PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

CYNDI LAUPER FINALLY RECEIVES WWE ACTION FIGURE AS PART OF NEW MATTEL SET REVEALED FOR SDCC

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Cyndi Lauper has a storied history with WWE, but has never received an official WWE action figure, until now.

Mattel Creations will be releasing a new set recreating Lauper's first appearance on Roddy Piper's Piper's Pit.  The set also features Captain Lou Albano.

The following video of Lauper reacting to her first-ever figure was sent to PWInsider.com: 

The set is being released as part of this year's San Diego Comic Con.  Promotional material for the set, priced at $80, notes, "WWE Elite 3-Pack features “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Captain Lou Albano, and the first-ever WWE action figure inspired by music icon Cyndi Lauper, commemorating the legendary Rock ‘N’ Wrestling era that helped bring WWE into the pop-culture spotlight during the 1980s. Inspired by Lauper’s memorable appearance on Piper’s Pit, the collector set celebrates the intersection of music, entertainment, and wrestling fandom through one of WWE’s most iconic crossover moments."

Lauper first became involved with professional wrestling after she and her then-husband and manager Dave Wolff met Lou Albano on a flight, leading to Albano being cast to play Lauper's father in the music video for Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, which was an insanely massive hit in an era where videos running on MTV meant all of the difference for an artist becoming a success.  This led to the appearance on Piper's Pit where Albano tried to take credit for Lauper's career, setting up Lauper getting her own star to manage, Wendi Richter, to show she could be a successful manager.  The action figure set is based on that first appearance.

The Pit appearance led to a major angle in Madison Square Garden where Roddy Piper came and attacking Albano and Lauper when they were being honored in the ring, including kicking Lauper, setting up Hulk Hogan and Mr. T (at the time, as massive movie and TV star) getting involved to set the stage for the first Wrestlemania and after that, WWE began its journey to where it is today.  Without Lauper and the MTV connection, WWF loses a massive chunk of what set them up for national and later international success.  On that first Wrestlemania, Lauper managed Richter against Leilani Kai, who was managed by Moolah.

WWF and Lauper later separated and it wasn't until decades later that Lauper, while filming a reality show, returned to a WWE taping in Long Island, NY, where she took part in a segment with Roddy Piper.  In a weird piece of happenstance, the anniversary of that appearance is tomorow.

Still, Lauper never ever let her appreciation of that era go.  During numerous concert tours in recent years, Lauper made specific mentions of Lou Albano, Roddy Piper, The Fabulous Moolah, Freddie Blassie and Andre the Giant before dedicating her song The Goonies R Good Enough to "All the people from wrestling" who made that part of her life so special.  As Lauper performed the song, they played clips of the WWE Hall of Famers from the music video of the song.

Wendi Richter was named to the WWE Hall of Fame, but as irony has it, somehow Lauper has never been named to the Celebrity Wing.  Perhaps this will lead the way.

In 2024, a great documentary on Lauper, Let the Canary Sing, was released on Paramount+.  Wendi Richter was interviewed for the film.

Of course, you can find all your action figure needs at our friends www.RingsideCollectibles.com.

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!

• Tweet