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Premium Toyetic Event: WWE's Wrestlemania IX
219 Plays10 days ago
On this edition of Premium Toyetic Event, we're turning the clock back and taking a look at #wrestlemania IV! Join us as we unpack who we felt were the top toyetic talent from this big-ticket premium live event from the pro wrestling world.
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Intro and other voices by Joe Azzari
https://www.instagram.com/voicesbyjoe/
Theme Music is "Game Boy Horror" by the Zombie Dandies
Proudly part of the Non-Productive Network
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Transcript
Introduction to Adventures in Collecting
00:00:03
Speaker
Are you ready, kids? Get your parents' permission, check your mailbox, and grab your shopping cart. It's time for the Adventures in Collecting podcast. I'm Eric.
00:00:15
Speaker
And I'm Dave. Welcome to Adventures in Collecting, where we talk toy news, culture, and hauls, along with our journeys as collectors.
What makes WrestleMania 9 significant?
00:00:49
Speaker
Hello everybody and welcome back to another edition of Premium Toyetic Event. On Premium Toyetic Event, of course, we break down who is the most toyetic from a a a w WWE, AEW, a professional wrestling premium live event or pay-per-view.
00:01:08
Speaker
And in this case, ah this is a special edition of Premium Toyetic Event as we are turning back the clock and we are taking a look at the infamous WrestleMania 9.
00:01:19
Speaker
nine So I recently debuted on Peacock. um There is a great documentary about the making of WrestleMania 9 and how in a lot of ways ah it was the first in the kind of pageantry of WrestleMania. i WrestleMania went from being a globally televised, super booked house show to being the spectacle that we know ah and love today. And in in the the modern WrestleMania, it was really the first of its kind.
00:01:53
Speaker
And if you have not checked out the documentary, I highly, highly recommend it as there is some really cool never before seen behind the scenes footage in there. Some really great interviews, some really great perspective from the show, and whether you love it or hate it, one of the things that is ah most evident about WrestleMania 9 is just how toyetic it was. And we know that because there have been quite a few releases already over the years um from Mattel.
00:02:27
Speaker
from WrestleMania 9, elites, ultimates, there's a lot of ground covered. In fact, after the six picks that we're going to go through today from Dave and I, ah in terms of who we think should be made figure form from WrestleMania 9, it would basically complete the entire show, which...
00:02:50
Speaker
I don't know if that's ever been if that's ever been accomplished before, if that's ever happened. But i yeah, effectively, we're like six-ish figures away from completing all of WrestleMania 9.
00:03:03
Speaker
So again, whether you love the show, Whether you hated that show, whether the ending was the most infuriating thing that you've ever seen, or or one of the coolest things you've ever seen, depending on you know where you stand on your the spectrum of Hulkamania.
00:03:18
Speaker
um Spoilers. it's it's a ah it It is definitely a memorable a memorable WrestleMania, both visually and and and from some of those booking decisions.
Monthly giveaway announcement
00:03:31
Speaker
So real quick before we hop into our picks for this premium toyotic event, little bit of housekeeping. So speaking of WrestleMania, Our current monthly giveaway over on our Instagram account at AIC underscore podcast is a WrestleMania 12 Ultimate Edition San Diego Comic-Con exclusive Shawn Michaels.
00:03:54
Speaker
So all throughout the month of April, you can visit us at AIC underscore podcast on Instagram. There is a pinned post on our profile that will...
00:04:05
Speaker
have all the instructions you need on on what you need to do to enter. So this Shawn Michaels was a San Diego Comic-Con exclusive and was available on Mattel Creations and is since sold out, even though some people are finding it showing up at Ross.
00:04:20
Speaker
But um you can you can win one. You still don't have to pay for one. So the all of the rules, the instructions, what you need to see to enter are on that pinned post, and we will announce the winner on May 1st. So make sure ah you get those entries in by April 30th.
00:04:35
Speaker
One more time, that's at AIC underscore podcast on Instagram. ah With that, let's ah let's jump into these pics. for ah for
Focus on toyetic figures
00:04:46
Speaker
WrestleMania 9. So um one more time, just kind of setting the rules, setting the stage for our premium toyetic event. This is not about who won, who had the best performance. This is not about who lost. This is not about um but who who was controversial. This is purely who we thought was the most toyetic.
00:05:03
Speaker
And at this point, again going back in time and and looking looking back on this, who has not yet had a a figure from Mattel or or is in dire need of of an upgrade.
00:05:17
Speaker
So I'm gonna kick it over to Dave for his first pick. All right, for choice number Number one. one For WrestleMania 9.
00:05:30
Speaker
Probably the worst WrestleMania ever. Um, don't know, is it worse than 2? Is it worse than 11? I think it is.
