Tag Archives: NXT

Will WWE Performance Center Feed the Indies with Talent?

The WWE Performance Center is the most high-tech wrestling training center in the World. The New Japan Dojo and other wrestling schools may have a higher success rate, but WWE has a ton of talent down there, but only a few will reach stardom.

On top of the WWE’s attempt to sign inexperience athletes they can mold into ‘sports entertainers’, they have been signing nearly every available indie wrestling star. Their latest coup was signing indie darlings Matt Riddle and Keith Lee.

NXT television was once a place where young, inexperienced talents could get some exposure and learn on the job, since character development is a huge part of WWE today. Now, NXT television consists of talents who have hundreds of matches under their belt and experience wrestling in front of thousands of fans.

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Toy Crazy: Mattel’s WWE Elite Series 61

I’m a self-confessed vintage toy nerd. I collect vintage wrestling action figures from the 80’s & 90’s. I started purchasing some vintage toys out of nostalgia. Well, WWE and Mattel sucked me into their new stuff. I now buy a few figures a month. You can view photos of my collection on my Instagram account.

The lineup for WWE Elite series 61 feels a little ho-hum since there are so many recent repeats. I guess the bar was set high after so many great sets to start 2018. This is a set that gets Mattel ready for the Holiday season, since it’s important to get popular guys on the shelves this Fall.

The WWE Superstars included in Elite 61 are AJ Styles, Fashion Police (Fandango & Tyler Breeze, Shane McMahon, Big E and Kevin Owens.

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Toy Crazy: Summer 2018 WWE Funko Releases

We covered some upcoming Funko releases late last year. Those figures are already in my collection and look fantastic. Funko is set to release even more pop vinyl figures this Summer.

We have reviewed a lot of Mattel’s WWE Elite figures, but Funko has also released solid figures in the past. I’m a big collector and you can see some of my collection on my Instagram, @vintagetoybob.

I’ve plugged another site in a few previous Mattel/Funko posts, but if you’re looking to order Funko figures, I’d trust DCtoys.net. I’ve bought from the seller before and he is highly reputable. The best of the best for sure. You can use code ‘FREESHIPPING‘ for free domestic shipping.

Here are some pictures of Funko’s Summer 2018 WWE POP! vinyl releases.

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Toy Crazy: Mattel’s WWE Elite Series 60

I’m a self-confessed vintage toy nerd. I collect vintage wrestling action figures from the 80’s & 90’s. I started purchasing some vintage toys out of nostalgia. Well, WWE and Mattel sucked me into their new stuff. I now buy a few figures a month. You can view photos of my collection on my Instagram account.

The lineup for WWE Elite series 60 has been known since this Spring. We’ve already seen up-close pictures as they were on display at a few toy shows early this year. There is something for everyone in Elite 60. This lineup is a step up from the weak Elite 59 set. 

The WWE Superstars included in Elite 60 are Andre the Giant (Giant Machine), Elias, John Cena, Triple H, Kofi Kingston and Triple H.

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20 Women Wrestlers WWE Should Sign Right Now

The WWE needs a lot of talent. They have dozens of females training at the Performance Center, but they need some women that are ready to step in the ring right now.

I posted a list of male indie wrestlers WWE should sign a month ago, but I needed to list with women wrestlers. There are so many elite women wrestlers that need some of the spotlight.

The WWE raided the independent scene for female talent to stock NXT over the years. You would think the talent base would dry up, but as soon as someone like Candice LeRae or Nixon Newell is taken away from the indies, new faces take their spot and become stars.

This list was well over forty at first, but and I narrowed it down to 20. The list is no particular order…and I even added an extra bonus name at the bottom.

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The 25 Best Wrestling Entrance Theme Songs of All-time

Great entrance music can help make a superstar. The wrestler will need to back up the hype in the ring and on the microphone, but a great entrance song can go a long way.

Let’s use Bobby Roode as an example. He had a great career in TNA, but that promotion started to die off as Roode was finishing up there. There’s no doubt he would have received a good pop upon his first appearance, but his WWE entrance theme made him look like a damn superstar. It also shows the fans that they were putting ‘the machine’ behind the wrestler, so they will push them as far as they can go.

NXT has been the starting point of some of the songs on this list. I want to credit Triple H as he’s a fan of harder music and no doubt had the final say on the music. I am just thankful Vince doesn’t have his hands in NXT or every guy would be coming out to Flo Rida or Florida Georgia Line songs.

