Wrestling Poses – June 6, 2003

By Jim Cooke

The molds came from a Remco toy line called Lost World of the Warlord, which was based on a DC comic by the name of Arak (Son of Thunder). They would become the very first, highly prized, and most cherished set of wrestling figures available in the United States. They were Remco’s American Wrestling Association (AWA) wrestling toy line and the year was 1984.

The Lost World of the Warlord set was released in 1982 in conjunction with the He-Man: Masters of the Universe series. In fact, there are some examples of newspaper advertisements in which Arak, Hercules, and the Warlord are shown side by side with the He-Man and Skeletor crew. The small set includes Arak (Variation #1), Arak (Variation #2), Mikola (whose mold was used for the AWA referee Nasty Ned), Hercules, the Warlord, Machiste (whose mold was used for the AWA referee Curley Brown), and Deimos.

Each Remco AWA figure came with its own gold sticker depicting its name and, although the bodies were amazingly similar, very detailed ring attire, such as jackets and robes. Each figure stood five inches tall and could be maneuvered into a variety of poses.

The first AWA series to be released by Remco was the All Star Wrestlers action figure line in 1984/1985. There were two cards entitled "The Main Event:" Baron von Raschke vs. Rick Martel and Ric Flair vs. Larry Zbyszko (which carried the following notation: "NWA Champion vs. AWA Challenger"). Rounding out the series one offering, were three cards entitled "Tag Team:" Fabulous Ones (Steve Keirn and Stan Lane), High Flyers (Greg Gagne and Jim Bruzell), and Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal).

Baron von Raschke is marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a red robe lined in black and a black belt that ties around the robe. The Claw Master, Jim "Baron von" Raschke, was a state heavyweight champion at Omaha North High in 1958, a conference champion at the University of Nebraska in 1962, and a bronze medal winner at the 1963 World Games in Sweden. The Minnesota native was transformed into the German fans loved to hate by AWA mainstay Mad Dog Vachon. The ring tights and robe hung up and the "alter ego" retired, Jim Raschke operates a souvenir shop with his wife in Minnesota.

Rick Martel is marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a white jacket and the AWA heavyweight championship belt. Rick Martel started his career at the age of 17 in Nova Scotia by accident, replacing an injured professional wrestler. He quickly blossomed into a true star, winning the British Empire/Commonwealth title in New Zealand three times and the WWF tag time title twice with partner Tony Garea. During the early eighties, Rick wrestled for Verne Gagne’s AWA in Minnesota and Gino Brito’s International Wrestling, the launching grounds for Samu, the Rougeau brothers, David Shultz, Tom Zenk, Dino Brito, Steve Strong, and the Road Warriors, in Montreal. Perhaps the obvious choice for the next AWA champion after Nick Bockwinkle would have been Hulk Hogan; however, Hulk left the promotion and headed to the World Wrestling Federation. Instead of a Hogan AWA championship reign, Nick Bockwinkel dropped the belt to Jumbo Tsuruta who subsequently lost it to Rick Martel on May 13, 1984. Rick, a ring veteran, yet a young, clean-cut Quebec native, carried the belt impressively until his loss to Stan "the Lariat" Hansen. Interestingly, during his time as champion, his good friend Dino Bravo was the AWA Canadian Champion. After his AWA reign, Rick gained a great deal of popularity as one half of the WWF’s Can-Am Connection with Tom "Z-Man" Zenk. After the break up of the Can-Am Connection, Rick went on to hold another WWF tag belt with Tito Santana in Strike Force, as well as the WCW television title, defeating Perry Saturn.

