wm014 Typhoon

http://www.aduckwhat.com/robert/heroclix/customs_view.cfm?figs=53502

I had Typhoon as Tugboat in the original set list, but decided to switch him to his alter ego since he's only Tugboat for his opening click. As such at 30 points he may be the cheapest piece in HeroClix to feature an activation click. Tugboat was Hulk Hogan's lovable lumbering red and white striped companion. After a year of aiding the Hulkster in feuds such as against the massive Earthquake, Tugboat saw the error of his ways and turned to the darkside. Turning heel and teaming up with Earthquake, he changed his name to Typhoon and they became the enormously fat duo of the Natural Disasters. I considered making them a duo piece but thought that would be a slight to Earthquake, who is one of the better big man wrestlers in wrestling history and deserves his own piece. Still the Natural Disasters make a formidable duo in Clix form, as you'll see their double splash finishing maneuver come into play when they're thundering your way. Typhoon on his own wasn't much, but surprisingly enough he's still alive, has a normal job and a family... so kudos to you, Tugboat. Toot toot!

http://eljebi.zonalibre.org/archives/mariner.jpg

wm013 Miss Elizabeth

http://www.aduckwhat.com/robert/heroclix/customs_view.cfm?figs=53339

Miss Elizabeth may have been the classiest woman in the history of pro wrestling. To follow that up by saying that she was divorced twice and died of a drug overdose while dating an abusive Lex Luger, will give you an idea of what type of women are involved with pro wrestling (I'm looking at you, Cyndi). Still, Miss Elizabeth was, and always will be, the First Lady Of Pro Wrestling. She is forever associated as managing her (at the time) real life husband, Randy Savage, and was instrumental in uniting the Mega Powers (hence her Hulkamaniacs keyword). This lead to one of my earliest childhood wrestling memories, as at Summerslam in 1988 Elizabeth was the ace in the hole as the Mega Powers challenged Andre The Giant and Ted DiBiase. The odds seemed insurmountable for Hogan and Savage to me at age 6, but I was assured that Elizabeth would be their secret weapon if all seemed lost. Sure enough, in their moment of ultimate desperation, Elizabeth ripped off her skirt and distracted Andre and DiBiase (THE SECRET WEAPON), allowing the Mega Powers to secure victory.

That said, Miss Elizabeth made her career as a manager/valet without showing all that much T&A, and without having an over the top personality either. She was an anomaly as a female in the wrestling world. What made Elizabeth work so well was her undeniable chemistry with Savage, which stemmed from their legitimate love for each other. When they split up (in the storylines) it was heart wrenching to watch her try to reason with "The Macho King." And when Randy finally proposed to her (after being married in reality for the better part of a decade) after losing his retirement match to the Ultimate Warrior (note: nobody ever really retires from pro wrestling until they die), it was one of the most touching moments in WWF history.

Much like Laura Palmer in Twin Peaks, Elizabeth was a woman that seemed so beautiful, pure and vibrant, but her lust for life would eventually consume her. After two marriages in 2003 she was shacking up with Lex Luger, who was feeding her drugs by the truckload while getting arrested for beating her and crashing his Porsche while drunk. Not even two weeks after the DUI arrest Luger called 911 to try to have Elizabeth resuscitated after a cocktail of vodka, xanax and hydrocodone. It was no use, and at 42 Elizabeth left us much too soon. But let us not remember her in those dark days towards the end of her life, but instead forever in the throes of true love, with her macho man...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOqzEZ8QjbQ

wm012 El Matador

http://www.aduckwhat.com/robert/heroclix/customs_view.cfm?figs=53277

El Matador was Tito Santana, a latino wrestler who spent his career primarily in front of white audiences but almost always as a babyface. This is unusual for any chulo and says a lot about how naturally likeable Santana was. If/when I ever design a Tito Santana dial, it will actually be much stronger than El Matador, as Santana was a successful Intercontinental and Tag Team Champion with Rick Martel (Strike Force) in the 80s. As El Matador though, his vaguely racist bull fighter gimmick of the 90s, Santana was mostly a jobber. I tried to represent his bull fighting ways in his OLE! special power, which is slightly reminiscent of Hulk Hogan's AXE BOMBER. Otherwise he brings his agility to the table in his Leap/Climb, and not a lot else. Oh well Tito, you'll always have the distinguished honor of being the only wrestler other than Hulk Hogan to appear on the first 9 Wrestlemanias... posting a 2-7 record.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_V9mJl9HQbNE/Rx3oNU4dfYI/AAAAAAAABjY/gBE8qKffqgg/s320/tito+santana+3.jpg

wm011 The Bushwackers

http://www.aduckwhat.com/robert/heroclix/customs_view.cfm?figs=53032

Formerly the ultra-violent team of the Sheepherders, Butch and Luke were a pair of evil New Zealanders who helped put barbed wire matches on the map in the US in the 80s. When brought to the WWF though they became the fun loving Bushwackers. They marched, licked, and loved their way into the hearts of children all across the USA, enlightening our generation on exactly what Aussie culture was like. While they were never a particularly successful team (and on his own Luke set the record for the shortest Royal Rumble appearance at the time at 4 seconds), the Bushwackers were popular with the fans and promoted pretty heavily. They were really more of a comedy/special attraction sort of team, which I tried to reflect in their piece. They have a couple special powers to represent their hijinx, although a pretty sad dial otherwise. For your viewing pleasure, watch as Mean Gene Okerlund becomes a Bushwacker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF2sIw3fYK0