Post by Micro on Jul 18, 2012 15:02:53 GMT -8
Hey there, guys! It's been months since I've done any reviews and I missed it. I've been very busy this year but I haven't stopped getting Elite and Basic figures, so I have plenty to look over. For now, let me shake off some of the ring rust with my latest set of Elite Series 15!
As usual, I rank these figures from my least favorite to the best in the set. So let's start with the weakest of the set, IMO, the Master of the 619...
Rey Mysterio
Yeah, another Rey. Of all the obligatory main eventers, though, I don't mind Rey since he has so many different attires. My only gripe with Elite Mysterios is that they tend to be less colorful than Basics. This one, however, breaks the mold by giving us a brilliant purple and yellow color scheme!
All his usual logos and details are there and they look cool in this color scheme!
His only accessory is his standard hood. It's the same one that always comes with him but I like the consistency of Mattel in providing matching entrance hoods!
Overall, this is pretty much the same Rey Mysterio as previous Elite versions. His vibrant color scheme is one of the better ones they've made but at the end of the day, he's still a simple repaint with less accessories. That's why I ranked him last.
Ok, next up is the World's Strongest Man...
Mark Henry
This is one update that I've been waiting for a long time, so I'm glad to finally see this version of Mark Henry! He comes in his signature black attire with red trim and WSM logos. Although I generally prefer more colorful attires, the regular black singlet is the traditional Mark Henry look for me!
This figure is almost a straight-forward repaint of his original E5 Elite but Mattel was good enough to include an all-new headsculpt for the World's Strongest Man. This is a meaner Mark Henry that looks like he's ready to induct you into the Hall of Pain!
Mark Henry comes with only one accessory, the World Heavyweight Championship. On the bright side, it's a shiny version with the rubies painted red. For anyone who's missed out on getting the WHC, this is a good time to get a nice version of this belt!
To me, this is the perfect Mark Henry figure...He comes in his signature look with a great new headsculpt and the WHC belt to commemorate the highest point of his career to date!
Ok, now it's time to look at another anticipated update, the psychotic...
R-Truth
The last version of this figure from E10 was a good update but I really wanted a crazed R-Truth. Mattel finally delivered with this new one!
While he's similar to the E10 version, this R-Truth has an improved paint deco. There are some cool details in his gloves, belt, and especially the logos on his pants. He also has a new tattoo on his forearm that wasn't there on previous figures!
One of the main things that sets this R-Truth apart is his new headsculpt. This time, it really looks like him and he's got those wild, crazy eyes he gets when Lil Jimmy gets on his nerves!
As far as accessories goes, R-Truth comes with Mattel's first secret Elite accessory, Lil Jimmy! You have to look closely to find him...He's right there, behind the WWE logo...Just look at that smile on his face...!
Don't "What" me.
Ok, ok...Truth only comes with one accessory but it's arguably the coolest one from this set, his straight jacket vest! It's got some cool details, logos on the front and back, and snaps on nicely. This is a great example of how a rubber shirt is best utilized!
To me, this is the definitive R-Truth figure. His crazy antics and rivalry with all the Lil Jimmy's of the WWE were some of his most shining moments, IMO!
Ok, now its time to look at the last of the repaint/updates, the high-flying...
Evan Bourne
Evan Bourne's first Elite figure was very nice and this is still a good repaint of it. He comes in his green, Air Boom attire that has a lot of tiny details in the logos!
Otherwise, he's exactly the same as his previous version. The only thing I noted was that his headsculpt seems shinier than his previous E8 version!
Evan Bourne comes with two accessories. The first is his cut-out rubber shirt. Again, this is an example of how the rubber shirt can work nicely on a figure. It fits great, doesn't hinder any articulation, and has a lot of sharp details on the logos!
His other accessory is a highly anticipated one, the new Tag Team championship belt. It's the same one that recently debuted in the Battle Packs series but this time, comes with a more bronze, metallic sheen. It looks great and, to be honest, I don't think my comparison pic does it justice in showing off how improved this Elite belt is. It looks much better in person!
Overall, this version of Evan Bourne is a simple repaint that only ranks higher on my list because of the awesome new belt. I also like that once the matching Kofi Kingston comes out in the next set, Air Boom will be complete. It's a shame this tag team was short-lived but at least we got them in Elite format!
Now, it's time to look at the debut Elite figures, starting with the mysterious...
Sin Cara
Ever since Sin Cara debuted, I've wanted an Elite figure of him, so I'm thrilled that Mattel finally gave it to us!
Sin Cara comes in his classic debut blue attire. His paint deco is practically identical to his Basic version except that the designs on his legs has additional gold detailing that looks neat!
His head...Er, Masksculpt is the same one as the Basic version and still looks great. I noticed that he has a feathered design on the back of his head, just like his recent Basic figure. His debut Battle Pack figure, however, had a different cross design!
