So, I decided to dive into the WWE 2024 action figures scene again. Been collecting on and off for years, you know, and figured I’d see what Mattel’s been cookin’ up for this year.
Getting Started – The Hunt Begins
First thing I did was just browse online. Checked out the usual spots, fan forums, places where people post leaks and upcoming waves. Saw the lineup, lots of the current big names – Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley, Roman Reigns, the usual suspects. Some looked pretty good in the promo pics, others… well, you know how it is. Sometimes the final product doesn’t quite match.
Then I actually started looking to buy. Man, it’s not like it used to be. Remember just walking into a store and finding what you wanted? Now it feels like a mission. I hit up a couple of local big box stores first.
- Store 1: Total mess. Toy aisle looked like a tornado hit it. Found a few older figures, pegs mostly empty for the new stuff. Saw maybe one basic series figure from ’24, wasn’t anyone I was chasing.
- Store 2: A little better organized, but same story. Lots of empty space where the Elite figures should be. Asked an employee, got the usual shoulder shrug. Said they get snapped up fast or sometimes don’t even make it to the shelf properly. Frustrating.
Going Online & Getting Lucky (Sort Of)
Decided online was probably the way to go, even though I hate paying shipping sometimes. Found a couple of the Elite figures I wanted on one of the big retailer sites. Added ’em to my cart, managed to check out before they vanished. Felt like winning a minor lottery.
The package arrived a few days later. Box was a little dinged up, but the figures inside seemed okay. I picked up the new Cody Rhodes Elite and a Gunther figure I’d been wanting.
Unboxing and First Thoughts
Got them out of the plastic prisons. First impression: The details are pretty nice these days, gotta give them that. The face scans, especially on Cody, looked pretty spot-on. Likeness is definitely better than some of the figures from back in the day.
Started messing with the articulation. That’s always the big test for me. Can they actually pull off some decent poses? Cody felt alright, joints were a bit stiff out of the package, but they loosened up. Got him into a sort of Cross Rhodes setup. Gunther felt solid, maybe a bit bulky in the articulation, but it suits him I guess. The Intercontinental title accessory he came with looked sharp.
However, I noticed the plastic quality feels… different sometimes? Maybe a bit lighter or more brittle on certain parts compared to older Elites I have. Could just be me, but it’s something I picked up on. Not bad, just different.
My Takeaway on the 2024 Figures So Far
Overall, the figures themselves are pretty decent for what they are. The likenesses and accessories on the Elite line continue to impress, mostly. But man, the actual process of getting them is more of a chore than it should be. Between the spotty store distribution and the online scramble, it takes some of the fun out of it.
Will I keep collecting? Yeah, probably. It’s an old habit. But I’m definitely more selective now. I focus on the wrestlers I really like rather than trying to complete whole sets. It’s just easier that way, and honestly, less stressful. The hunt can be fun, but sometimes you just want the figure without all the hassle. That’s my two cents on the WWE 2024 figures based on what I’ve gone through so far.
