WWE BASIC SERIES
The WWE Basic Series (rebranded in 2024 as the WWE Main Event Series) is Mattel's flagship 6-inch action figure line dedicated to World Wrestling Entertainment. Launched in 2010 after Mattel acquired the WWE master toy license, this entry-level 'Superstar Scale' collection provides detailed representations of current superstars, NXT talent, and Hall of Fame Legends. Spanning over 160 main waves alongside various sub-lines and digital integrations, it stands as one of the longest-running action figure lines in toy history.
Cronologia
Panoramica
The WWE Basic Series, officially rebranded in 2024 as the WWE Main Event Series, is produced by toy giant Mattel as its primary mass-market wrestling figure line.
Built to a 6-inch 'Superstar Scale', the collection serves as the main entry-level option for wrestling fans and figure collectors alike.
Positioned at an accessible price point, it offers an economical alternative to Mattel's premium WWE Elite Collection and heavy-duty Ultimate Edition lines. Despite its lower price tier, the line delivers broad roster depth. It systematically covers active WWE Superstars from Raw and SmackDown, emerging developmental talent from NXT, and iconic Hall of Fame Legends. Over its multi-decade run, the series has maintained a retail presence across global toy aisles, offering fans an expansive catalog of collectible wrestlers.
Storia
Mattel officially secured the master WWE toy license in 2009, taking over manufacturing rights from Jakks Pacific. On January 1, 2010, Mattel launched WWE Basic Series 1, introducing the 6-inch scale and 10-point articulation format alongside parallel sub-lines such as Basic 2-Packs / Battle Packs, Signature Series, Basic 3-Packs, Heritage Series, and Entrance Greats.
Between 2011 and 2013, the line expanded heavily, releasing 8 to 10 waves per year to introduce NXT developmental stars and Women's Division talent. In 2014, the line expanded into media with 'WWE Slam City', a 26-episode stop-motion animated web series co-produced by WWE and Mattel's Playground Productions, accompanied by graphic novels published by Papercutz and a dedicated stretch-arm figure line.
Mattel introduced the 4.5-inch 'WWE Retros' line in 2016 as a homage to 1990s WWF Hasbro toys. Technological milestones followed: TrueFX digital face-printing technology debuted around Series 88–90 in 2018, and Series 100 hit shelves in 2019. In late 2023, Series 141 introduced a major articulation overhaul with ball-jointed hips and pinless joints. In early 2024, starting with Waves 142 and 147, Mattel officially rebranded the line to the WWE Main Event Series while continuing its digital crossovers with console games like WWE 2K23, WWE 2K24, and WWE 2K25.
I PEZZI DI WWE BASIC SERIES
Caratteristiche
* **Scale**: 6-inch standard 'Superstar Scale' designed for mass retail display and play. * **Original Articulation (2010–2023)**: Standard 10-point basic articulation featuring swivel shoulders, waist, neck, single-joint knees, T-joint hips, and ankle swivels. * **Upgraded Articulation (Series 141 Onwards)**: Overhauled body design replacing T-hips with ball-jointed hips, upgraded shoulder hinges, and pinless joints for superior posability.
* **TrueFX Technology**: Implemented around Series 88–90 to apply digital face scanning directly onto head sculpts for superior paint fidelity and athlete likeness. * **Durable Materials**: Mass-market molded plastic engineered for long-term durability. * **In-Box Promotions**: Included physical redeemable promo codes for digital card packs inside the 'WWE SuperCard' mobile game. * **Digital Game Tie-ins**: Inspired 3D 'Action Figure' Persona character models inside 'WWE 2K23', 'WWE 2K24', and 'WWE 2K25'.