Sin Cara comes with his signature entrance coat. It's nicely sculpted in soft rubber with some cool details. It snaps on in the front with two simple pegs that are easy to clasp on/off!
Overall, this is a great Elite version of Sin Cara. Best of all, there's an even better running variant that comes with shinier metallic gold details and coat. The one I got is the original dull version that's supposed to be rarer because it was phased out early on. I was going to keep this MOC for sale or trades but I couldn't resist taking him out of his packaging!
Finally, I want to note that his leg articulation is really nice and smooth. Mattel joints tend to be tight, especially at the hip joints, but this figure is really easy to pose. I don't know if it's just my figure but hopefully, this is a sign of an improvement in the hip joints!
Ok, time to look at the best of this set. I really liked Sin Cara but, once again, the Flashback figure of this set steals the show. Let's look at the wild and massive...
Yokozuna
Yokozuna comes in his signature red sumo attire, a perfect representation of his most memorable look!
Yokozuna was a huge guy, at over 500 lbs, and Mattel pulled off the right look with an all-new body sculpt. They really captured his wide girth with a new torso and massive legs. I recall that some people feared that he wouldn't be as big as he should be but he's still a bulky figure. He almost feels like he weighs twice as much as a regular Elite figure!
Yokozuna has unique articulation as a result of the new sculpt. He's the first Elite figure to not have the regular ab-crunch joint. Instead, his upper torso rotates over the lower torso/abdomen. It slightly restricts his articulation but aesthetically, it looks better than previous "big man" sculpts!
His headsculpt is really well done with a scowling expression on his face. It's an amazing likeness!
Yokozuna comes with his ceremonial entrance robe. It looks great with its checkered pattern. Unfortunately, Mattel packed this figure with the robe on and chances are, he will be stained by it. My figure had pretty bad stains on both of his arms. I'll try to remove them soon, using Ren XO's Stain Removal Technique!
Despite the issue with the stains, Yokozuna is another great Flashback figure. He definitely is a memorable wrestler for his imposing look, rivalries with Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, and Lex Luger, and historic accomplishments like being the first Samoan to win the WWF Championship and the first Royal Rumble winner to be awarded a championship match at Wrestlemania. Yokozuna is definitely getting a spot on my Legends shelf!
Overall, E15 is a set that proves that a properly done repaint/update can still make for a solid series. Rey Mysterio, R-Truth, Evan Bourne, and Mark Henry may be repeats but they come in fan-favorite attires that could arguably be their best versions. To round out the set, Sin Cara is a must-have debut figure and Yokozuna is an awesome Flashback!
As usual, I rank these figures from my least favorite to the best in the set. So let's start with the weakest of the set, IMO, the Master of the 619...
Rey Mysterio
Yeah, another Rey. Of all the obligatory main eventers, though, I don't mind Rey since he has so many different attires. My only gripe with Elite Mysterios is that they tend to be less colorful than Basics. This one, however, breaks the mold by giving us a brilliant purple and yellow color scheme!
All his usual logos and details are there and they look cool in this color scheme!
His only accessory is his standard hood. It's the same one that always comes with him but I like the consistency of Mattel in providing matching entrance hoods!
Overall, this is pretty much the same Rey Mysterio as previous Elite versions. His vibrant color scheme is one of the better ones they've made but at the end of the day, he's still a simple repaint with less accessories. That's why I ranked him last.
Ok, next up is the World's Strongest Man...
Mark Henry
This is one update that I've been waiting for a long time, so I'm glad to finally see this version of Mark Henry! He comes in his signature black attire with red trim and WSM logos. Although I generally prefer more colorful attires, the regular black singlet is the traditional Mark Henry look for me!
This figure is almost a straight-forward repaint of his original E5 Elite but Mattel was good enough to include an all-new headsculpt for the World's Strongest Man. This is a meaner Mark Henry that looks like he's ready to induct you into the Hall of Pain!
Mark Henry comes with only one accessory, the World Heavyweight Championship. On the bright side, it's a shiny version with the rubies painted red. For anyone who's missed out on getting the WHC, this is a good time to get a nice version of this belt!
To me, this is the perfect Mark Henry figure...He comes in his signature look with a great new headsculpt and the WHC belt to commemorate the highest point of his career to date!
Ok, now it's time to look at another anticipated update, the psychotic...
R-Truth
The last version of this figure from E10 was a good update but I really wanted a crazed R-Truth. Mattel finally delivered with this new one!
While he's similar to the E10 version, this R-Truth has an improved paint deco. There are some cool details in his gloves, belt, and especially the logos on his pants. He also has a new tattoo on his forearm that wasn't there on previous figures!
One of the main things that sets this R-Truth apart is his new headsculpt. This time, it really looks like him and he's got those wild, crazy eyes he gets when Lil Jimmy gets on his nerves!
