WWE Superstars – The Retro Action Figure Collector Line Explained

Since launching in 2021, the WWE Superstars action figure line from Mattel has quickly become a favourite among collectors who appreciate a blend of retro inspiration and modern figure design. With its distinctive styling, unique scale and nostalgic packaging, the line stands apart from other WWE figure ranges currently on the market.

Released quarterly, WWE Superstars continues to expand into its sixth year, showing strong longevity for what began as a niche retro-inspired concept.

Origins of the Line

The WWE Superstars range evolved directly from the earlier WWE Masters of the Universe series. That crossover line combined WWE Superstars with the design language of the Masters of the Universe brand. When the crossover concept concluded, Mattel retained the same scale, articulation style and packaging format, but shifted the focus fully to WWE characters.

The result was the WWE Superstars line — a retro-styled figure series inspired by wrestling’s most recognisable names.

Design and Style

The line is designed by longtime Mattel designer Bill Benecke, who has played a major role in shaping the distinctive look of the figures.

WWE Superstars figures feature:

• Masters of the Universe-style scale and articulation

• Muscular, exaggerated proportions

• Bright, retro-inspired packaging

• Cloth entrance gear (soft goods) on many figures

• Accessories such as championship belts or entrance gear

One of the standout aspects of the line is the use of soft goods entrance attire, something rarely seen in this scale of wrestling figures.

Character Selection

The line primarily focuses on retro-era wrestlers from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, making it particularly appealing to collectors who grew up with classic WWF programming. However, Mattel has also included more modern talent when it fits the stylised presentation.

Recent additions have included current stars such as Cody Rhodes and The Rock.

These newer characters show how the line can celebrate both past and present WWE personalities within the same stylised universe.

Packaging Design

The distinctive retro packaging for the WWE Superstars line is designed by George Martinez. Drawing heavily from the classic Masters of the Universe cardback style, the packaging features bold character artwork, vibrant colours and a large blister display that showcases the exaggerated, muscular figure design. This visual style plays a major role in the line’s appeal, giving it a nostalgic feel while still presenting modern WWE characters in a collectible format that stands out on shelves.

Series Format

Most WWE Superstars waves include four figures per series, maintaining a consistent release rhythm throughout the year.

Earlier waves also introduced Chase variants, featuring alternate gear or subtle deco changes. These variants were inserted randomly in cases but have currently been put on pause.

Some figures also feature 2-in-1 functionality, allowing collectors to display alternate looks using swappable parts. Notable examples include:

• Brutus Beefcake / Zodiac

• Rob Van Dam / Robbie V

These releases give collectors two display options within a single figure.

Exclusive Distribution

The WWE Superstars line has a unique retail structure.

In terms of retail distribution, WWE Superstars launched as a United States exclusive through Walmart. From Series 10 onward, the line also became available in the United Kingdom through Wrestling Shop, giving collectors in the region consistent access to the quarterly waves.

This distribution arrangement has helped create a dedicated collector base in both regions.

Chase Variants  

Throughout the early waves of WWE Superstars, select figures were released with Chase variants. These versions typically featured alternate colours, gear variations or subtle deco changes and were packed in smaller quantities, making them harder to find for collectors.

Chase figures appeared periodically throughout the line until Series 14, which marked the final wave to include a Chase variant. Since then, Mattel has paused the Chase format for this series.

Case Assortment

WWE Superstars figures are shipped in factory cases of four units per wave. When a series contains four different characters, each figure is typically packed one per case. In waves that include three unique characters, the fourth slot is usually filled by an additional unit of the most popular character in the set.

Accessories and Presentation

Beyond the retro sculpt style, the line stands out because of the display value. Many figures include:

• Cloth entrance robes or jackets

• Championship belts

• Alternate gear pieces

Combined with the bright retro packaging inspired by Masters of the Universe, WWE Superstars figures are designed to look equally strong on card or opened for display.

Hidden References and Alternate Personas

Another interesting aspect of the WWE Superstars line is how it occasionally explores lesser-known or pre-WWE character details, giving collectors versions that may not easily fit into other figure lines. Because of the stylised nature of the series, these niche looks can be included while still fitting naturally within the retro aesthetic.

