The WWE Monday Night War action figure line by Mattel is more than just another series — it’s a tribute to one of the most influential eras in wrestling history, when World Wrestling Federation went head-to-head with World Championship Wrestling in a ratings battle that defined a generation.

Running from roughly 1995 to 2001, the Monday Night War saw WWE Mondany Night RAW and WCW Monday Nitro compete weekly for viewers, talent, and cultural momentum. The Mattel figure line reflects this era by recreating specific moments from individual episodes or pay-per-views, with packaging that clearly states the exact show each look is drawn from, reinforcing the historical authenticity collectors appreciate.

Top stars defined the conflict on both sides. WCW was led by names such as Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Goldberg, Sting, and Ric Flair, while WWF countered with Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, The Undertaker, Triple H, Mick Foley, and Shawn Michaels — all central figures in one of wrestling’s most competitive periods.

Vince McMahon vs Ted Turner 

The Monday Night War didn’t start in a vacuum — it began with a clash of media empires. Vince McMahon, the visionary behind the WWF (now WWE), was already transforming professional wrestling into a national television phenomenon. His product, featuring larger-than-life characters and weekly storylines, had become a staple on cable.

Across town, Ted Turner, media mogul and owner of Turner Broadcasting, acquired World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and immediately saw an opportunity to challenge McMahon’s dominance. By putting WCW on his TBS network and later broadcasting Nitro live on TNT, Turner created a direct competitor to WWF’s Raw.

This move marked the beginning of the ratings war, as WWF and WCW went head-to-head every Monday night, each company trying to outdo the other with shocking debuts, celebrity appearances, and controversial storylines. The live broadcasts from Turner’s network gave WCW an edge early on, forcing WWF to respond with edgier storylines and eventually paving the way for the Attitude Era.

In essence, the Monday Night War was as much a battle of media giants as it was of wrestling companies — a historic clash that shaped the industry for years to come.

Key Moments That Defined the Monday Night War

A turning point came when Hulk Hogan shocked fans by forming the New World Order, creating a storyline that blurred reality and fiction and propelled WCW to ratings dominance. The nWo angle forced WWF to evolve creatively, accelerating the Attitude Era and intensifying competition.

The weekly ratings war became a focal point of the industry, with victories measured in television numbers and momentum swings closely watched by fans and executives alike. Nitro initially led thanks to major signings and live broadcasts, while Raw steadily gained ground through bold storytelling.

On January 4, 1999, WCW executive Eric Bischoff made a decision that would become infamous. During a live Nitro broadcast, he revealed that Mick Foley would win the WWF Championship on the pre-taped Raw, dismissing it on air. Instead, viewers switched channels in huge numbers to witness Foley’s victory, creating a decisive shift in audience loyalty. WWF won the night, and WCW never won another ratings battle afterward, marking the moment many consider the effective end of the rivalry.

Following this, WWF surged ahead creatively and commercially, eventually purchasing WCW and closing the chapter on the Monday Night War.

Why the Figure Line Matters

The Monday Night War figures resonate because they capture authentic snapshots of wrestling history, with each release tied to a documented appearance. This approach allows collectors to recreate the era visually, turning shelves into a timeline of the conflict.

WWE Monday Night War Master Checklist

WWE Elite Collection — Monday Night War Series

Series 1 — BAF: Disciple (Brutus Beefcake WCW)

• Undertaker (WWE)

• "Stone Cold" Steve Austin (WWE)

• Scott Hall (WCW)

• "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan (WCW)

• Chase variant

Series 2 — BAF: Vincent (nWo)

• Kevin Nash (WCW)

• Triple H (WWE)

• Diesel (WWE)

• Rey Mysterio (WCW)

• Chase variant

Series 3 — BAF: The Disciple (alt gear)

• Booker T (WCW)

• Booker T — Chase variant (WCW)

• Stevie Ray (WCW)

• Stevie Ray — Chase variant (WCW)

• Rob Van Dam (WWE)

• The Rock (WWE)

Series 4 — BAF: Commissioner Shawn Michaels

• Big Boss Man (WWE)

• Curt Hennig (WCW)

• Diamond Dallas Page (WCW)

• Diamond Dallas Page — Chase variant (WCW)

• "Stone Cold" Steve Austin (WWE)

Series 5 — BAF: Dusty Rhodes (nWo/War era)

• Lita (WWE)

• Razor Ramon (WWE)

• Syxx (WCW)

• Syxx — Chase variant (WCW)

• Ultimate Warrior (WCW)

Series 6 — BAF: Golga

• Booker T (WCW)

• Booker T — Chase variant (WCW)

• British Bulldog (WWE)

• Hardcore Hak (WWE)

• Kane (WWE)

Series 7 — BAF: Trillionaire Ted (Ted DiBiase parody)

• Jerry “The King” Lawler (WWE)

• Albert (WWE)

• Hollywood Hulk Hogan (WCW)

• The Great Muta (WCW)

• The Great Muta — Chase variant (WCW)

Series 8 — BAF: Michael Cole (Attitude Era)

• Undertaker (WWE)

• Brian Pillman (WWE)

• Shark (WCW)

• Shark — Chase variant (WCW)

• Eric Bischoff (WCW)

Series 9 — BAF: Big Bubba Rogers

• The Rock (WWE)

• Fatu (WWE)

• Lex Luger (WCW)

• Booker T (WCW)

Series 10 — BAF: X-Pac

• Chyna (WWE)

• "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (WCW)

• Sid Vicious (WCW)

• Steve Blackman (WWE)
  

Series 11 — BAF:  

• Brian Adams (WCW)

• Headbanger Mosh (WWE)

• Headbanger Thrasher (WWE)

• Hulk Hogan (WCW)

WWE Elite Collection — Greatest Hits Series

Greatest Hits Series 1

• Bam Bam Bigelow (WCW)

• Eddie Guerrero (WCW)

• Shawn Michaels (WWE)

• Triple H (WWE)

Greatest Hits Series 2

• Bret “Hit Man” Hart (WCW)

• Diamond Dallas Page (WCW)

• Diamond Dallas Page — Chase variant (WCW)

• Ken Shamrock (WWE)

• Ringmaster (WWE)

Greatest Hits Series 3

• Rick Steiner (WCW)

• Eddie Guerrero (WCW)

• Billy Gunn (WWE)

• Road Dogg (WWE)

WWE Ultimate Edition — Monday Night War

• Bret “Hit Man” Hart (WWE)

• "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (WWE)

• Mankind (WWE)

• Eddie Guerrero (WCW)

• Triple H (WWE)

• Lex Luger (WCW)

• Scott Steiner (WCW)

• "Stone Cold" Steve Austin (WWE)

• Kurt Angle (WWE)

• Diamond Dallas Page (WCW)

Final Thoughts

The WWE Monday Night War figure line stands out because it presents a curated visual history of the WWE vs WCW rivalry, allowing fans to revisit the era through accurate gear, documented appearances, and deep roster selections. Whether displayed chronologically or collected by favourite moments, the line captures the intensity of a period when Monday nights became synonymous with must-watch wrestling and the industry was transformed forever.