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WWF Superstars
1984 – 1989 (LJN)

Professional Wrestling had been around since the 1800’s in some form or another, but hit a massive boom in the 1980’s when Vince McMahon brought the WWF came into existence. The WWF was stocked full of colorful and fun personalities, and cable television was beaming the matches into millions of American households. Since no other major toy companies were interested, LJN swooped in and began releasing action figures in 1984. The 8″ figures didn’t have much articulation, but there was a great assortment of characters and these have become HIGHLY collectible over the years.

For more information about LJN’s WWF Superstars line, see bottom of the page for a complete summary.

WWF Superstars (1984): Series One

The premier wave of WWF figures from LJN featured Nine figures in total, with some huge names and legendary characters, such as Hulk Hogan, Andre the giant, and Rowdy Roddy Piper. It should be noted that estimated values are only for the basic figures and not the harder to find variants, such as Junkyard Dog with his different colored chains.

WWF Superstars (1985): Series Two

The second wave of WWF Superstar figures featured six figures in total, with five brand new releases and a second “short hair” version of wrestling legend, Andre the Giant.

WWF Superstars (1986): Series Three

The third wave of WWF Superstar figures featured a new high of 17 brand new figures in total, with all being new releases of characters never seen before. LJN released Two versions of Special Delivery Jones in this wave, with two completely different shirts. This wave also saw popular Managers joining the ranks of WWF Superstars figures. It should be noted that estimated values are only for the basic figures and not the harder to find versions, such as Corporal Kirchner variants.

WWF Superstars (1987): Series Four

The fourth wave of WWF Superstar figures featured 17 brand new figures in total, with all being new releases of characters never seen before. Once again, LJN continued mixing in popular Managers with their lineup of wrestlers, including a figure of WWF owner Vince McMahon himself. It should be noted that estimated values are only for the basic figures and not the harder to find variants, such as “Purple Skirt” Elizabeth.

WWF Superstars (1988): Series Five

The fifth wave of WWF Superstar figures featured 12 new figures in total, with two of them, Hulk Hogan and Tito Santana, being new versions of previously released characters. This would be the last wave of figures released by LJN, as they went out of business, and Grand Toys, a Canadian toy company, took over the production of the final wave.

WWF Superstars (1989): Series Six

The 6th and final wave of figures came out in 1989, but were actually made by Grand Toy in Canada and not LJN. The packaging switched to a new black card and were a mix of a few new figures and several repackaged wrestlers from earlier waves. These black cards are tough to find, and can bring high dollars on the secondary market.

WWF Superstars (1986): Tag Teams

LJN released a small series of two-pack figures called “Tag Teams” in 1986. This set depicted popular tag teams of the WWF at the time. These sets can be very pricey on the secondary market nowadays, due to collectors wanting boxed versions of their favorite Tag Team duos. It should be noted that each figure was released individually as well and were identical to the Tag Team versions.

WWF Superstars (1985): Accessories & Playsets

LJN released one scaled playset for their WWF action figure line, and that was the Sling ‘Em-Fling ‘Em Wrestling Ring in 1985. The Cage Match set was an add-on to the wrestling ring playset. Sidenote: The Sling ‘Em-Fling ‘Em Wrestling Ring was actually recalled in 1991 due to safety concerns, even though LJN had already went out of business at the time, further driving the demand for the popular playset.

WrestleMania Championship Belt

Market Value:
Boxed $750 – $1,000
Loose $150 – $250

WWF Superstars (1985): 16 Inch Figures

LJN only released two figures in their 16″ format, and they were the two most popular wrestlers of the time, Hulk Hogan and Rowdy Roddy Piper.

WWF Superstars (1985): Bendies

LJN released a series of 4.5″ rubber figures called Bendies in 1986. They were exact replicas of their 8″ counterparts, except more flexible. There was two packaging variations, with the first release being on a similar card to the 8″ line (White Lettering), while the second version was on a card similar to the Rock ‘n’ Wrestling erasers (Red Lettering). There are also different variations of multiple figures in this line.

