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Toying with Success 2: The Story of the AWA Action Figures

Toying with Success 2: The Story of the AWA Action Figures

Posted: Aug 5th 2025 By: Joe King - RingTheDamnBell.com

When most people think about the earliest professional wrestling toys to be produced, they think of the big rubber “Wrestling Superstars” toy line from the World Wrestling Federation made by LJN. But another well-known wrestling organization from that era actually produced and released toys first. That organization was the AWA or American Wrestling Association.The one market that professional wrestling had yet to capitalize on was the toy market. In 1984, the AWA partnered with Remco to develop their line of toys called “All Star Wrestlers”. The top tag-teams of the AWA including The Road Warriors(Hawk & Animal), The High Flyers(Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell), and The Fabulous Ones(Steve Keirn & Stan Lane) would be the first to ever have toys made with their likeness.

Remco was originally negotiating to become the WWF’s first official toy company before anyone else. They offered Vince McMahon $10,000 but was eventually outbid by Galoob and finally LJN. After Vince McMahon wound up choosing LJN, Remco quickly pivoted and re-purposed an already existing toy line called “Lost World of The Warlord” and made them look as close to the stars of the American Wrestling Association as they possibly could. The AWA Remco toy line called “All-Star Wrestlers” would hit shelves in 1985, just months prior to LJN’s WWF line.

I remember finding these at a mom & pops discount store as a youngster. As a matter of fact, I still have my Road Warrior Animal and Curt Hennig figures from back then.

Most of the Remco AWA figures were released and sold in multi-packs. The first series was sold in 2-pack sets featuring Tag Team Wrestlers and a Main Event two-pack featuring Baron Von Raschke vs Rick Martel. Each came with a free AWA Souvenir such as a badge or ring. Series 2 was the same but with different tag-teams. Series 3 consisted of 3-pack sets which featured tag-teams with their valets and/or managers. My personal favorite series was series 4, which was titled ‘Greatest Grudge Matches’. This series had black/gold card backings and included figures of legends from the AWA such as Abdullah The Butcher, Carlos Colon, Jerry Blackwell, Scott Hall, Stan Hansen, & Nick Bockwinkel. They wouldn’t release individual wrestlers until Series 5, which was the last series ever released, called ‘Mat Mania’. Remco also produced a thumb-wrestling series called Thumbsters, Fight To The Finish which included two figures along with a VCR cassette tape featuring classic matches.

Many of the figures came with robes, clothing, belts, and other accessories. Also released were Mini Mashers, a Battle Royal Ring/Playset that included 7 figures, a Championship Belt, and the AWA All-Star Wrestling Ring before ceasing production in 1987. Some of the more iconic figures from this line are Nord The Barbarian,The Fabulous Freebirds, Midnight Rockers(Marty Jannetty & Shawn Michaels), Ric Flair, Rick Martel, Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie, and The Road Warriors with Paul Ellering. They have become pretty popular again over the last few years with collectors and have become quite valuable. The Nord The Barbarian figure from the Remco AWA ‘Mat Mania’ series is one of the most valuable wrestling toys of all time, as one that was Mint on Card sold for $4200! A loose one excluding accessories is currently up for auction for $1200. Others that are extremely rare and pricey include Boris Zhukov, Buddy Rose, Shawn Michaels, & Marty Jannetty.

SERIES ONE- TAG TEAM/MAIN EVENT

•Road Warriors(Animal/Hawk)

•High Flyers(Greg Gagne/Jim Brunzell)

•Fabulous Ones(Steve Keirn/Stan Lane)

•Rick Martel vs Baron Von Raschke

SERIES TWO- TAG TEAM/MAIN EVENT

•Gagne’s Raiders(Gagne/Hennig)

•Long Riders(Bill & Scott Irwin)

•Ric Flair vs Larry Zbyszko

•Rick Martel vs Baron Von Raschke

SERIES THREE- 3 MAN TAG TEAM

•Animal/Hawk/Paul Ellering

•Fabulous Freebirds(Hayes/Roberts/Gordy)

•Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin/Regal/Precious

SERIES FOUR- GREATEST GRUDGES

•Abdullah vs Carlos Colon

•Gorgeous Jimmy vs Scott Hall

•Jerry Blackwell vs Stan Hansen

•Larry Zbyszko vs Nick Bockwinkel

SERIES FIVE- MAT MANIA

•Boris Zhukov

•Buddy Rose

•Dick Woehrle

•Doug Somers

•Marty Jannetty

•Nick Bockwinkel

•Nord The Barbarian

•Paul Ellering

•Ric Flair

•Shawn Michaels

•Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie

FIGHT TO THE FINISH SERIES

•Buddy Rose vs Greg Gagne

•Michael Hayes vs Rick Martel

•Steve Regal vs Curt Hennig

AWA THUMBSTERS

•Rick Martel vs Animal

•Greg Gagne vs Hawk

•Ric Flair vs Larry Zbyszko

PLAYSETS & ACCESSORIES

•All-Star Wrestling Ring

•Battle Royal Ring & Figure Playset

•Championship Belt

•Steel Cage Match Playset

•Power Slam Wrestling VCR Game

 

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Complete Calendar

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Spotlight in History

  • 1979 Jim Garvin & Herb Calvert def. Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 1980 Hector Guerrero & Ron Sexton def. Ron McFarlane & Doug Somers for the TSW Tag Team Titles
  • 2002 Jeffrey Parker def. Li'l Joe for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 2004 Luc Lapointe def. Prophet for the SRPW Boys and Girls Club Title
  • 2004 Dirty Harry Sanchez def. Beau Dalton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 2004 Beau Dalton def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 2005 Justin Lee & Michael Faith became the TPW Tag Team Champions
  • 2011 Michael York & Ignition became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 2011 Brandon Walker def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 2011 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & David Kyzer) became the SWCW Tag Team Champions
  • 2016 Kareem Sadat def. Dean Lambert for the EmpCW Independent Hardcore Title