Ric Flair is marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a white robe and the NWA heavyweight World championship belt. Richard Morgan Fliehr was born on February 25, 1949, in the small hamlet of Edina, Minnesota. Ric Flair was born under the training of Verne Gagne and Billy Robinson, for whom he wrestled in the American Wrestling Association from 1972 to 1974. In May of 1974, Ric moved to North Carolina to wrestle for the National Wrestling Alliance’s mid-Atlantic region. He established himself quickly, gaining the Mid-Atlantic tag belts, the NWA Television title, and the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight title in the first couple years. Tragedy struck when, on October 4, 1975, his private plane crashed due to a lack of fuel. Ric was told he had a broken back, would never wrestle again, and could look forward to a year of rehabilitation. This just was not the "Natch" way: on February 1st of the following year he returned to the ring against Wahoo McDaniel again. For the next several years, Ric would hold just about every major NWA title available. On September 17, 1981, in Kansas City, Kansas, Ric Flair captured his first world title, the NWA World Championship, when he defeated Dusty Rhodes. At the time the Remco figure was molded, his status as a legend had been forever cast.

Larry Zbyszko is marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a red jacket. Larry made a name for himself as a protégé of fellow Pittsburgh native, Bruno Sammartino. During his WWWF run, he was very successful and even held the tag belts with Tony Garea. Larry could not stand being in the shadow and begun a violent feud with his mentor, culminating in a loss in a steel cage match at New York’s Shea Stadium. Eventually, Larry made his way to the American Wrestling Association where he had a great deal of success, until he was forced to leave by President Stanley Blackburn for sneak-attacking and injuring Nick Bockwinkle in August 1987. He entered the National Wrestling Alliance and quickly captured the NWA Western States championship in a stunning victory over Barry Windham on January 12, 1988. He wanted a shot at Ric Flair’s World title; however, this was not in the booking committee’s agenda. After a victory at the 18-man Bunkhouse Stampede, Larry left the NWA, claiming he would soon be a world champion. After which, his attorneys spent the next couple of months securing his return to the AWA. On February 7, 1989, in St. Paul, Larry shocked the world becoming the AWA world champion in an 18-man battle royal. It is interesting that the Remco figure did not depict Larry as a champion; for the first half of 1985 he was the AWA Americas title-holder.

"Sweet" Steve Keirn is marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with white plastic suspenders and a bow tie. "Sexy" Stan Lane is marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with red plastic suspenders and a bow tie. Jackie Fargo introduced "The Fabulous Ones" in late 1982. Stan Lane and Steve Keirn were the first wrestlers to use MTV-style music videos and entice female fans with Chippendale outfits. They became Memphis’ most successful draw, setting attendance and souvenir sales records. Before their split in 1987, they had successful runs in both the AWA and the UWF and had a major feud with the Road Warriors. After their split, Stan Lane became one half of the second Midnight Express with Bobby Eaton.

Greg Gagne is marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a red jacket with an embroidered white GG on the front and a white Pegasus on the back. The High Flyers Greg Gagne has black eyes as opposed to the Gagne’s Raiders Greg Gagne, which has blue eyes. Perhaps best known for the fact that his father, Verne, ran the promotion, Greg was popular and successful. Along with his tag team partner, Jim Brunzell, he won the AWA world titles on October 7, 1976 from Blackjack Lanza and Bobby Duncum; on July 7, 1977 from Blackjack Lanza and Bobby Duncum; and on June 14, 1981 from The East-West Connection (Jesse Ventura and Adrian Adonis). Their second title reign lasted over a year, ending only on September 22, 1978, when the belts were given to Pat Patterson and Ray Stevens when Jim Brunzell was injured in a softball game and unable to defend. Greg Gagne also defeated Adrian Adonis in a tournament final on December 27th, 1987 held in Las Vegas to become the first AWA international TV champion. Actually, besides a few months in 1988 when "Hands of Stone" Ronnie Garvin held the belt, Greg held the title until his retirement in October 1989.

Jim Brunzell is marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a white jacket with an embroidered red JB on the front and a red bull’s head on the back. "Jumping" Jim Brunzell was a three-time AWA tag team champion as one half of the High Flyers with Greg Gagne and gained popularity as one half of the WWF tag team the Killer Bees with B. Brian Blair. Interestingly, he was a graduate of the same wrestling class as Ric Flair, Ken Patera, and the Iron Sheik.

Hawk is marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with black chap pants, a black dog collar, and the AWA heavyweight tag championship belt. Animal is marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with black chap pants, a black dog collar, and the AWA heavyweight tag championship belt. Although the Road Warriors were the most successful tag team of the eighties, they got their start in the American Wrestling Association, where they won the gold straps August 25, 1984, held them for over a year, and lost them on September 29, 1985 to the Fabulous Ones.

