LJN wrestlers I need loose as requested by Tony and John

These are the Ljn figures I never got to own loose.  Fair warning other than Jimmy Snuka these were pretty rare ones

JIMMY SNUKA
ANDRE SHORT HAIR BLUE TRUNKS
BRET HART
JIM NEIDHART
VINCE MCMAHON
BIG BOSSMAN
HULK HOGAN WHITE SHIRT
HULK HOGAN RED SHIRT
ULTIMATE WARRIOR
WARLORD

ANY OF THESE FOUND IN THE WILD WOULD MAKE ME INDEBTED TO WHOMEVER SENDS THEM MY WAY!

An essay about rubber wrestling men

                                                 
RUBBER WRESTLING MEN

What started your collecting fire?  How hot does that first interest still burn today?  My story doesn't actually start with baseball cards.  The cards were definitely there early on but not the catalyst.  The start for me was WWF figures by LJN or what my mom still refers to them as today- rubber wrestling men.  These figures taught me obsession, they taught me how to plan, they taught me how to flex my imagination.  To this day I still posses a sense of wonder around these toys.

The year was 1985.  The first figure that got me started was Hulk Hogan.  I loved wrestling and was so excited when my mom allowed me to get him even though I wasn't allowed to also get a challenger for him that day at Hills Department store.  It was a while before I was able to get him any opponents for him other than GI Joes.  He was dominant versus the Joes.  In the interim, I kept the card he came on and stared at the other wrestlers available to get.  Even the ones I hated on TV I wanted so that Hulk could beat them up.  But more importantly I felt like I needed them all.  A collector was born.

Toy stores were not that prevalent in North Alabama and a six year old didn't have many resources but I had a plan to get them all somehow!  I learned that if I offered to do chores I could earn a quarter her or there perhaps even a dollar.  This money could be used to buy more rubber wrestling men.  Only a handful of stores I ever got into as a kid even had them.  There was a fancy toy store in town that specialized in games, Breyer animals, Play Mobil, dolls, and magic tricks.  We would occasionally go there when buying a birthday gift for a weird cousin that wanted to be a magician.  No luck on the wrestlers there...I looked.  I did notice there were like three wrestlers in the shut up toy section at the grocery store and drug store but I never could get mom to play ball there either.  There was a Wal-Mart in town but for some reason we never really went there we always went to Hills.  This store is long gone now but was an oasis for a six year old wrestling toy addict.  It seemed like every time we went they had new figures.  I normally had enough money for one and started accumulating slowly but surely. The chase was on.

 A year or so later I got to go to a place called Toys R Us to pick out a birthday present.  This store was as big as a grocery store.  I'm surprised kids weren't being stretchered out from sensory overload.  This was a special occasion kind of place and special occasion trip as Huntsville was about thirty miles away.  Back then thirty miles was a long way.  Initially I was disappointed as I really only wanted wrestlers but couldn't find any down the doubled sided action figure boy aisle.  My mom asked did they have any and we were taken to the end of another aisle that inspired opera music in my little boy brain.  A whole end cap of men.  Must have been 200 of them and there was a display ring set up all fancy.  I didn't even know a ring existed at that time.  My mom told me to see if I could find 5 men I needed.  Uh, I found twenty something but only got to take home five.  I also learned that there were tag team sets and even a steel cage for the ring that I didn't know about five seconds earlier.  I remember returning to that store a few months later with birthday, tooth fairy money, and chore money and buying twelve figures at once.  This was most likely the best day of my childhood life other than meeting Spider Man when I was four.

My searching continued for a couple more years until I read in a wrestling magazine in 1989 that they were no longer making them.  No worries as I had learned that I could change the identities of the wrestlers in my mind and make them whoever I wanted to be that day.  SD Jones becomes Bad News Brown no sweat.  Greg Valentine made a hell of a Nature Boy.  The store supplies eventually dried up and there probably weren't but 10-15 men I was never able to get.  Still haunting me to this day is the memory of 1990 in a Toy Liquidators store where there were clip strips after clip strips of black carded LJN's.  Probably 200 of them, there was Black Strap Andre, Haku, Rick Rude, a referee, and John  Studd reissued on a black card.  Had I bought them all and kept them carded then today I could buy a car.  But I was eleven and only got to buy 3.  The vision was there for me at the time though and I knew that someday they would be worth something. 

The rubber wrestling men still excite me to this day.  If I ever see one at a flea market or card shop I rescue them.  Lately I've even started dabbling in the carded figures.  Condition is so sensitive on these carded men as a I remember many I bought back in the day already had damaged bubbles or bent up cards.  The condition really doesn't bother me as long as their still on card.  Ebay often gets me attention as I stare at thousand dollar on card Big Bossman or Warlord figures maybe someday.  For now I will just remember fondly what got me started.  Josh Willingham cards you may now thank Hulk Hogan for my nerdery. Also thanks to my Mom from whom I get the collecting gene.   So I say Damn the Torpedoes.  Collect what makes you happy and excited and I'll keep doing the same.  Just for the record my Paul Orndorff figure was using the rack attack long before Nikki Bella and that's how he beat Billy Jack Haynes to win my Alabama State Championship in 1988....just sayin.