Week of Sun 11-01 to Sat: 11-07

  • 11-01 1960 Tony Jiminez & Jesse Jiminez became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champions
  • 11-01 1981 Ted DiBiase def. Paul Orndorff for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 11-01 1982 Al Madril def. Frank Dusek for the WCCW Television Title
  • 11-01 2008 El Hoto def. Martin Justice for the OECW Southwestern Title
  • 11-01 2008 The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Matthews III) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-01 2013 Steven Sterling def. Bobby Starr for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 11-01 2014 Guy Atticus became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 11-01 2014 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 11-01 2019 Brock Landers def. Tego for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 11-01 2020 Double D became the EPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-01 2020 Drake Gallows became the EPW All-American Champion
  • 11-01 2020 Revan became the EPW Internet Television Champion
  • 11-01 2020 The Sidekicks (Kevin James Sanchez & Gemini [2nd]) became the EPW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-01 2020 High Times (Father Padge & Dean Lambert) def. The Sidekicks (Kevin James Sanchez & Gemini [2nd]) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-01 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. The Trendsetters (Andre West & Nelly Rivers) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 11-02 1978 Ray Candy def. Ernie Ladd for the TSW Arkansas Title
  • 11-02 2002 Terry Montana def. Shadow of Death for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
  • 11-02 2003 Ty Magnus def. John O'Malley for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 11-02 2003 John O'Malley def. Ty Magnus for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 11-02 2003 X-Cal def. John O'Malley for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 11-02 2003 Outcast def. X-Cal for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 11-02 2013 Kevin Morgan def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 11-02 2013 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-02 2013 Miss Diss Lexia def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
  • 11-02 2014 Les Mayne def. Rick Russo for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 11-02 2019 Clint Poe became the EmpCW All American Champion
  • 11-02 2019 War Party (Gorgeous Garcia & Nytronis A’Teo) def. The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the EmpCW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-02 2019 Dexter Hardaway def. Double D for the EmpCW Heavyweight Title
  • 11-02 2019 Karnage def. Naiomi Sanders for the BPW 365 Title
  • 11-02 2019 Unicorn def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
  • 11-02 2019 Karnage def. Unicorn for the BPW 365 Title
  • 11-02 2019 C. M. Burnham def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
  • 11-02 2019 Karnage def. C. M. Burnham for the BPW 365 Title
  • 11-02 2019 Naomi Sanders def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
  • 11-03 2001 The VIP Crew (Rocco Valentino & Vinnie Valentino) def. The Texas Outlaws (Beau Dalton & Butch Dalton) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 11-03 2001 Splash Jackson def. Big Daddy Moore for the OPW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
  • 11-03 2012 The Old School Suckas (Randy Price & Bryan Cruize) def. Big Business (Damon Windsor & Kevin Morgan) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-03 2012 Erica def. Angel Blue for the IZW Queens Title
  • 11-03 2018 Damon Windsor def. Randy Price for the WCR Revolutionary Title
  • 11-04 1985 Rick Rude def. King Parsons for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 11-04 1988 Kerry Von Erich def. Jerry Lawler for the WCCW World Title
  • 11-04 2005 Beau Dalton & Bobby Dalton became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-05 1979 Jim Garvin & Herb Calvert def. Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 11-05 1980 Hector Guerrero & Ron Sexton def. Ron McFarlane & Doug Somers for the TSW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-05 2002 Jeffrey Parker def. Li'l Joe for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 11-05 2004 Luc Lapointe def. Prophet for the SRPW Boys and Girls Club Title
  • 11-05 2004 Dirty Harry Sanchez def. Beau Dalton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 11-05 2004 Beau Dalton def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 11-05 2005 Justin Lee & Michael Faith became the TPW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-05 2011 Michael York & Ignition became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 11-05 2011 Brandon Walker def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 11-05 2011 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & David Kyzer) became the SWCW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-05 2016 Kareem Sadat def. Dean Lambert for the EmpCW Independent Hardcore Title
  • 11-06 1977 Dick Murdoch def. Jerry Oates for the TSW North American Title
  • 11-06 1978 Jerry Stubbs became the TSW Mississippi Champion
  • 11-06 1999 Joey Casanova became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-06 2010 Jermaine Johnson def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 11-06 2010 Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) def. Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 11-06 2021 Koko became the WAH Living Hope Champion
  • 11-06 2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Oklahoma Champion
  • 11-06 2021 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Cpl. Punishment) def. Most Wanted (Dan Webber, Reese, & T-Arsenal) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 11-06 2021 Danni Bee became the NCWO Women's Champion
  • 11-06 2021 Samedi def. Tommy Dean for the CPW Heavyweight Title
  • 11-06 2021 Ky-Ote became the NCWO Choctaw Nation Champion
  • 11-06 2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-06 2021 Akbar Farat def. Tino Valentino for the NCWO Heavyweight Title
  • 11-06 2022 Jason Jones def. Dimitri Alexandrov for the WFC Prime Title
  • 11-06 2022 Leo Fox became the ASP Mid-American Champion
  • 11-06 2022 Olivier Vegos def. Skylar Slice for the ASP Women's Title
  • 11-06 2022 High Ratings (Maui Mike & Beau Betten) def. Chosen Influence (Malik Mayfield & Luke Richmond) for the ASP Tag Team Titles
  • 11-06 2022 Gatekeeper def. Mr. Nasty for the ASP 5-Star Title
  • 11-06 2022 Tino Valentino became the ASP Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-07 1984 Bill Dundee def. Adrian Street for the MSW Television Title
  • 11-07 2008 The Gentlemen Thugs (Cast-Iron Cothern & Shane Morbid) def. The Old School Express (Jason Jones & Jake Boulder) for the MStW Southern Tag Team Titles
  • 11-07 2009 Dustin Heritage def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 11-07 2015 The Terror Squad (D Money & Montego Seeka & Marce Lewis, Nytronis A'Teo & MVP) became the IWR Tag Team Champions
11-05
  • Jules Strongbow [2nd] Nov 5th Today!
  • David Jason Rose Nov 5th Today!
  • Christopher Samuel Dean Nov 5th Today!
  • Chris Chaos Nov 5th Today!
  • Bill Decker Nov 5th Today!
  • Darin Matthews Nov 6th
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  • Lu Kim Nov 6th
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  • King Kong Bundy Nov 7th
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  • Keith Watkins Nov 7th
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  • Treach Phillips, Jr. Nov 8th
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  • Nick Patrick Nov 9th
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  • Prince Tapu Nov 10th
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