WWE Ultimate Edition Legends Lex Luger review (2025)
Lex Luger was the mainstay hero leading the WCW charge against the scourge of the nWo. Initially, he battled alongside allies Sting and Macho Man Randy Savage, but both left him forcing The Total Package to recruit new allies to stave off Hollywood Hogan, The Outsiders, Syxx and company.
While all roads led to Sting facing Hogan, Lex Luger did deserve something for being the week-in and week-out, every month pay per view headliner for WCW throughout 1997. He got that with a surprise WCW world title win against Hogan on the 100th episode of WCW Nitro.
Mattel released a Wolfpac version of The Total Package, but he warranted at least one Ultimate Edition figure from the Monday Night Wars era. I’m glad they opted for his signature look before the battle of the nWo factions.
Let’s see if this version of Lex Luger is the total figure package or of it needs to be rewrapped.
Packaging: I thought Lex Luger is part of the Monday Night Wars Ultimate Edition line exclusive to Walmart. That’s indicated by the small button on the lower right side and the date of this specific attire.
Regardless the packaging is done with the legends UE color scheme of a dominant red with white accents. The package art for Lex is solid although this seems more of a 1995 photo compared to 97 when he largely wore his hair in a ponytail.
The stats provide solid information and the reference pic and figure action shot are well done. As always, the bio is phenomenal with an excellent summary of Luger’s role as WCW’s main defender.
Likeness: Lex Luger gets the more muscular UE torso, which has solid development in the musculature.
His default sculpt is…ok. It looks more like a caveman version of Lex than how he actually looked. The eyes are too narrow and intense. Lex was focused during this time period, but he didn’t look a cro-magnon. This is why it’s good to have multiple portraits for these Ultimate Edition figures.
From certain angles it looks better than others at least. Another thing that’s throwing off the likeness some is the head sits too low on the neck.
Luger’s NWA/WCW gear has always been simple. He just wore tights, kneepads and longer boots. I’m glad Mattel didn’t give him the clunky thick kneepads.
Scale: Lex Luger was a solid 6’4” so he’ll be looking up at the 6’7” Scott Hall and Hogan and the 6’9” Kevin Nash. And he’s definitely looking up at his pal the 7’ The Giant. His BFF Sting is nearly eye level at 6’3”.
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Paint: The figure has a solid base tan that matches up with Luger’s skin tone.
Mattel’s take on a dirty blonde hairstyle always has this greenish tint to it. That’s just not something that seems like it’s ever going to change.
Luger isn’t very paint intensive as he’s just rocking black tights and kneepads and white wristbands and boots. Mattel added some white paint above the boot section, which I guess is to continue the illusion of taller boots? Regardless, Lex wore his kneepads at the base of his boots so that’s covered up anyway.
Articulation: Luger was no Dean Malenko, but he had a solid, aggressive style of sudden power moves he could unleash at any moment.
The Ultimate Edition articulation scheme significantly helps Lex Luger in nailing power slams, clotheslines and of course, his finisher, The Torture Rack.
Getting butterfly shoulders really adds so much more poseability to him since so much of his move set — including rearing back for dramatic sound effect punches — benefits from that extra level of range.
Ultimate Edition Lex Luger has:
- neck
- bicep
- ball-jointed shoulders
- elbows (double-jointed)
- wrists
- wrist hinge
- torso
- waist
- hips
- thighs
- knees (double-jointed)
- ankles
Accessories: Lex Luger ditched his ring robe and jacket by this point in his career and wasn’t coming out to ringside in T-shirts all that often. That really limits his options for an Ultimate Edition worthy figure.
He’s got two additional head sculpts. The Legends Series 15 figure also had a ponytail portrait. That one had a neutral expression while this one comes with a smiling expression. WCW rarely had the chance to smile at much during this era, but it’s a nice option for Lex.
For the other sculpt, it’s a yelling expression for the moments when Lex gets really intense and fired up. That’s a nice third option.
Mattel has done this occasionally, but I do like them continuing to play around with separate hair sculpts. One is the longer hair shoulder length hair. That matches Luger’s hair at the end of the match. The other is a ponytail so you can mix and match as you’d like. That’s a decent way of getting more value out of the figure.
He also comes with two versions of the WCW world title. It’s another reused accessory but absolutely essential for him. One is the nWo spray painted version that Lex Luger raised after winning the title. The second is the now cleaned version Luger has in the locker room while celebrating with all of the WCW fan favorites.
To finish off that memorable moment, Luger comes with a magenta towel, which The Giant used to wipe the nWo off the belt. That’s a very unique and neat touch.
Finally, he’s got a set of swappable fists and grasping open hands.
Worth it? The price on Ultimate Edition figures has stuck at $33. Luger would have been a great deal at $20, the sale price Target will have their UE figures for, but Wal-Mart typically doesn’t have deals for figures. Can’t win ’em all.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10
Lex Luger deserved to have a big signature moment during the Monday Night Wars and this figure is a pretty solid representation of it.
Where to get it? Lex Luger is exclusive to Wal-Mart so that’s your easiest option to get him.