On tap this weekend

Tomorrow night I will finally be caught up on Willinghammer posts.  And Sunday i will share an essay.  Yes, an essay.

Uncle Tiny Hammers Down Big Time

I had collected a threesome of maildays during the big fun game.  Speaking of the Bfg i got all but two packages out today.  Still need an address for Chris and got to figure out how i want to ship the huge mystery box to Oscar.  But for now a toolbag full of Hammers

Thank you so much for the big haul my friend!!

KIN makes me feel like a collector again!

More Willinghammers to share today from Mr. Kin from I feel like a collector again blog.

 Double Hammers!

A nice numbered Hammer!!  Thanks again my friend!

Got a couple more maildays to post and then I will get an updated year long contest scoreboard up!

GCRL PWE OF 3

Jim of GCRL FAME was kind enough to send a Willinghammer PWE my way!  Lets check out the goods

Many thanks my friend!  I did receive the Hammer oddballs.  They were sweet. Sorry aI never got them posted.  Will hit you back soon!

One card from a Dimwit

Wanted to post a quick hit and share this beautiful hammer I received in today's mail from Sam!

Many many thanks my friend!  Please stay tuned as I get caught up in my Willinghammer mail this week!

SCC drops the PWE

My good buddy from Sport Card Collectors was nice enough to send me a pwe of Willinghammers!

Many thanks to you my friend!!  Everyone please keep me in mind for any and all Willinghams!  Im that guy!

Tom sends the Hammers

I have fallen way behind in my Willinghammer postings!  Time to get back on track!

That is for true Tom!  They are getting scarcer because they are all heading here!

Many thanks to my buddy Tom for securing these hammers and getting them to me!!  Many thanks!

BIG FUN GAME WRAP UP

Well the BIG FUN GAME has come to a close.  I sincerely hope everyone had a ball.  I ask that everyone send me your current mailing addy even if i already have it.  It will just make it easier for me.  I hope to have these shipped by first of next week.

Now lets reveal the final prize that is going to Chris...

This blog will now slowly return to Willinghamamania as I have quite a few packages to update as well as the year long contest.  Thank you for your continued support of Willinghammer Rising

BIG FUN GAME STEAL REPLACEMENT PICK FOR TIM B

Tim is the victim of the final steal of the game.  Its time to replace his pick with number 9.

 Not too bad sir. A pretty clean copy of one of the hobbies iconic cards

Chris was not able to beat the clock and get back in so he will be left with #6.  I will post his prize in a little while and that will conclude the BIG FUN GAME 

BIG FUN GAME PICK for Night Owl-We have a steal!

Night Owl has come out in the daylight and he just can't resist the Yaz!  Tim B is back on the clock. 6 and 9 are still there as well as many other neat prizes.  All can be stolen except the YAZ, Mookie jersey, and mystery box.  Good Luck Tim B!

BIG FUN GAME Pick for Tim B

We are winding down the BIG FUN GAME and Tim B is up to the plate.  He has selected #15....so how did he do

 Not a perfect copy but still pretty sweet

Only players left in this game are the famous Night Owl and Chris!  Will Night Owl steal the Yaz rookie or something else? Or will he take one of the final two numbers 6 or 9.  Only the Owl knows.  Good Luck!

BIG FUN GAME PICK FOR TONY

Tony is a gambler and he is betting on #11...

 Well loved vintage gold for the cardboard attorney

Tim is up to bat.  Will he steal the Hoyt? Or something else? Or select one of the final three 6 9 or 15.  Good Luck!

BIG FUN GAME Pick for Bob Walk the Plank

The bad guy has arrived...and he picks #12

 Matthew has selected well and is currently on a 1/1

Will his tag partner Tony steal this or another item?  Or will he select one of the remaining numbers 6 9 11 or 15?  Good Luck Tony!

BIG FUN GAME PICK FOR DAILY DIMWIT

Pressing on with this selection of number 8 for our resident Dimwit!

ICHIRO ROOKIE is currently in Sams possesion.

Up next is my arch nemesis Bob Walk the Plank.  He may steal the Ichiro or rookie lot or t206 or vintage lot or mantle lot or auto lot or ripken rookie or hawk dayley dual autos or trout relic.  Or he may select 6 9 11 12 or 15.  Good luck sir!

The BIG FUN GAME IS BACK OPEN! DAILY DIMWIT is now on the clock

Chris can make his pick at any time but for now we move.  Sam you are up.  Please refer to my Angels in Order post for your choices!  Good Luck!!!