Wave & Serie
* **WWE Series 1 (2010)**: Batista, Big Show, Evan Bourne, John Cena, Rey Mysterio, Triple H, Undertaker (plus retail Chase variants). * **WWE Series 2 (2010)**: CM Punk, Jack Swagger, Kane, Mark Henry, Rey Mysterio, Vladamir Kozlov. * **WWE Series 3 (2010)**: Chris Jericho, Mickie James, Shelton Benjamin, The Great Khali. * **WWE Series 4 (2010)**: Dolph Ziggler, Matt Hardy, MVP, Shawn Michaels, William Regal. * **WWE Series 5 (2010)**: John Cena, Melina, R-Truth. * **WWE Series 6 (2010)**: Big Show, Kelly Kelly, Ted Dibiase, The Miz. * **WWE Series 7 (2010)**: Kofi Kingston, Michelle McCool, Rey Mysterio, Sheamus, Undertaker, Yoshi Tatsu. * **WWE Series 8 (2010)**: Christian, Chris Masters, Fit Finlay, Kane, Kofi Kingston, Maryse. * **WWE Series 9 (2010)**: Evan Bourne, Jack Swagger, Mark Henry, Natalya, Rey Mysterio. * **WWE Series 10 (2011)**: John Cena, Kofi Kingston, Triple H, Wade Barrett, Zack Ryder. * **WWE Series 11 (2011)**: Big Show, Daniel Bryan, Eve Torres, Sheamus, Skip Sheffield. * **WWE Series 12 (2011)**: Alberto Del Rio, Evan Bourne, John Morrison, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, Wade Barrett. * **WWE Series 13 (2011)**: Ezekiel Jackson, John Morrison, R-Truth, Rey Mysterio, Undertaker, Vickie Guerrero. * **WWE Series 14 (2011)**: Alberto Del Rio, Bret Hart, Goldust, John Morrison, Rey Mysterio, Shawn Michaels. * **WWE Series 15 (2011)**: Brodus Clay, John Cena, Kane, Kofi Kingston, Layla, Wade Barrett. * **WWE Series 16 (2012)**: Eddie Guerrero, Jack Swagger, John Cena, Triple H, Ultimate Warrior, Undertaker. * **WWE Series 17 (2012)**: Alex Riley, Dolph Ziggler, Mark Henry, Rey Mysterio, The Miz, Zack Ryder. * **WWE Series 18 (2012)**: CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Hunico, Kelly Kelly, John Cena, Sin Cara. * **WWE Series 19 (2012)**: Alicia Fox, Evan Bourne, Hornswoggle, Jinder Mahal, Justin Gabriel, Kofi Kingston, Randy Orton. * **WWE Series 20 (2012)**: John Cena, Natalya, Rey Mysterio, Sheamus, Wade Barrett, Yoshi Tatsu. * **WWE Series 21 (2012)**: Beth Phoenix, Big Show, Jack Swagger, Mason Ryan, R-Truth, The Miz. * **WWE Series 22 (2012)**: Booker T, Chris Jericho, Christian, John Cena, Mark Henry, Zack Ryder. * **WWE Series 23 (2012)**: Alicia Fox, Hunico, Kane, Rey Mysterio, Santino Marella, Triple H. * **WWE Series 24 (2012)**: AJ Lee, CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, John Cena, Sheamus, Zack Ryder. * **WWE Series 25 (2012)**: Big Show, Brock Lesnar, David Otunga, Eve Torres, Randy Orton, The Miz. * **WWE Series 26 (2013)**: Daniel Bryan, Kane, Mark Henry, Randy Savage, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker. * **WWE Series 27 (2013)**: Antonio Cesaro, Brodus Clay, Cody Rhodes, Kofi Kingston, Ryback, Wade Barrett.
* **WWE Series 28 (2013)**: Damien Sandow, Heath Slater, Rey Mysterio, R-Truth, Sin Cara, Tensai. * **WWE Series 29 (2013)**: Big Show, CM Punk, John Cena, Ultimate Warrior. * **WWE Series 30 (2013)**: AJ Lee, Daniel Bryan, Hornswoggle, Santino Marella, Sheamus, The Miz. * **WWE Series 31 (2013)**: Kane, R-Truth, Rosa Mendes, Wade Barett. * **WWE Series 32 (2013)**: Antonio Cesaro, Chris Jericho, John Cena, Randy Orton, The Rock. * **WWE Series 33 (2013)**: Big Show, CM Punk, Dean Ambrose, Dolph Ziggler, The Great Khali. * **WWE Series 34 (2013)**: Alberto Del Rio, Brodus Clay, John Cena, Rey Mysterio, Ricardo Rodriguez, Sin Cara, The Miz. * **WWE Series 35 (2013)**: Cody Rhodes, Daniel Bryan, Jinder Mahal, Kaitlyn, Kane, Triple H. * **WWE Series 36 (2013)**: Big E. Langston, Christian, CM Punk, Fandango, Jack Swagger, Kaitlyn. * **WWE Series 37 (2014)**: Batista, Mr. Perfect, Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, Ryback, Zeb Colter. * **WWE Series 38 (2014)**: Chris Jericho, Dolph Ziggler, Kofi Kingston, Sheamus, The Miz, Vickie Guerrero. * **WWE Series 39 (2014)**: Bray Wyatt, Christian, Heath Slater, John Cena, Justin Gabriel, Rob Van Dam. * **WWE