Later that year, Remco released "Series 2" to the All Star Wrestlers action figure line. There were two cards entitled "Tag Team:" Gagne’s Raiders (Curt Henning and Greg Gagne) and the Long Riders (Bill and Scott Irwin). Rounding out the series two offering, were three "Tag Team" 3 packs: the Fabulous Freebirds (Buddy Roberts, Terry Gordy, and Michael "PS" Hayes), the Road Warriors with Paul Ellering, and Jimmy Garvin and Steve Regal with Precious.

There are several notable variations in the series 2 offerings. Both members of Gagne’s Raiders have been seen in either painted or bare legs, while two separate head styles were used for Greg Gagne. This being in addition to the fact that the Gagne’s Raiders’ figure had blue eyes while the Greg head used in series 1 for the High Flyers had black eyes. There is often a distinction made amongst collectors of the so-called "flabby body" and the "muscular body." This phenomenon is present in the Long Riders, Terry Gordy of the Freebirds, and Jimmy Garvin. There are additional slight oddities apparent with both Gordy and Garvin. The Gordy figure with the muscular torso region has been seen with one white ring above his boots and, alternately, two such rings. The Garvin figure produced as a team partner for Steve Regal carries the red robe, while the Garvin that was produced later for the grudge series with Scott Hall has the blue robe.

Curt Henning is marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with camouflage pants, vest, and headband. Perhaps best known as "Mr. Perfect" during his very successful WWF run, Curt began his career in the American Wrestling Association. His father, Larry "the Axe" Henning, was a huge name and often the main draw in the AWA territories of Minneapolis and Chicago. He started his professional career in 1979 and continued to be a main draw until his untimely death on February 10, 2003. His illustrious career included stints as the Pacific Coast champion, Pacific Coast tag team champion, WWF Intercontinental champion, WCW United States champion, WCW world tag team champion, Superstars of Wrestling champion, Main Event Wrestling Federation champion, and of course champion of both the singles and tag team AWA divisions.

Greg Gagne is marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with camouflage pants, shirt, and headband. This figure is identifiable by the blue eyes, which are in contrast to the black eyes seen on the series one Greg head (High Flyers).

"Wild" Bill Irwin is marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a white duster trimmed in blue, sunglasses, and a hat. Scott "Hog" Irwin is marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a white duster trimmed in blue, sunglasses, and a hat. Dubbed the "Long Riders," the Irwin brothers previously wrestled as the Super Destroyers through the Mid-South, NWA, and World Class. The original Long Riders were comprised of Black Bart and Ron Bass. Interestingly, Black Bart and Bill Irwin formed the "Rough Riders" and won the Global Wrestling Federation tag team titles on December 27th, 1991.

Buddy Roberts is marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a blue and red "Freebird" jacket. Terry Gordy is marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a red "Freebird" vest. Michael Hayes is marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a red ad blue "Freebird" robe. Prior to 1985, the three-man tag enjoyed incredible success in Georgia Championship Wrestling and World Class Championship Wrestling, among other territories. Throughout the mid-eighties, Hayes and Roberts feuded with the American Wrestling Association’s champions, the Road Warriors, while their third member, Gordy, toured Japan. Terry was the first foreign wrestler to win the All Japan Triple Crown by defeating Jumbo Tsuruta on June 5, 1990. After a very successful run in the UWF, where Gordy was champion for a time, the group split. Hayes formed a Freebirds tag team with Jimmy Jam Garvin and on February 24, 1991 defeated the Steiners to win the WCW world championship belts. Gordy would go on to become larger than life as Steve "Dr. Death" Williams’ partner, holding titles in Japan and unifying the National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling titles (1992). Later, in the last incarnation of the Freebirds, Gordy and "Jimmy Jam" teamed to win the Global Wrestling Federation title straps on June 3, 1994. Tragically, Terry Gordy passed away on July 16, 2001.

