Custom WWF LJN ECW Sabu Wrestling Superstars

I was, and still am a huge fan of the WWF Wrestling Superstars produced by LJN, produced from 1984 to 1989. The 8 inch rubber figures were so much fun to play with and eventually I started customizing them. When I was a kid I started off making NWA stars that I wanted to incorporate and then when I got older I wanted to make ECW stars. Here is one of my later creations; SABU !

I made him from a Jake the Snake figure, glued his hand in Sabu's famous pointing to the heavens pose, a gesture he does as a tribute to his uncle The Sheik.

 

Considering Sabu is one of the most Hardcore wrestlers ever, his body is quite scarred from the battles he has been through, and I tried to capture that somewhat in the figure.

 

 

It wouldn't be Sabu without the baggy tights ! I used sculpting clay to mold them and painted according to one of his color schemes he has worn.

If you are not aware of Sabu's career and style, LOOK HIM UP ! He is truly one of the greatest Professional Wrestlers to EVER lace up boots. I was blessed to see him perform live at the 1996 ECW Wrestlecon in Philadelphia at the ECW arena. His performance was thoroughly impressive and did not disappoint anyone that was witness. Every match I have seen him perform in, from ECW to FMW, is an awe inspiring thrill.

 

I still need to make his headgear, which I may make time for now that I've unboxed my LJN collection and am making plans for their display. I hope my attempt at creating an homage to Sabu does justice to his superior ring skill and talent !

LJN Wrestling Superstars Archive

Welcome to the WWF Wrestling Superstars Archive ! LJN produced the 8 inch rubber figures from 1984 to 1989, and they are one of my favorites to this day !

 

Included here are links to LJN production figures I have posted about. Also the Custom figures I have made and posted about are all collected here.

Click on the title's link to go to the related post:

Custom LJN Sabu

LJN Ultimate Warrior

LJN Billy Jack Haynes

LJN Hulk Hogan

LJN Koko B. Ware

LJN Kamala










 

What happens when you have an imagination, lots of toys, but not one that can represent your new interest?? You learn to customize your figures !!

The day I went to the Super Flea and picked up my first Punisher comic I was hooked, but the question was..... " How do I act out the violence that the Punisher inflicts on GI JOE?" First you take Snake Eyes' chest, Flint's arms, Zap's head and I forget where the legs/torso came from and BOOM, a custom Punisher GI JOE !!!

A paint marker makes the skull, red paint for the eye scar (just looked cool) and pencil for the five o'clock shadow. Bib Fortuna would give up his robe so that Punny here could have his trademark overcoat (time has claimed the overcoat and is now lost).

The idea of customizing GI JOES came from a friend. We were playing one day and I noticed he had a few different ones. After asking where these new and previously unknown gems came from he showed me the small screwdriver that could take out that screw recessed in the back. After that, the less popular figures and the ones who would become disabled from finger and crotch damage, you got to admit it sucked bad when the crotch blew out of your favorite JOE or Cobra - OUCH, could be reborn as another character that back then would have never seen the light of day in plastic !!

You, the reader will see that I was not stopped by Hasbro, LJN or any other toy company in my desire for realistic play. If they didn't produce it, I made it. Like many other children from my generation, plastic, paint, a dremel and imagination could create whatever was necessary for the next adventure !!