00:05:42
Speaker
Um, I think it might be.
00:05:46
Speaker
I'm gonna go with that it is. um but for this difficult challenge, um, I'm going to pick probably the shortest and...
00:06:06
Speaker
No, it's not the worst match on the card. we'll I'll get to that later. But it's probably the shortest? Maybe? um and that's Bob Backlund is my first choice. um You know, Bob Backlund only has one figure, and it was that Collector's Edition heel Mr. Bob Backlund with the robe and the WWE title.
00:06:33
Speaker
um You know, I would like a early 80s world champion, WWWF world champion Bob Backlund. um I don't know if that's going to happen, but If this were to happen, this would be about the closest thing that we're going to get.
00:06:51
Speaker
um So, you know, the match with Razor wasn't long. wasn't great. But it happened on the show. So my first choice for premium toyetic event is a very not particularly toyetic wrestler in Guy in Maroon Trunks.
00:07:09
Speaker
But he is a legend and deserves to have another figure. So let's get, like, post-Royal Rumble comeback. Bob Backlund with the longer hair as choice number one.
00:07:22
Speaker
All right, so for my first pick, I'm headed straight to the main event, the original main event. not before it turned into a double main event. But in the original main event, Bret Hart versus Yokozuna, we already have two incredible Ultimate Editions, several for Bret, um and and and one incredible ah Ultimate Edition for Yokozuna, of course, in the red black with the entrance coat. um But we're missing the most integral, really the the most integral part of the finish of the match.
00:07:56
Speaker
And ah one of the greatest managers of of all time, Mr. Fuji. So whether it was his long run with ah with Demolition or you know his time with Yokozuna, Mr. Fuji is is one of the greatest and is a high Highly esteemed manager, um amazing heel manager.
00:08:19
Speaker
and of course, you know, with the salt bucket, he had the the the cost Brett, the title, and i and then tried to do the same to the Hulkster and and failed.
00:08:31
Speaker
Ended up getting Yokozuna instead. But ah he's a fantastic manager. He has been such an integral part of... character development for so many superstars over the years, and it is he is long overdue for an action game. So it doesn't have to be an Ultimate Edition, but an elite Mr. Fuji to pair with whether it's the yo was the Ultimate Yokozuna from the Legends line, the Target Exclusive Legends line, the um from the Vault that that that was ah recently put out in...
00:09:03
Speaker
from ringside or or even going back to the the Royal Rumble wave, Yokozuna. So there have been several Yokozuna figures that are in desperate need of their ah theyre manager.
00:09:15
Speaker
So my first pick is ah is that Mr. Fujian. He can come exactly the way that he you see him at ah WrestleMania 9. um That was his kind of standard look.
00:09:26
Speaker
So even if it's not necessarily a WrestleMania 9 figure exclusively, It would work for for anything. And you know, they do those those PLE waves you know with the Build-A-Figure. I know that there's always some kind of trepidation about putting a ah manager as a ah an actual figure in the wave on on card, he would be a great build a figure.
00:09:50
Speaker
So they could absolutely put out a WrestleMania wave and make him ah the build a figure. So would absolutely love, love, love to see Mr. Fuji come to the elite.
Sponsorship from Chubsy Wubsy Toys
00:10:05
Speaker
And now a word from our sponsors.
00:10:13
Speaker
This segment is brought to you by our friends at Chubsy Wubsy Toys. A traditional mom and pop toy store in Little Falls, New Jersey, Chubsy Wubsy Toys brings you the best new toys from the brands you love without the hassle of pounding the pavement searching for them at larger retail stores.
00:10:29
Speaker
Visit them in person at their brand new home at 101 Newark Pompton Turnpike Suite 1 in Little Falls, New Jersey, or online at chubzywubzy.com.
00:10:42
Speaker
That's
00:10:48
Speaker
And tell them Adventures in Collecting sent you.
00:10:54
Speaker
And now, back to the show.
00:10:58
Speaker
Hey, I'm back. Choice number two. My second choice is going to be Kona Crush. um From that weird doink match where it's babyface Kona Crush.
00:11:18
Speaker
against Doink and, like, Mirror Image Doink, who was Steve Cairn. Um, we already have, like, a a good Doink Ultimate that came with the, um, New Generation Entrance Way.
00:11:34
Speaker
Um, so i don't think we need another Doink, but now that, um... Bryan Adams family has signed a Legends deal. um Yeah, I know we want Axe, Smash, and Crush Demolition figures, but I also kind of want to co a Kona Crush figure. I liked Kona Crush when I was a kid.