 

Hawk and Animal are both marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with the same items as in the series one product: the dog collar, the chap pants, and the AWA world tag team titles. The addition of Paul Ellering to the product is what made the set different. Paul was the manager of the Legion of Doom, which also included King Kong Bundy.

Paul Ellering is marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a shirt that had a picture on the front of the Road Warriors. Along with "Precious" Paul Ellering, the Road Warriors truly became a team that was feared the world over. He managed the original Legion of Doom in the early eighties in the Georgia Championship Wrestling territory, which included the Road Warriors, Buzz Sawyer, the Spoiler, Jake Roberts, and King Kong Bundy. By 1984, he trimmed his stable to focus on the Road Warriors and the LOD moniker became simply another name for the Road Warriors.

Jimmy Garvin is marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a red robe (series three Jimmy Garvin came with a blue robe). Steve Regal is marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a white fur robe. Precious is marked "© 1985 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a gold shirt and a spray perfume bottle. The tag team of Jimmy Garvin and Steve Regal are probably best remembered as the due that unseated the Road Warriors AWA title reign on September 29, 1985. Before his run as a Freebird in the NWA as Jimmy Jam, Ron Garvin’s stepson was "Gorgeous" Jimmy. His wife, Precious, served as the valet. On January 18, 1986, Curt Henning and Scott Hall won the AWA tag team titles from the duo. After the duo split, Jimmy became a member of the Freebirds and won several titles in different promotions. Steve "Mr. Electricity" Regal, who should not be confused with Lord Steven "William" Regal (WCW/WWF/WWE), was also an AWA light heavyweight champion.

In 1986, Remco released "Series 3" to the All Star Wrestlers action figure line. There were four cards entitled "Greatest Grudge Matches:" Abdullah the Butcher vs. Carlos Colon, Scott Hall vs. Jimmy Garvin, Nick Bockwinkle vs. Larry Zbyszko, and Jerry Blackwell vs. Stan Hansen.

Abdullah the Butcher is marked "© 1986 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with red pants and boots. A star the magnitude of an Andre the Giant or a Terry Gordy, the "Madman from the Sudan," a native Canadian, toured the AWA throughout the 60s, 70s, and 80s. The WWC promotion, a National Wrestling Alliance territory, owned by Carlos Colon and Gorilla Monsoon, held various joint cards with the AWA. This pairing allowed the fans of the AWA to be introduced to the bloody and violent feud between Abdullah and Carlos Colon, the WWC champion.

Carlos Colon is marked "© 1986 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a red and black singlet. In 1973, on the island of Puerto Rico, Carlos and Bob Marella ("Gorilla Monsoon") founded Capitol Sports. The purpose of the new company was to promote wrestling locally, as opposed to being an affliate of Championship Wrestling from Florida, Inc. A long time member of the National Wrestling Alliance, Capitol Sports changed its name in 1982 to World Wrestling Council. The hottest feud of the World Wrestling Council’s history was between the champion, Carlos Colon, and the butcher, Abdullah. Many of these were witnessed on the American Wrestling Association’s Sunday shows.

 

Scott Hall is marked "© 1986 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a black jacket with gold fringe. Scott began his career wrestling for the Florida Championship Wrestling territory and a wider playing field known as the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) as Starship Coyote. In 1985, he moved to Verne Gagne’s AWA where he wrestled in a Texas-inspired style. Originally, he was known as "Magnum" Scott Hall; however, due to a fellow Tom Selleck fan, "Magnum TA" Terry Allen, haven taken that name all the way to gold as the NWA United States champion, "Big" Scott Hall was born. Along with Curt Henning, he was an AWA tag team champion, defeating Jimmy Garvin and Steve Regal in early 1986. After a successful reign that was prematurely ended by Buddy Rose and Doug Somers, Hall frequented the independent circuit, including WWC Puerto Rico, Florida Championship Wrestling, and the CWA, where he wrestled as Texas Scott. During the summer of 1991, he entered WCW as the Diamond Studd, a bodyguard to Diamond Dallas Page, a friend from the AWA days. Although he would drop the gimmick, the finishing maneuver he created, the Diamond Death Drop, has reincarnated itself as the Razor’s Edge and the Outsider’s Edge. The following summer brought him to the WWF as a egotistical Latin bully by the name of Razor Ramon. Retaining the image to this day, but using his given name, Scott has managed to become a huge star as a member of the Outsiders with "Big Sexy" Kevin Nash and the NWO (New World Order) in both the WCW and the WWE.