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Toy Crazy: Mattel’s WWE Elite Series 59

I’m a self-confessed vintage toy nerd. I collect vintage wrestling action figures from the 80’s & 90’s. I started purchasing some vintage toys out of nostalgia. Well, WWE and Mattel sucked me into their new stuff. I now buy a few figures a month. You can view photos of my collection on my Instagram account.

The lineup for WWE Elite series 59 has been known for awhile, but they have yet to be released. We’ve already seen up-close pictures as they were on display at a few toy shows this Winter. This lineup might be the weakest in awhile as there isn’t a ‘first ever elite’ in this set and a few guys don’t get regular TV time.

The WWE Superstars included in Elite 59 are Kurt Angle, American Alpha (Chad Gable & Jason Jordan), Finn Balor, Zack Ryder & The Miz.

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25 Indie Wrestlers WWE Should Sign Right Now

The WWE keeps raiding the independent scene for talent to stock NXT with experienced workers. You would think the well would run dry of new guys, but they keep emerging. New talented wrestlers keep making a name for themselves by wrestling for independent promotions all over the world.

If you’re expecting this list to be full of New Japan talent like Kenny Omega, the Young Bucks or even Cody Rhodes, you’d be disappointed. New Japan isn’t an indie promotion in my eyes. If so, Kazuchika Okada, Hiromu Takahashi and Tetsuya Naito would top the list. NJPW have so much homegrown talent that I decided to not include those guys on this list. I did add a few gaijins (foreigners) who work for New Japan (as well as otehr promotions), but they’re not the tippy-top guys.

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Review: Wrestlemania 34

After last year’s Wrestlemania 33, a marathon of mediocrity, I didn’t have high expectations for Wrestlemania 34.

The previous night’s NXT Takeover: New Orleans show was one of the best overall shows WWE has ever produced, so I came into this year’s Mania with some apprehension.

Why was I a bit weary about this Mania?

First off, I knew it was going to be a seven-hour show (if you include the pre-show) and I didn’t want to hold Wrestlemania up to the high standard of the NXT Takeover events. It should be the opposite as NXT guys are still learning to wrestle ‘WWE style’ and the main roster guys should be the ones blowing the roof off at shows.

Did Wrestlemania 34 disappoint or did it rank among the best Wrestlemania shows of all-time?

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Review: NXT Takeover: New Orleans

I’ve been reviewing the last few NXT Takeover shows because they have been better than the ‘real’ WWE pay-per-view shows that followed it…and NXT Takeover: New Orleans will most likely be better than Wrestlemania 34.

There hasn’t been a bad NXT Takeover. It’s an impressive streak as they have been putting on four or five of them a year for the last four years. This Takeover may have been the best one yet.

We knew going in that this could possibly be one of the best Takeovers in history as the card was stacked. There were strong storylines and we all knew the six-way ladder match for the new North American Championship was going to be exciting as well.

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Toy Crazy: Mattel’s WWE Elite Series 58

I’m a self-confessed vintage toy nerd. I collect vintage wrestling action figures from the 80’s & 90’s. I started purchasing some vintage toys out of nostalgia. Well, WWE and Mattel sucked me into their new stuff. I now buy a few figures a month. You can view photos of my collection on my Instagram account.

The lineup for WWE Elite series 58 has been known for awhile, but they have yet to be released. We’ve already seen up-close pictures as they were on display at a few toy shows this Winter.

The WWE Superstars included in Elite 58 are Matt Hardy, Mickie James, Braun Strowman, Dean Ambrose and The Bar (Sheamus and Cesaro).

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Toy Crazy: Mattel’s WWE Elite Series 57

I’m a self-confessed vintage toy nerd. I collect vintage wrestling action figures from the 80’s & 90’s. I started purchasing some vintage toys out of nostalgia. Well, WWE and Mattel sucked me into their new stuff. I now buy a few figures a month. You can view photos of my collection on my Instagram account.

The lineup for WWE Elite series 57 has been announced for awhile and early shipments have already been received (I already own this entire set). This set isn’t expected to hit retail until March.

The WWE Superstars included in Elite 57 are Jeff Hardy, Seth Rollins, Tye Dillenger, Scotty 2 Hotty, Shinsuke Nakamura & Baron Corbin.

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