00:11:54
Speaker
um Babyface Crush was cool. he had the like bright colors, the pink and the purple and the orange gear. And yeah, let's primarily orange and purple, but I think there were like, pink elements in there.
00:12:10
Speaker
But, um... Yeah, let's get Kona Crush. Kona Crush had really cool theme music, too. Um... And he had the, uh... You know, the, uh... Finishing move where he's he's gonna squeeze your head.
00:12:23
Speaker
Um... So... Yeah, Kona Crush. let's Let's go Kona Crush as choice number two. And, um...
00:12:38
Speaker
yeah We're going to have like the biggest yeah, why not wrestler from a show of yeah, why not matches. um
00:12:52
Speaker
You know where I'm going next pick, so we'll be back in a minute. Sticking with the theme of managers, my next pick takes us to our intercontinental title defense at WrestleMania 9. She accompanied Shawn Michaels to the ring, Luna the Shawn.
00:13:10
Speaker
Another amazing heel manager. i she terrified me as a kid like genuinely terrified me um but again talk about a toyetic character i mean she she's ah she is she's just fantastic um sean in the black and silver her in her black and chains and her hair and face makeup and yeah uh luna every time she opened her mouth i was terrified every time she was on screen i was terrified
00:13:43
Speaker
um It's a shame we really never got to see her really wrestle. um you know There's a lot of information out there, a lot of documentary information that she was you know she was very very good in the ring and unfortunately just was in the w WWE at the wrong time for that.
00:14:02
Speaker
But her as a as a manager, as a valet, um Just one of the best. Absolutely one of the best. And the pairing of her and Shawn Michaels was Shawn's had some great heaters over the years. You know, whether that was him kind of getting eventually, you know, getting China as heater, you know, via Triple and DX, you know, going back to Diesel.
00:14:31
Speaker
um But Luna Vachon. Just on unrivaled excellence in that category. And i I know she's never had a Mattel figure.
00:14:43
Speaker
I don't know if classic superstars ever touched her, if Jax ever did her, but she is long, long overdue for a good action figure.
00:14:55
Speaker
And Shawn's... You know, valets and heaters have had good treatment from Mattel. So but let's hit for the cycle, guys. Let's get Luna Vachon an action figure.
00:15:10
Speaker
Let's get her into the line. And that is my ah my next pick.
00:15:17
Speaker
Giant Gonzalez. The third pick is Giant Gonzalez. I think the only Undertaker victory during the streak that wasn't by pinfall. um The match that almost messed up get a gimmick from a decade down the road or longer.
00:15:41
Speaker
What can I say other than it's shocking that there's only one Giant Gonzalez figure. No, two. There was a Hasbro and a Jax.
00:15:54
Speaker
Giant Gonzalez figure, but if we can get Legends deal for Giant Gonzalez and get him the figure, why not, right? Like, that's that's kind of a perfect Comic-Con exclusive.
00:16:10
Speaker
um Giant Gonzalez in the weird muscle bodysuit with I don't think Wrestlemania 9 he had the fur patches so I think it was just like the the um the anatomy was airbrushed out I think um it's such a weird it's such a weird bodysuit like it reminds me of um what's the guy
00:16:46
Speaker
Was it Slim Goodbody was his name? The guy who, like, was educational show in the 80s where he had, like, you know, a bodysuit of organs and he was teaching you, like, health? Um... I guess this was the wwe WWE version of that.
00:17:04
Speaker
Only with chloroform and seven feet tall? Um... So yeah, he wins the match by, or ah Undertaker wins the match by DQ thanks to Chloroform.
00:17:17
Speaker
And the early streak continues. Thank goodness. So yeah, Giant Gonzalez.
00:17:29
Speaker
Nothing more to say. Choice number three for premium toyetic event. Sorry, everyone. Or you're welcome, everyone. Because I actually, now that I think about it, I kind of do want this to be a figure. Like, it's it's a missing piece for a lot of people's collection. Like, you can ah other unless you get the classic superstar, i don't think you... Well, there's a lot of people missing on the streak, actually. Now that I think about it.
00:18:01
Speaker
But, yeah. Yeah. you can you know get one step closer to completing the Undertaker's streak in figure form. Giant Gonzalez, number three.
00:18:15
Speaker
Okay, my final pick. Now, This might be controversial. i don't know. I don't think it's controversial. Especially since we're talking about the documentary, which again, going to plug it again. I'm not getting paid to plug it. I genuinely enjoyed this documentary. So I i highly, highly, highly recommend you check it out if you are a wrestling fan.
00:18:34
Speaker
But, um... One of the through lines of of the documentary is that they're interviewing ah Charles Wright, the godfather Papa Shango at the time, i is a Las Vegas native and he had lots of family, friends. He worked the Indies in ah in in the area.