As far as accessories goes, R-Truth comes with Mattel's first secret Elite accessory, Lil Jimmy! You have to look closely to find him...He's right there, behind the WWE logo...Just look at that smile on his face...!
Don't "What" me.
Ok, ok...Truth only comes with one accessory but it's arguably the coolest one from this set, his straight jacket vest! It's got some cool details, logos on the front and back, and snaps on nicely. This is a great example of how a rubber shirt is best utilized!
To me, this is the definitive R-Truth figure. His crazy antics and rivalry with all the Lil Jimmy's of the WWE were some of his most shining moments, IMO!
Ok, now its time to look at the last of the repaint/updates, the high-flying...
Evan Bourne
Evan Bourne's first Elite figure was very nice and this is still a good repaint of it. He comes in his green, Air Boom attire that has a lot of tiny details in the logos!
Otherwise, he's exactly the same as his previous version. The only thing I noted was that his headsculpt seems shinier than his previous E8 version!
Evan Bourne comes with two accessories. The first is his cut-out rubber shirt. Again, this is an example of how the rubber shirt can work nicely on a figure. It fits great, doesn't hinder any articulation, and has a lot of sharp details on the logos!
His other accessory is a highly anticipated one, the new Tag Team championship belt. It's the same one that recently debuted in the Battle Packs series but this time, comes with a more bronze, metallic sheen. It looks great and, to be honest, I don't think my comparison pic does it justice in showing off how improved this Elite belt is. It looks much better in person!
Overall, this version of Evan Bourne is a simple repaint that only ranks higher on my list because of the awesome new belt. I also like that once the matching Kofi Kingston comes out in the next set, Air Boom will be complete. It's a shame this tag team was short-lived but at least we got them in Elite format!
Now, it's time to look at the debut Elite figures, starting with the mysterious...
Sin Cara
Ever since Sin Cara debuted, I've wanted an Elite figure of him, so I'm thrilled that Mattel finally gave it to us!
Sin Cara comes in his classic debut blue attire. His paint deco is practically identical to his Basic version except that the designs on his legs has additional gold detailing that looks neat!
His head...Er, Masksculpt is the same one as the Basic version and still looks great. I noticed that he has a feathered design on the back of his head, just like his recent Basic figure. His debut Battle Pack figure, however, had a different cross design!
Sin Cara comes with his signature entrance coat. It's nicely sculpted in soft rubber with some cool details. It snaps on in the front with two simple pegs that are easy to clasp on/off!
Overall, this is a great Elite version of Sin Cara. Best of all, there's an even better running variant that comes with shinier metallic gold details and coat. The one I got is the original dull version that's supposed to be rarer because it was phased out early on. I was going to keep this MOC for sale or trades but I couldn't resist taking him out of his packaging!
Finally, I want to note that his leg articulation is really nice and smooth. Mattel joints tend to be tight, especially at the hip joints, but this figure is really easy to pose. I don't know if it's just my figure but hopefully, this is a sign of an improvement in the hip joints!
Ok, time to look at the best of this set. I really liked Sin Cara but, once again, the Flashback figure of this set steals the show. Let's look at the wild and massive...
Yokozuna
Yokozuna comes in his signature red sumo attire, a perfect representation of his most memorable look!
Yokozuna was a huge guy, at over 500 lbs, and Mattel pulled off the right look with an all-new body sculpt. They really captured his wide girth with a new torso and massive legs. I recall that some people feared that he wouldn't be as big as he should be but he's still a bulky figure. He almost feels like he weighs twice as much as a regular Elite figure!
Yokozuna has unique articulation as a result of the new sculpt. He's the first Elite figure to not have the regular ab-crunch joint. Instead, his upper torso rotates over the lower torso/abdomen. It slightly restricts his articulation but aesthetically, it looks better than previous "big man" sculpts!
His headsculpt is really well done with a scowling expression on his face. It's an amazing likeness!
Yokozuna comes with his ceremonial entrance robe. It looks great with its checkered pattern. Unfortunately, Mattel packed this figure with the robe on and chances are, he will be stained by it. My figure had pretty bad stains on both of his arms. I'll try to remove them soon, using Ren XO's Stain Removal Technique!
Despite the issue with the stains, Yokozuna is another great Flashback figure. He definitely is a memorable wrestler for his imposing look, rivalries with Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, and Lex Luger, and historic accomplishments like being the first Samoan to win the WWF Championship and the first Royal Rumble winner to be awarded a championship match at Wrestlemania. Yokozuna is definitely getting a spot on my Legends shelf!
Overall, E15 is a set that proves that a properly done repaint/update can still make for a solid series. Rey Mysterio, R-Truth, Evan Bourne, and Mark Henry may be repeats but they come in fan-favorite attires that could arguably be their best versions. To round out the set, Sin Cara is a must-have debut figure and Yokozuna is an awesome Flashback!