Monster Wrestlers in My Pocket
Release Date: 1995-1996
Colors: Painted
Sculpts: 45
Location(s): UK, Germany, and probably other European countries.
These figures were only released in the UK, except for a few promotional figures that were released in Long John Silver's and White Castle. The promotional figures were much more simplistic versions of the original figures and had different sculpts. The figures were the same at both restaurants, only the packaging was different (the Long John's ones also came 1 to a pack, while White Castle had 2 wrestlers per pack). The Long John Silver's promos were released in 1995 and the White Castle Promos in 1996.
The first 9 regular Monster Wrestler figures were promotional figures in Kellogg's Frosties Cereal, 10-40 and 42 were sold in stores. They were originally released in single packs with Grapple Cards, then later on they released alternate colors with Pogs. Monsters 18 (Pirannah Piledriver), 28 (Man O Arms) and 40 (Referee 'Final' Countdown) were available in the Champions Set (and probably sold separately in stores as well.)
Monsters 23 (Bloodsucker the Vampire), 39 (Referee 'Double' Nelson) and 42 (Pinhead) were available in the Grappling Ring Set (and probably sold separately in stores as well). 41 and 43-45 were sold in stores as the Physio Terrorist Team (info from Raumhafen).
The variant black outfits for 16-17 were a mail away offer listed in the Monster Wrestler Comic Book (you would mail UPC's to get them).
The figures were large mostly humanoid and painted. The applications were slightly better than the series 4-7, but still rather primitive. The figures are based on wrestlerized versions of various monsters (like a Gillman in wrestling gear). There were various playsets and a board game made for the wrestlers.
The wrestlers have point values on their feet, along with Pogs to play games with. The figures were released in 1995, so like everything else they had to have Pogs. Several figures are known to have paint color variations in the Pog re-release, Hog Stomper, Toad Trasher, Gizzard the Lizard, Stickleback, Steel Slammer, Chain Gang Chomper and Bully Beef. Some of these were released via promotions (Toad Trasher and Gizzard), but the others appear to have been released to the public.
The figures are relatively cheap and not very popular. The rarer figures don't seem to command higher prices than the commons.
There were some figures with different paint applications and no numbers discovered a few years ago (picture below). These are believed to be prototypes as they were discovered at a car boot sale close to the original UK factory. Credit to Dielaughing from LRG for sharing a picture of them.
The wrestlers spawned 2 other similar series of figures.
Thanks to Dan Tessier for contributing more knowledge about the Monster Wrestler premiums and correcting my error on the point values. Big thanks to Mint on Card Cast for confirming, correcting and adding a bunch of info about the variants and release information. Thanks to David Olsen for the Tony pic.
UPDATE:
There is a whole new set of Monster Wrestlers discovered that were released as a different toyline in Bulgaria. Some of the rarer variations noted below may actually be from Bulgaria. See the paragraph at the bottom of this page for more information.
Colors: Painted
Sculpts: 45
Location(s): UK, Germany, and probably other European countries.
These figures were only released in the UK, except for a few promotional figures that were released in Long John Silver's and White Castle. The promotional figures were much more simplistic versions of the original figures and had different sculpts. The figures were the same at both restaurants, only the packaging was different (the Long John's ones also came 1 to a pack, while White Castle had 2 wrestlers per pack). The Long John Silver's promos were released in 1995 and the White Castle Promos in 1996.
The first 9 regular Monster Wrestler figures were promotional figures in Kellogg's Frosties Cereal, 10-40 and 42 were sold in stores. They were originally released in single packs with Grapple Cards, then later on they released alternate colors with Pogs. Monsters 18 (Pirannah Piledriver), 28 (Man O Arms) and 40 (Referee 'Final' Countdown) were available in the Champions Set (and probably sold separately in stores as well.)
Monsters 23 (Bloodsucker the Vampire), 39 (Referee 'Double' Nelson) and 42 (Pinhead) were available in the Grappling Ring Set (and probably sold separately in stores as well). 41 and 43-45 were sold in stores as the Physio Terrorist Team (info from Raumhafen).
The variant black outfits for 16-17 were a mail away offer listed in the Monster Wrestler Comic Book (you would mail UPC's to get them).
