(Squared) Circling Back to an Unproduced Masters of the WWE Ring Entrance

It wasn’t long ago that we were wondering if the Masters of the WWE Universe line had any future left, and based on what surfaced at WrestleMania 42 during WWE World, it looks like the answer is a resounding yes. But today we’re circling back to a piece of early intel that’s been floating around the internet since roughly March 2023, when a set of images started making the rounds showing a whole gaggle of MOTU goodies that the team at Mattel had in the pipeline. That batch of intel was significant because it gave us our first glimpses at things like a Fang-Or MOTU Origins figure and the MOTU Origins Night Stalker, both of which eventually came to fruition, but tucked in among those reveals was something that caught the eye of collectors who live at the intersection of Masters of the Universe and professional wrestling: an unproduced Masters of the WWE Universe Ring Entrance playset. Now, I want to be clear that we are NOT the originators of this image and are simply resurfacing it here since it’s been widely available across the internet for some time, but with the renewed momentum around Masters of the WWE Universe, it feels like the right moment to put this back on everyone’s radar. This Ring Entrance was obviously scrapped or shelved at some point during development, which is a shame because the concept of merging a wrestling ring entrance with the MOTU aesthetic is exactly the kind of wild crossover energy that makes this sub-line so much fun. Given that Mattel has clearly dusted off the Masters of the WWE Universe brand and is actively bringing it back into the fold, we’re really hoping this Ring Entrance finds its way back onto the product list. The puzzle pieces are starting to come together again for this crossover line, and wouldn’t it be something if this playset finally got its moment in the squared circle?

Ring Entrance Images

The box for the Masters of the WWE Universe Unproduced Ring Entrance features an unfinished pencil illustration covering the back panel, with rough sketch work showing various character compositions that never received final inks or color. The purple trim along the bottom edge of the packaging gives it that familiar Masters of the Universe aesthetic, and it’s cool to see how far along the design got before it was shelved. On the assembled portion of the ring entrance, teal rocky formations frame a wooden plank bridge flanked by torches with translucent red flame tips. The gold throne-like structure sitting at the top and the organic, craggy sculpt of the teal pieces give the whole setup a strong Castle Grayskull vibe, and I’m really digging how well it bridges the MOTU and WWE worlds.

The Masters of the WWE Universe ring entrance prototype is laid out as a full playset with a teal, organic structure wrapping around the platform, and I like how that branching, almost root-like sculpt spreads across the base and climbs up the sides. The entrance ramp is built from brown planks with a rope-style ladder leading up to a raised platform, and there are four flame torches positioned along the walkway adding height and symmetry to the setup. Up top, a golden throne sits beneath a horned, skull-like archway, giving the entrance a focal point, while underneath the platform there is a small recessed area with blue footing details that looks like an additional play zone. A few figures are placed around the base to show scale, and I think it’s cool how the layout creates multiple levels for posing from the lower area up to the throne, and interestingly, this same image can also be found on the Mattel Creations website in a forum discussion around Snake Mountain here: https://community.creations.mattel.com/forums/topic/147776-snake-mountain/

Wrestlemania 42 Booth Images

A packed diorama showcases the Masters of the WWE Universe lineup, with several figures posed together on rocky terrain. Up front, Shawn Michaels as Bow sports a blue and black outfit with a heart emblem on the chest, yellow boots, and a blue bow accessory, while Bray Wyatt as Prince Adam stands beside him in a pink jacket over a white shirt, purple pants, and black boots, holding a translucent purple Power Sword and lantern. Further back, Cody Rhodes in Battle Armor wears a light blue and red outfit with a gray axe raised overhead, and what appears to be additional figures including Hulk Hogan in red Horde-inspired gear round out the scene. I’m really liking the way this wave leans into the Princess of Power and Horde aesthetics, especially with the translucent purple accessories on the Bray Wyatt figure.

Shawn Michaels takes center stage here, holding a blue bow with an arrow drawn back, his black cape draping behind him. Behind the loose figures, the carded packaging for both Hollywood Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels shows off the classic Masters of the WWE Universe card art with its purple and blue crystal deco.

The Masters of the WWE Universe wrestling ring features a green stone-textured base with an orange mat, gold turnbuckle posts, and tall translucent teal crystal spires at the corners that pull directly from Castle Grayskull’s aesthetic. Three figures are posed inside the ring, with Cody Rhodes in his Battle Armor gear holding a gold sword, the Scott Hall and Kevin Nash Two-Bad mashup figure in the center wearing blue and red with white boots, and what appears to be Hulk Hogan in a black and white Horde-inspired outfit carrying a white axe accessory.

Three prototype figures of Demolition Axe, Smash, and Crush are lined up together, each outfitted with heavy gray spiked shoulder armor, black trunks, and black boots, with their signature face paint sculpted into the headsculpts. Off to the side, a figure that looks like The Rock stands in red and black Horde-style gear, carrying a large silver axe, and behind the group the Fright Zone Ring packaging shows Kevin Nash and Scott Hall as separate figures that combine into the Two-Bad mashup.