Jimmy Garvin is marked "© 1986 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a blue robe (not to be confused with the early version with the red robe). Other than the color of the robe, this version is identical to the series one Jimmy Garvin.

Nick Bockwinkle is marked "© 1986 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a white jacket and kneepads. A two-time PNW heavyweight champion, a three-time AWA world tag team champion (with Ray Stevens), a two-time NWA Georgia champion, and a four-time AWA world champion, Nick is arguably the greatest villain the AWA ever knew. Throughout the majority of his career, he was managed by Bobby "the Brain" Heenan and served as the rule breaker in many a match with Verne Gagne. He is remembered for his unification draw with Bob Backlund, the WWWF champion. After the demise of the AWA, he was inducted into the WCW hall of fame and served as the commissioner of the promotion for over a year.

The series three Larry is identical to the series one version. Larry Zbyszko is marked "© 1986 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a red jacket.

Jerry Blackwell is marked "© 1986 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a black jump suit. Blackwell was a 468-pound man that could throw a drop kick. Agile for his weight and size, Jerry won the right to use the name "Crusher" from a feud with Crusher Lisowski. Shortly after his AWA career begun, Jerry was teamed with "Big" John Studd in a team of monumental proportions. In 1983, under the management of Adnan El Kassie, Jerry formed the "Sheiks" with Ken Patera and defeated Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell for the AWA world tag titles. The team held the belts for nine months before they lost them to Cruser Lisowski and Baron von Raschke. Jerry’s feud with the current champion, Stan "the Lariat" Hansen, in 1986 was legendary and is forever commemorated in the Remco series 3 figure set.

Stan Hansen is marked "© 1986 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a black leather vest and chaps, as well as a tan hat. During a career that spun twenty-seven years, Stan "the Lariat" Hansen took 130 Japanese tours and was recognized with four Triple Crown championship, two carnival championship, and one AWA world championship title reigns. Although a true legend in Japan, Stan is best known in the states for having broken Bruno Sammartino’s neck with a lariat clothesline. He held numerous titles throughout the territories before beginning a conquest of the orient, including brass knuckle championships and the Georgia heavyweight championship. Even after becoming the most popular wrestler in the land of the rising sun, he would periodically return to the states for a decent run such as was the one that landed him the NWA/WCW United States championship. 1986 was one of those instances and Stan was having a good run with the AWA, where he was the champion, during a hot feud with "Crusher" Jerry Blackwell.

In 1986, Remco released "Series 4" to the All Star Wrestlers action figure line. There were seven cards entitled "Mat Mania:" Boris Zukhov, Buddy Rose, Doug Somers, Marty Jannetty, Nord the Barbarian, Shawn Michaels, and Sheik Adnan El Kassie. This series is by far the most rare and difficult to find. The prevailing argument for the scarcity is that the final series just was not produced in mass. In addition to the limited quantity of the product, many parents have cleaned out their kids’ old toys and do not recognize these wrestlers as stars or these figures as collectibles. In other words, they probably would not throw away or sell for a dollar a 1983 Hulk Hogan figure that is recognizable to them, whereas they would with a Nord the Barbarian or a Buddy Rose.

Boris Zukhov is marked "© 1986 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a red jump suit with a yellow USSR symbol and a gold chain. On May 25, 1987, in Lake Tahoe, NV, Boris became a champion, along with his partner, Soldat Ustinov, winning the AWA tag belts from the Midnight Rockers - Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannety. Later that year, Boris left the AWA, was replaced by Doug Somers, and joined the WWF. What followed was a very successful run as one half of the Bolsheviks with Nikolai Volkoff. During the late eighties, along with their manager, Slick, the Bolsheviks were a WWF tag team mainstay.