00:18:55
Speaker
He was very excited to be booked at WrestleMania IX in Vegas, hoping he could he could wrestle in front of his family and friends. As time will tell you, he did not make it on the card. he was not There was no televised match.
00:19:10
Speaker
But through the documentary, I learned that he wrestled Matador, Tito Santana. in the dark match ah before WrestleMania 9 went live. And they put on, from what I could tell from what they showed, they put on a ah clinic, got the crowd nice and warmed up, which is what that dark match is supposed to do.
00:19:30
Speaker
and And then WrestleMania 9 went on air. So we recently got an amazing, like incredible, amazing Ultimate Edition of Papa Shango in that Ultimate Warrior 2-pack.
00:19:43
Speaker
So he's good, check. um It's been a long time since we've gotten a Tito Santana figure and we need Matador. So for my my third and final pick, I am going with Dark Match, Tito Santana, El Matador.
00:20:02
Speaker
i i did Did Tito Santana need rebranding? No, he's an amazing wrestler, always was, but it was the new gen era, it was the 90s, everybody needed a side gig ah if wrote for their character.
00:20:18
Speaker
so um you know, Ricky the the Dragon Steamboat became an actual dragon that breathed fire when he came in the ring and Tito Santana became a matador.
00:20:29
Speaker
So I was absolutely loved in that pink and green getup, El Matador, Yeah, that's that my final pick. Tito Santana, El Matador, I think, I think.
00:20:43
Speaker
um There was recently an announcement that a Legends deal had been reached with ah with Tito, and think he was part of that group with Tito and Crush and King Kong Bundy and Demolition.
00:20:55
Speaker
So, i fingers crossed. I mean, I love the new Genera stuff. that's That's the wrestling that I grew up on. i remember watching when I was kid. That was... you know, whatever you think about it now, um I loved all that stuff. I love the goofiness of wrestling sometimes.
00:21:13
Speaker
um It's entertaining. I mean, that's what it was. And nine-year-old, or at that time, six-year-old Eric ah really, really liked all that stuff, and I still like it as an adult. So I would absolutely love a El Matador, Tito Santana figure. here um And again,
00:21:32
Speaker
Technically, it's from WrestleMania 9 because he he was on that dark match. um But he's wearing his standard gear. So just give me hit just give me an L-Macket. That's all.
00:21:46
Speaker
All right, so there you have it There are our picks from WrestleMania IX. It's been fun to go back and look at some of these, you know, this older event. And I think we're going be doing more of this in the future, leading up to some of these big PLEs, maybe the big four ones.
00:22:02
Speaker
We'll go back and take a look at an older PLE and see who we can get ah across off the board, potentially, right? um Yeah, absolutely love
Listener engagement and feedback
00:22:11
Speaker
this. If you have any suggestions for us, if there's a particular...
00:22:16
Speaker
a PLE or pay-per-view that you want us to cover historically, let us know in the comments. While you're down there leaving a comment, make sure you hit that subscribe button if you are watching this on YouTube.
00:22:27
Speaker
Make sure you hit that subscribe button, the like, all that good stuff, the bell icon. ah You don't want to miss any new videos when we pull them apart. If you are listening to us on your favorite podcast platform, wherever you enjoy podcasts, thank you. And make sure you you rate, review, subscribe, all that good stuff.
00:22:44
Speaker
um Where we are live every Monday with a new episode of some kind. um And with that, we will be back next week with a full-length episode of Adventures in Collecting, followed by a another premium toyetic event as we will look at WrestleMania 41.
00:23:03
Speaker
With that, I think it's time to sign off.
Future episodes and schedule
00:23:06
Speaker
This has been your premium toyetic event. Until next time.
00:23:14
Speaker
Thank you, dear listener, for hanging out with us today. Subscribe, rate, and review us wherever you listen, and then tell your friends to do it. Thanks also to Joe Azari, the golden voice behind our intro. Our music is Game Boy Horror by the Zombie Dandies. Find more about them both in our show notes.
00:23:30
Speaker
Follow us on social media at AIC underscore podcast on Instagram and Twitter. Stop by and say hi. Show us your toy hauls and share your toy stories. Maybe we'll talk about it in a future episode.
00:23:46
Speaker
Don't try this at home. Voidware prohibited in some assembly required. Each sold separately. Not a flying toy. Consult a physician if your toy run exceeds more than four hours.
00:23:54
Speaker
This has been a non-productive media presentation. Executive producer, Frank Hablaui. This program and many others like it on the Non-Productive Network is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License.
00:24:07
Speaker
Please share it, but ask before trying to change it or sell it. For more information, visit non-productive.com.