The figures were large mostly humanoid and painted. The applications were slightly better than the series 4-7, but still rather primitive. The figures are based on wrestlerized versions of various monsters (like a Gillman in wrestling gear). There were various playsets and a board game made for the wrestlers.
The wrestlers have point values on their feet, along with Pogs to play games with. The figures were released in 1995, so like everything else they had to have Pogs. Several figures are known to have paint color variations in the Pog re-release, Hog Stomper, Toad Trasher, Gizzard the Lizard, Stickleback, Steel Slammer, Chain Gang Chomper and Bully Beef. Some of these were released via promotions (Toad Trasher and Gizzard), but the others appear to have been released to the public.
The figures are relatively cheap and not very popular. The rarer figures don't seem to command higher prices than the commons.
There were some figures with different paint applications and no numbers discovered a few years ago (picture below). These are believed to be prototypes as they were discovered at a car boot sale close to the original UK factory. Credit to Dielaughing from LRG for sharing a picture of them.
The wrestlers spawned 2 other similar series of figures.
Thanks to Dan Tessier for contributing more knowledge about the Monster Wrestler premiums and correcting my error on the point values. Big thanks to Mint on Card Cast for confirming, correcting and adding a bunch of info about the variants and release information. Thanks to David Olsen for the Tony pic.
UPDATE:
There is a whole new set of Monster Wrestlers discovered that were released as a different toyline in Bulgaria. Some of the rarer variations noted below may actually be from Bulgaria. See the paragraph at the bottom of this page for more information.
Monster Wrestlers in my Pocket Pictures
Monster Wrestlers Monster Information
No checklist is known to exist, but monster information is below. Common versions are the first wave and uncommon are the second wave.
1. Iron Mighty
Point Value: 50
Point Value: 50
Iron Mighty Gallery
2. Jester Minute
Point Value: 50
Point Value: 50
Jester Minute Gallery
3. Brad the Barbarian
Point Value: 75
Point Value: 75
Brad the Barbarian Gallery
4. Texas Turbo
Point Value: 100
Point Value: 100
Texas Turbo Gallery
5. Shark Bite
Point Value: 75
Point Value: 75
Shark Bite Gallery
6. Mane Man
Point Value: 100
Point Value: 100
Mane Man Gallery
7. Cross Bones
Point Value: 75
Point Value: 75
Cross Bones Gallery
8. Frank the Stone
Point Value: 50
Point Value: 50
Frank the Stone Gallery
9. Tony the Coach
Point Value: 100
Point Value: 100
Tony the Coach Gallery
10. Double Header
Point Value: 100
Point Value: 100
Double Header Gallery
11. Hog Stomper
Point Value: 25
Variants: Yellow with Purple Tights, Flesh with Green Tights, Blue with White Tights
Point Value: 25
Variants: Yellow with Purple Tights, Flesh with Green Tights, Blue with White Tights
Hog Stomper Gallery
12. Nuclear Ninja
Point Value: 75
Variants: Black with Red Weapons
Point Value: 75
Variants: Black with Red Weapons
Nuclear Ninja Gallery
13. Simian Smasher
Point Value: 25
Point Value: 25
Simian Smasher Gallery
14. Howlin' Prowlin' Werewolf
Point Value: 100
Point Value: 100
Howlin' Prowlin' Werewolf Gallery
15. Sabretooth
Point Value: 50
Point Value: 50
Sabretooth Gallery
16. Toad Trasher
Point Value: 25
Variants: Green with Red Tights, Green with Black Tights
Point Value: 25
Variants: Green with Red Tights, Green with Black Tights
Toad Trasher Gallery
17. Gizzard the Lizard
Point Value: 25
Variants: Green with Black Tights, Green with Red Tights
Point Value: 25
Variants: Green with Black Tights, Green with Red Tights
Gizzard the Lizard Gallery
18. Piranha Piledriver
Point Value: 75
Point Value: 75
Piranha Piledriver Gallery
19. Grunt
Point Value: 25
