Over the years, Ringside has released various site-exclusive WWE figures. Most of them have gone on to be very coveted and valuable.
In 1984, WWE released their first ever action figure line through LJN. While those figures weren't exactly cutting edge, they did kick off an action figure craze that has grown significantly since the 80s. In 1995, pro wrestling action figures and the internet would start becoming intertwined.
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Eventually, Ringside Collectibles would become the industry's top online retailer. Today, Ringside is a giant in the wrestling action figure game. Over the years, Ringside has released various site-exclusive figures. Most of them have gone on to be very coveted and valuable. A handful though has become incredibly hard to own and has reached near mythical status with collectors.
One of the main reasons why adult wrestling fans love action figures is because they remind them of their childhood. Many adult fans associate moments throughout wrestling history with their younger days. That's what makes action figures that commemorate unforgettable moments so popular.
This 2019 Ringside Collectibles Exclusive Undertaker is a great example of that. It recreates The Undertaker's 1999 cosplay as Kane. The box, which looks like Kane's mask, was brilliantly designed. The figure itself came with an Undertaker head and a Kane head, essentially making this two figures in one. It's a great value and an amazing figure overall.
Throughout WWE history, there's been two "Golden eras" of tag team wrestling. The first came during the 80s with teams like The Hart Foundation, The British Bulldogs, and Demolition. The second took place during The Attitude Era with teams like Edge and Christian, The Dudley Boyz, and of course The Hardy Boyz.
In 2019, Ringside Collectibles released an Exclusive Elite 2-Pack which featured The Hardy Boyz in all their late 90s glory. The figures came with WWE Tag Team Championship belts, interchangeable hands, and a pair of soft goods shirts reminiscent of the silky ones they wore at the time. This set is a must-own for any Hardy Boyz collector.
In 2007, CM Punk went from Indy Wrestling darling to WWE Superstar. To be fair, Punk was a part of the ECW brand when he arrived in WWE but it was all under the same WWE umbrella at the time. Regardless, Punk became an instant sensation and big fan favorite during his time in ECW.
In 2013, Ringside Collectibles released this exclusive CM Punk figure from his time in ECW. The figure featured Punk in red trunks and came with an era-appropriate shirt. The figure also came with an ECW microphone and an ECW Championship belt. It's a great figure and is arguably the second most coveted CM Punk figure around.
In his over 30-year career, Sting has taken on many forms. He's been a surfer, a vigilante, and even a joker. Perhaps the least liked version of Sting came in 1998 when he gave up his loner ways to join The nWo Wolfpac. Many fans today cringe at the sight of what's affectionately known as "Tomato Face Sting."
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As luck would have it, the least popular version of Sting turned into one of the most desired Ringside Collectibles Exclusives ever. In 2016, Ringside released three nWo Wolfpac Exclusives. This included Randy Savage, Kevin Nash, and Sting. While all three are extremely rare and pricey in today's market, Sting is the priciest and most sought after. The figure featured Sting in red and black attire and came with a Wolfpac tank top and a baseball bat. It was simple but effective enough to be on many collectors' wish lists.
When The nWo started coming apart at the seams in 1998, most fans thought the logical result would've been for Scott Hall and Kevin Nash to break away and form a separate faction. While Nash would go on to found The Wolfpac, Hall would shockingly turn on his friend and join Hollywood Hogan's nWo Hollywood.
After siding with Hogan, Hall would change up the color scheme of his tights from his customary red and black to black and white. This nWo Hollywood version of Hall was immortalized in 2015 with this Ringside Collectibles Exclusive figure. It featured Hall in his black and white attire and came with an entrance vest and nWo tank top. This is arguably the most wanted Scott Hall figure in existence.
Shawn Michaels might possibly be the greatest showman in the history of pro wrestling. That's saying a lot considering just how many great showmen have come through the sport over the years. Regardless, Michaels' knack for showmanship can't be denied. Michaels always liked to use his ring attire as a way to stand out, leading to some iconic looks for HBK throughout the years.
In 2017, Ringside Collectibles released this exclusive Shawn Michaels Elite, decked out in D-Generation-X attire. The figure came with green and black entrance gear to match the DX attire. It's the quintessential D-Generation-X Shawn Michaels figure, and it will cost at least a couple of hundred dollars to acquire today.
WrestleMania is typically the one night a year where performers will go all out with their ring attires. That's not to say that there haven't been iconic ring attires worn at other events, but the best attires are usually reserved for WrestleMania. Rey Mysterio definitely has his fair share of iconic attires.
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At WrestleMania specifically, Mysterio has paid homage to many of his favorite comic book characters over the years. At WrestleMania 20, Mysterio's attire was a nod to The Flash. In 2010, one of Ringside Collectibles' first Mattel exclusives was this Rey Mysterio in Flash attire. This figure could easily be displayed on any WWE or comic book character shelf. Although, over time, it has become very pricey.
While Shawn Michaels and Rey Mysterio certainly have some of the most iconic attires ever, "Macho Man" Randy Savage certainly cannot be overlooked. It's fair to say that Savage is the godfather of visually stunning ring attires, especially in WWE. That makes it a bit ironic that perhaps the most coveted Randy Savage figure ever had such simplistic attire.
Regardless, this 2011 Ringside Collectibles Exclusive "Macho King" Randy Savage Elite is one of the most wanted figures in the game. The figure came wearing purple trunks. It also included a crown, robe, glasses, and a scepter. The figure isn't overly flashy but it's very rare and expensive.
In the 90s, WWE shifted its focus from big muscle-bound performers like Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior to smaller more scientific wrestlers like Bret Hart. As a result, Hart became at the top of the food chain in WWE during the New Generation era. During this time, Hart's pink and black color scheme became very popular.
Hart's ring attire was often an equal balance of pink and black. On some occasions though he'd favor one color over the other. This 2012 Ringside Collectibles Exclusive Elite features Hart in his less common all-pink attire. The figure came with Hart's customary shades and a pink entrance jacket. This figure is coveted by many collectors today. Not surprisingly though, it's worth a pretty penny.
When his career is all said and done, CM Punk will go down as one of the biggest enigmas to ever come through pro wrestling. Punk's success in the business caught many people off guard, especially those who actively tried to sabotage him. To many wrestling insiders' chagrin, CM Punk is one of the most popular and most talked about wrestlers ever.
Not surprisingly, Punk also has arguably the most desired Ringside Collectibles Exclusive figure ever. This 2010 Straight Edge Society CM Punk Elite is easily the most wanted Punk figure ever, and for good reason. The figure represents the time the cult leader Punk got his head shaved. The figure comes with a removable mask, arm sling, and towel. Most collectors will never own it though. Its aftermarket price is ridiculously high.
Wesly Avendano is a writer from a small town in southern California. A Life long pro wrestling, Los Angeles Lakers, and Philadelphia Eagles fan. He's a writer, podcast host, and runs the @flashbackwrestling account on Instagram.