won the IC title from The Rock in a historic ladder match at Madison Square Garden. A great figure that captures the memory of a great match.
The next figure is sure to be hot property. The recently retired CM Punk wore this Bret “The Hitman” Hart-theme set one time at the 2012 SummerSlam when he defended his WWE Championship against both John Cena and The Big Show during Punk’s historic 434-day run as WWE Champion. Paying his respects to one of the greatest wrestlers ever, Punk would only wear these tights once during his career & much like his own retirement, this gear went off into hiding as well.
Remember the SummerSlam that was billed as “ICON vs ICON”? The one match that featured two of the biggest stars in wrestling history & WWE Hall Of Famers? When Shawn Michaels challenged Hulk Hogan to a match? While the match might not have been a technical masterpiece, Shawn Michaels’ pre-& post-match antics created a month of must see TV as Michaels conjured up part of the “old” HBK and was ready to “steal the show” once again at the 2005 SummerSlam. Whatever your impressions of the SummerSlam match is, the standout moments of the event all few upon Shawn Michaels, even though he was on the losing end of the match. The figure definitely brings back many memories of that infamous night as well as the last time Michaels played an entertaining heel before his retirement.
The last figure on our list will easily be the collector’s chase figure. Only one per box, the “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase is featured in his wrestling gear from the 1992 historic SummerSlam from Wembley Stadium in London, England as he teamed with IRS as Money INC against always popular Legion Of Doom. There haven’t many DiBiase figures produced by Mattel but this is absolutely one to pick up if you have a chance to.