Variants: Flesh with Black Tights, Green with Yellow Tights, Blue with Red Tights
Point Value: 25
Variants: Flesh with Black Tights, Green with Yellow Tights, Blue with Red Tights
Grunt Gallery
20. One-Eyed Jack
Point Value: 50
Variants: Green with Orange Dress, Blue with Yellow Dress
Point Value: 50
Variants: Green with Orange Dress, Blue with Yellow Dress
One-Eyed Jack Gallery
21. Gargoyle
Point Value: 25
Variants: Flesh with Purple Tights, Green with Blue Tights, Blue with Purple Tights
Point Value: 25
Variants: Flesh with Purple Tights, Green with Blue Tights, Blue with Purple Tights
Gargoyle Gallery
22. Bulldog Drumhead
Point Value: 25
Variants: Flesh with Pink Tights, Green with Yellow Tights, White with Green Tights
Point Value: 25
Variants: Flesh with Pink Tights, Green with Yellow Tights, White with Green Tights
Bulldog Drumhead Gallery
23. Bloodsucker the Vampire
Point Value: 100
Point Value: 100
Bloodsucker the Vampire Gallery
24. Stickleback
Point Value: 25
Variants: Green with Black Speedo, White with Red Speedo
Point Value: 25
Variants: Green with Black Speedo, White with Red Speedo
Stickleback Gallery
25. Crusher Cossack
Point Value: 25
Point Value: 25
Crusher Cossack Gallery
26. Steel Slammer
Point Value: 100
Variants: Flesh with Black Outfit, Flesh with Silver Outfit
Point Value: 100
Variants: Flesh with Black Outfit, Flesh with Silver Outfit
Steel Slammer Gallery
27. General Mayhem
Point Value: 50
Point Value: 50
General Mayhem Gallery
28. Man 'O' Arms
Point Value: 50
Point Value: 50
Man 'O' Arms Gallery
29. Goonie
Point Value: 25
Variants: Flesh with Green Tights, Flesh with Pink Tights, White with Green Tights
Point Value: 25
Variants: Flesh with Green Tights, Flesh with Pink Tights, White with Green Tights
Goonie Gallery
30. Julio the Mauler
Point Value: 75
Variants: Flesh with Pink Tights, Flesh with Red Tights
Point Value: 75
Variants: Flesh with Pink Tights, Flesh with Red Tights
Julio the Mauler Gallery
31. Chain Gang Chomper
Point Value: 75
Variants: Flesh with Yellow Tights, Flesh with Green Tights
Point Value: 75
Variants: Flesh with Yellow Tights, Flesh with Green Tights
Chain Gang Chomper Gallery
32. The Executioner
Point Value: 75
Point Value: 75
The Executioner Gallery
33. Kongo King
Point Value: 30
Point Value: 30
Kongo King Gallery
34. Bully Beef
Point Value: 50
Variants: Flesh with Red Tights, Flesh with Brown Tights
Point Value: 50
Variants: Flesh with Red Tights, Flesh with Brown Tights
Bully Beef Gallery
35. Smasher Basher
Point Value: 75
Point Value: 75
Smasher Basher Gallery
36. Headbanger
Point Value: 25
Point Value: 25
Headbanger Gallery
37. Sergeant Strangle
Point Value: 50
Variants: Brown with Blue Outfit, Flesh with Blue Outfit
Point Value: 50
Variants: Brown with Blue Outfit, Flesh with Blue Outfit
Sergeant Strangle Gallery
38. Coach Harry Headlock
Point Value: 0
Point Value: 0
Coach Harry Headlock Gallery
39. Referee 'Double' Nelson
Point Value: 0
Variants: Flesh with Yellow Tights
Point Value: 0
Variants: Flesh with Yellow Tights
Referee 'Double' Nelson Gallery
40. Referee 'Final' Countdown
Point Value: 0
Point Value: 0
Referee 'Final' Countdown Gallery
41. Tongue Tied
Point Value: 25
Point Value: 25
Tongue Tied Gallery
42. Pin Head
Point Value: 50
Point Value: 50
Pin Head Gallery
43. Ortho the Ogre
Point Value: 50
Point Value: 50
Ortho the Ogre Gallery
44. Deadly Night Nurse
Point Value: 75
Point Value: 75
Deadly Night Nurse Gallery
45. Dr. Suture Self
Point Value: 100
Point Value: 100
Dr. Suture Self Gallery
Bulgarian or Protos?
Several of the rarer color variations of Monster Wrestlers were thought to be prototypes including those discovered by me and by DieLaughing on LRG. However the discovery of Bulgarian MIMP calls into question whether these are actually Bulgarian Monster Wrestlers. I will place all the confirmed wrestlers on their own page, but these might be Bulgarian as well.