If you are a long-time WWE fan, and you have forgotten all about the the Nasty Boys‘ signature “Pit Stop” move, please allow me to help you get reacquainted. If you have never heard of the Pit Stop before, it is pretty much exactly what you think it is.
I have to hand it to Mattel, they have really kicked into overdrive as of late with getting to a lot of characters from “my era” via their Flashback execution. My time as a huge wrestling fan spanned from about 1985 to 1992, and between the standard Elite line and the Target-exclusive Hall of Fame offerings, many of the corners from that Golden Era are starting to fill in. I have gotten a lot of my old favorites, along with many guys who, while I never cheered for them, are essential to the history.
Currently being offered in the Elite 42 assortment, the Nasty Boys certainly fit into the latter category when it comes to their appeal. Even as a pro “heel” guy, I have never been a fan of Brian Knobs and Jerry Sags and their tough-guy-gross-out-shtick. Even as a kid, I never thought much of them as wrestlers from a technical perspective (hey, Mr. Perfect was my favorite), and not being into the “nasty” thing either, they just never brought anything to the table I felt like supporting. However, they did their job as heels VERY well, and they were very easy to hate and jeer, for whatever reason. They definitely fought dirty, and they were always good at getting a rise from the crowd, so in that regard, these guys had a pretty successful WWF run. Well that, and the fact that they were actually the tag champions for awhile.
Being managed by Jimmy Hart, you knew these guys were cheaters, even before they wrestled their first match, but that persona fit the image they carried, and no one ever suspected they would get a fair shake in a match with these two brawlers. Brawlers they were, too, and as I said, since they never really conveyed a lot technical skill, since they were heels, they had bring the bar fight mentality which, again, was perfect for their image. They pummeled guys, stomped them, double-teamed them, and in a gross-out perversion of the highest form, they took that last one to a new low, much to the chagrin of any potential opponents.
Their signature move, The Pit Stop, was simply the act of one Nasty Boy taking an opponent, usually an unfortunate jobber, and rubbing their face in the arm pit of the other Nasty Boy. Gross, right? I would not call that a “finisher,” that was more the purpose of the “Trip to Nastiville,” but it certainly was demeaning, and if you want to recreate that in your own home, you will be happy to hear that these figures can do the job, but you gotta provide the stink.
The figures themselves are right in line with most other Elite figures in terms of articulation and design. They have the additional articulation, which, to me, is the only way to fly. I do have to admit though, that despite not being my favorite characters, these two make for a couple of really good figures, and Mattel and Gentle Giant pretty much nailed them in terms of design and strong sculpts. The Nasties certainly have a unique look, and as far as I can remember, all of the details are there. The Elite line can be hit and miss in terms of including correct accessories/entrance attire, but I am pretty sure that Knobs and Sags have everything they need.
While they kind of just played up the white trash look in the ring, the NB came to ring decked out in long black trench coats and sunglasses. They have both of these included, and while I dig the glasses, especially with the paint splatters, I continue to despise the rubber coats that we keep getting in this line. They look okay from the back, and the splatter logo and added chain are cool features, but these coats are so bulky, stiff-looking, and they inhibit any kind of movement whatsoever. I mean, I guess these are made of a softer material than usual, but they still restrict all of the upper body articulation. Forbid I am actually wanting soft goods jackets, but Mattel does a great job with those, so these coats seem even worse by comparison.
Past that, everything else is pretty damned good. The likenesses to both Knobs and Sags are spot on, all the way to their vanity tattoos (those aren’t even their real last names!). The head sculpts on both are just great, and I loved seeing the inclusion of Knobs’s cowlick and double chin, but Sags’s chipped tooth is the creme de la creme for these lowlifes. Like the jackets, the paint on their tank tops is fantastic, and I love that Mattel got the chain details in the boots right as well.
Like I said, as characters, I bought these guys just because they are important to the era I collect, but now that I have them, I am pretty impressed. The lame rubber coats not withstanding, everything else clicks really well. Jimmy Hart was one of my favorite old time managers, so now that I have him, it is good to build up his stable, too. Plus, even I have to admit is was fun to pose these guys giving poor Bushwhacker Luke the dreaded Pit Stop. At any rate, I am glad to add more fodder for Demolition, the Legion of Doom, and the upcoming Hart Foundation to beat up. Look for these dudes, soon because they are gonna Nasticize you, baby!