Bendies Figures Estimated Value: Carded $100 – $200 ; Loose $30 – $60
Depending on the character and version

Basic Figures

• Andre the Giant
• Big John Studd
• Bobby Heenan
• Brutus Beefcake
• Captain Lou Albano
• Corporal Kirshner
• George “The Animal” Steele
• Hillbilly Jim
• Hulk Hogan
• Iron Sheik
• Jesse “The Body” Ventura
• Junkyard Dog
• King Kong Bundy
• Nikolai Volkoff
• Paul Orndorff
• Randy Savage
• Ricky Steamboat
• Roddy Piper

Bendies Tag Team Packs Estimated Value: Carded $250 – $400 ; Loose $50 – $80

Tag Team Two-Packs

• George Steele & Captain Lou Albano
• Hulk Hogan & Junkyard Dog
• Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff
• King Kong Bundy & Big John Studd
• Randy Savage & Jesse Ventura
• Ricky Steamboat & Corporal Kirshner

Accessories

Cage Match Challenge

Market Value:
Boxed $250 – $350
Loose $80 – $110

WWF Superstars (1987): Stretch Wrestlers

LJN released a line of “Stretch Wrestlers” in 1987, that consisted of eight different wrestlers. These figures worked the same as as past stretch figures like “Stretch Armstrong”. They can still be found on the secondary market nowadays, but they will most likely be in damaged condition. Pristine versions of these figures will certainly have more value.

Stretch Wrestler Figures Estimated Value: Boxed $600 – $1,000 ; Loose $125 – $200

• George “The Animal” Steele
• Hulk Hogan
• Junkyard Dog
• King Kong Bundy
• “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff
• Randy “Macho Man” Savage
• Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat
• “Rowdy” Roddy Piper

The 1980’s were a golden era for professional wrestling, and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) captured the hearts of wrestling fans around the globe with larger than life characters and personalities. Once LJN Toys secured the licensing rights to produce action figures based on its wrestlers, they began releasing an impressive roster of wrestling legends from the colorful WWF. LJN’s action figures stood at an impressive 8 inches tall, making them significantly larger than many other toys on the market at the time. This bigger size allowed for intricate detailing, showcasing the unique features and trademark costumes of each wrestling superstar. These figures were made of solid rubber, giving them a substantial weight and durability that has definitely stood the test of time. While LJN’s WWF line were known for their size and fantastic detail, they offered limited articulation with each figure having almost no points of articulation.

There were a total of 64 unique figures to the line, with 6 other released figures that were repainted variations of a previous figure. Each of the figures came with a bio card on the back of the packaging and a rolled up poster of the character stored under the packaged figure’s feet. The first wave was released in 1984, and contained nine figures. Each wave moving forward got bigger with more figures and different variations of certain characters. Many waves even contained some of the iconic and popular Managers that accompanied the wrestlers. The final wave of figures was released in 1989, but were actually made by Grand Toy in Canada and not LJN. The packaging switched to a new black card and were a mix of a few new figures and several repackaged wrestlers from earlier waves. These black cards are tough to find, and can bring high dollars on the secondary market. One playset was released for the line, and appropriately, it was a wrestling ring for all these fantastic action figures. An accessory to the ring was sold that converted it into a cage match setting. A small series of popular Tag Teams were also released in 1985 and 1986.

LJN’s line of WWF action figures left an indelible mark on both wrestling and toy history. These larger than life figures allowed fans to bring their favorite wrestling superstars into their homes, fostering a real connection with the world of professional wrestling. LJN’s iconic line of WWF figures is a testament to the enduring legacy of the wrestlers and characters who captured the hearts of millions and the fans who cherished their memories through these beloved toys. LJN’s WWF action figure line remain cherished collectibles for the kids who grew up in that era and are always in demand. Carded figures from the various waves never last long on the secondary market nowadays and loose versions adorn many collections around the world. This bodes very well for collectors and fans of this line, with a healthy collecting market and a bright future.