"Playboy" Buddy Rose is marked "© 1986 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a black robe with an embroidered "BR" and a red tie belt. "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers is marked "© 1986 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a black jacket. They were a successful tag team with AWA longevity; however, the belts they carried did not always match their talent. If nothing else can be said of this duo, it is this: during a time when Jimmy Crockett and Vince McMahon were ravishing Verne Gagne’s talent base, these two remained loyal.

Marty Jannetty is marked "© 1986 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a zebra-styled black and white shirt and red sunglasses. Shawn Michaels is marked "© 1986 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a zebra-styled black and white shirt and black sunglasses. The Midnight Rockers were one of the biggest drawing tag teams the AWA promotion had ever seen. Along with villains "Playboy" Buddy Rose and "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers, the tag team division was as hot as ever in the late middle eighties. However, to Verne Gagne’s dismay, the WWF was successful in its pursuit of this talented young tag team. Michaels and Jannetty promptly dropped the AWA tag straps to Soldat Ustinov and Boris Zukhov on May 25th, 1987 in Lake Tahoe, Nevada and departed for the WWF. Shawn Michaels would go on to become one of the most successful and "over" talents in WWF history as the Heartbreak Kid.

Nord the Barbarian is marked "© 1986 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with fur boot coverings and vest, as well as a silver chain. John Nord is as tough as they come and has been a tag team partner to some brutal competitors such as Bruiser Brody. Dispite his ring abilities, John has spent his career playing various gimmick roles (such as was the case in the middle eighties as Nord the Barbarian from Norwegia). Other roles have included the Berserker and the Viking, both somewhat based on the original AWA character.

Sheik Adnan El Kassie is marked "© 1986 REMCO N.Y. MADE IN CHINA" and came with a white headdress with black trim, an armless red robe, and a gold waistband. When you look at the history of the AWA, the villain of villains is definitely Sheik Adnan, the "Madman from Iraq." Quite honestly, after two Persian Gulf Wars, there is little doubt the Sheik would be killed before making it to the dressing room in today’s world doing the things he did. He came to the AWA with a true background of both an amateur and professional variety. He took unsuccessful shots at the champion, Nick Bockwinkle, before beginning his "Sheik’s Army," turning his attention to management. Managing Jerry Blackwell, he was unable to obtain championship gold, so he bought the contract to former Olympian, Ken Patera. The team of Blackwell and Patera, known as the Sheiks, would hold the AWA belts for nearly a year, before losing them to the Road Warriors. After the titles were lost, the Sheik brought in Bruiser Brody, calling him King Kong Brody. Around the time of a 20-man battle royal to determine a new AWA champion, the Sheik entered Blackwell, Brody, and his new charge, Abdullah the Butcher. The Sheik would eventually revise his Army in the World Class, USWA, and Global Wrestling promotions.

In closing, the Remco set would not be complete without the rings and referees. I have seen three separate rings that were sold by Remco with the AWA set. There are two standard rings: one is wooden and one is plastic, but they both have the AWA logo in the center. The original rings were released around the time of the first series. Thirdly, the last is the steel cage, also with the AWA logo in the center, which came with two swift plastic "holders" called "wrenches" that were used to operate the figures that were in the cage. The steel cage ring was released in conjunction with the final series of the set. As to the referees, there are three. Curley Brown, the first referee was released with the first series and is wearing a black and white shirt, with black pants. Remco used the mold from Machiste, a figure from the Lost World of the Warlord series, to create the Curley Brown referee. Dick Woerhle, the second referee was released with the last series and is wearing a black and white shirt, with black pants. Nasty Ned, the third referee was released with the last series, came with the steel cage ring, and is wearing a black and white shirt, with black pants. Remco used the mold from Mikola, a figure from the Lost World of the Warlord series, to create the Nasty Ned referee.

Whether you kept the figures you had as a child, collect them via web sites and Ebay, or are lucky enough to locate them at yard and estate sales, you will find one thing true, as I did. This series of figures, as simple as they may be, with their "stolen" molds, are charming, addictive, and truly one of a kind. May you have as much joy with them as I did as a child playing with them and currently am having collecting them.

Jim