Series 40 (2014)**: Alberto Del Rio, CM Punk, Edge, Great Khali, Rey Mysterio, Zack Ryder. * **WWE Series 41 (2014)**: Antonio Cesaro, Bray Wyatt, Daniel Bryan, Fandango, Santino Marella. * **WWE Series 42 (2014)**: Batista, Big Show, El Torito, Natalya, Roman Reigns, Sin Cara. * **WWE Series 43 (2014)**: Dolph Ziggler, Eva Marie, John Cena, Mark Henry, Rey Mysterio, Rob Van Dam. * **WWE Series 44 (2014)**: Kane, Big E Langston, and additional roster figures. * **WWE Slam City Line (2014)**: Specialized sub-line featuring stretchable arm mechanics tied to the web series. * **WWE Retros Series (2016)**: 4.5-inch retro figure sub-series inspired by 1990s WWF Hasbro figures. * **WWE Series 88–90 (2018)**: First wave assortment featuring TrueFX digital face scanning technology. * **WWE Series 100 (2019)**: Landmark 100th consecutive main wave release. * **WWE Series 141 (2023)**: Debuted modern lower body engineering overhaul including ball-jointed hips. * **WWE Main Event Series 142 / 147 (2024)**: Official rebrand launch waves transition from Basic Series to Main Event Series. * **WWE Main Event Series 150–155 (2024–2025)**: Roster waves including LA Knight, The Rock, Lyra Valkyria, Andrade, Tiffany Stratton, and Jade Cargill. * **WWE Main Event Series 156–164+ (2025–2026)**: Wave releases featuring CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Jey Uso, Gunther, Seth Rollins, and The Wyatt Sicks. * **WWE Superstars Waves 1–6 (2025–2026)**: Parallel 5.5-inch retro rubber sculpt line featuring Logan Paul, CM Punk, Jelly Roll, The Rock, Roman Reigns, and Cindy Lauper.
Pezzi Iconici
### Series 1 Chase Variants (2010) First-run limited variant figures inserted into retail shipping cases during the initial 2010 product launch. ### TrueFX Pioneer Wave (Series 88–90) The initial production figures to implement Mattel's digital face-scanning technology, marking a major jump in head sculpt accuracy. ### Series 141 Ball-Joint Upgrades (2023) Key milestone releases that retired legacy T-hips in favor of modernized ball-jointed hip articulation.
### Action Figure John Cena (WWE 2K23 / 2K24) A digital crossover character model styled directly after Mattel plastic joints, glossy toy textures, and figure proportions. ### Action Figure Elite Cody Rhodes (WWE 2K24) Special MyFACTION Persona Card recreation of Cody Rhodes featuring his 'Bruised Pectoral' Hell in a Cell injury in plastic figure form. ### Action Figure Ichiban Hulk Hogan (WWE 2K24) Target promotional tie-in item that unlocked an action-figure-styled model of Hulk Hogan inside the video game.
Collezionismo
The WWE Basic / Main Event Series provides an ideal entry point for wrestling figure collectors seeking massive roster variety. Because Mattel releases multiple waves per year, the Basic Series is frequently where debut figures for emerging NXT talent, tag teams, and managers appear first before ever receiving premium Elite treatment.
From a market value standpoint, sealed early releases from Series 1–10, retail Chase variants, and key milestone figures (such as Series 100 or Series 141 articulation upgrades) hold strong interest for line completionists. Additionally, collector interest has expanded digitally thanks to cross-promotions like in-box 'WWE SuperCard' digital codes and 'WWE 2K' Persona Cards, creating a bridge between physical toy collections and digital gaming.
Curiosità
* In 2014, WWE and Mattel co-produced 'WWE Slam City', a 26-episode stop-motion animated web series starring stretchable Mattel action figures. * Graphic novel publisher Papercutz produced a line of 'WWE Slam City' books written by Mathias Triton with artwork by Alitha E. Martinez.
* Video games 'WWE 2K23' and 'WWE 2K24' featured playable character models designed with visible plastic seams, glossy textures, and Mattel toy joints. * In early 2024, Mattel retired the original 'WWE Basic Series' name after 14 years, officially rebranding the line to the 'WWE Main Event Series'.
