Wrestling Superstars were the first action figures based on the wrestlers of the WWF. Wrestling action figures were the brainchild of Richard Derwald of Buffalo NY who sold the idea to LJN in the summer of 1984. (Video in references). They were made by the toy and video game company LJN from 1984 to 1989. The figures were made of solid rubber and paint and were very accurate in appearance to their real life counterparts. LJN closed its toy division in 1989, canceling the Wrestling Superstars line with it. The last six figures produced were only distributed by Grand Toys of Canada making them rarer than most of the other figures. The line was restarted in 2021 by Jazwares, which produced an action figure of Cody Rhodes with LJN branding for All Elite Wrestling. Wrestling Superstars figures for AEW wrestlers Darby Allin and CM Punk have also been announced for 2022. 8" Series The 8" series was the main line in the Wrestling Superstars collection. Each superstar came with a biography card on the packaging and a poster inside. There are 64 figures with unique molds, plus an additional 6 major repaints that change the figures look significantly. The major repaints are Hulk Hogan in a white shirt (red shirt), Tito Santana in Strike Force attire (purple trunks), S. D. Jones in a Hawaiian shirt (red shirt), André the Giant (short hair version) with black strap attire (blue trunks), Corporal Kirchner with a painted beard, and the Referee in a white shirt (blue shirt). There are also numerous minor repaints and several minor mold changes. Series 1 André the Giant with long hair Big John Studd Hillbilly Jim with hat Hulk Hogan with black title belt The Iron Sheik (orange or yellow designs on tights) Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka Junkyard Dog with dog collar and (black, silver or red chains) Nikolai Volkoff with hat "Rowdy" Roddy Piper with kilt (red or brown boots) Series 2 André the Giant with short hair Brutus Beefcake George "The Animal" Steele Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (light hair, dark blonde hair, or no belly button) King Kong Bundy "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff Series 3 Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (with or without scrolls designs on shoulders of shirt) Bruno Sammartino Captain Lou Albano (red or white lapels of Albano's blazer on T-Shirt print) "Classy" Freddie Blassie with cane Corporal Kirchner (clean shaved face, stubble, or full beard)