For example, the Kane figure includes an entrance cape, referencing his appearances at house shows before his official WWE television debut in 1997. The cape was dropped before his televised debut, making it a small but notable piece of early character history.

Similarly, Razor Ramon is depicted wearing long tights, a look briefly seen during house show appearances before the character debuted on television with his more recognisable trunks.

The Rob Van Dam release also includes a clever nod to his early career, functioning as a 2-in-1 figure that pays homage to his Robbie V persona from his WCW days.

Another example is Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake, which includes a swappable head allowing the figure to be displayed as Zodiac, referencing his later appearance as part of the Dungeon of Doom.

These types of deep-cut references are part of what makes the WWE Superstars line particularly appealing to long-time fans. By incorporating alternate personas, early character concepts and lesser-seen looks, the line gives collectors added value and a story behind each release, rather than simply recreating the most obvious versions of each Superstar.

Series Expansion

Since its debut in 2021, the line has grown steadily and now spans 18 series, alongside multiple special releases and two-packs. Each wave continues to mix classic legends with occasional modern stars, maintaining a balance between nostalgia and contemporary WWE relevance.

In the sections that follow, you can explore the complete list of WWE Superstars figures from Series 1 through Series 18, along with all currently released two-packs.

WWE Superstars Figure Releases

Below is the complete list of figures released or announced at time of publishing.

Series 1

• Bray Wyatt

• “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan

• Ric Flair

• Honky Tonk Man

Series 2

• Kevin Nash

• Scott Hall

• Shawn Michaels

• Ultimate Warrior

Series 3

• Mankind

• Million Dollar Man

• Papa Shango

• Undertaker

Series 4

• "Macho Man" Randy Savage

• Mr. T

• The Rock

• Typhoon

Series 5

• Earthquake

• "Ravishing" Rick Rude

• The Rock (Series 4 Re-release)

• "Macho Man" Randy Savage (Series 4 Re-release)

Series 6

• Bam Bam Bigelow

• Hulk Hogan

• Hulk Hogan (Chase Variant)

• Mr Perfect

• "Rowdy" Roddy Piper

Series 7

• Captain Lou Albano

• Hulk Hogan (Series 5 Re-release)

• Hulk Hogan (Chase Variant) (Series 5 Re-release)

• "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Series 5 Re-release)

• Vader

Series 8

• Andre The Giant

• Doink The Clown

• Hulk Hogan

• Hulk Hogan (Chase Variant)

Series 9

• British Bulldog

• Kane

• Muhammad Ali

Series 10

• Big Boss Man

• Kurt Angle
  

• Tatanka

Series 11

• Razor Ramon

• Razor Ramon (Chase Variant)

• Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake (2-in-1 / Zodiac)

• Rey Mysterio Jr. 

Series 12

• Bret “Hit Man” Hart

• Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart

• Cactus Jack

Series 13

• Eddie Guerrero

• Jake “The Snake” Roberts

• Jake “The Snake” Roberts (Chase Variant)

• Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat

Series 14

• Diesel

• The Great Muta

• The Great Muta (Chase Variant)

• Zeus

• Iron Sheik

Series 15

• “Stone Cold” Steve Austin

• Ultimate Warrior

• George “The Animal” Steele

• Nikolai Volkoff

Series 16

• Hurricane

• Rob Van Dam (2-in-1 / Robbie V)

• Rick Steiner 

• Scott Steiner 

Series 17

• Demolition Ax

• Demolition Smash

• Demolition Crush

• Hacksaw Jim Duggan

Series 18

• Dusty Rhodes

• Jesse “The Body” Ventura

• Mankind

• Undertaker

Series 19

• To be announced

Twin Packs and Mattel Creations Releases

While most releases come as individual figures, Mattel has also produced special two-packs. There are two releases to-date, which were offered through the collector-focused platform Mattel Creations:

• "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes & Dusty Rhodes

• Rocky Maivia & The Rock "Final Boss"

These sets allowed Mattel to explore legacy characters and alternate personas in a format that suited collector-focused releases.