Chumlee Was Ready To Drop Thousands on a Rare WWE Collectible on ‘Pawn Stars’ — Then He Spotted the Red Flag

For over a decade, Pawn Stars has delivered a masterclass in haggling, history, and high-stakes collectibles — but not every deal that walks through the doors of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop is what it seems. When nostalgia meets big money, even the most seasoned pros have to keep their guard up.

In one standout Season 18 episode, Chumlee found himself face-to-face with what looked like the holy grail of wrestling memorabilia: a rare 1980s Kamala action figure with a $7,500 price tag and a suspicious backstory. But as any Pawn Stars fan knows, when the deal feels too good to be true, it usually is — and this one unraveled in classic Vegas fashion.

Chumlee’s Meticulous Approach to Examining Collectibles

Chumlee followed the same process when a seller came in with what he claimed was a rare and valuable WWF action figure from the 80s. Chum was interested, and anyone who watches the show will know that sports memorabilia from the 80s and 90s has now become a goldmine for any collector. The seller, Erik, was trying to pawn a James Harris aka Kamala action figure, in particular. Harris made his debut in the ring in 1984 and earned the nickname “The Ugandan Giant.” Kamala’s unique body paint was a key part of his persona and gave him a cannibalistic, headhunter look, complete with a spear, a shield, and a loincloth.

Despite not winning any major titles, Harris left his mark on the wrestling industry as one of the franchise’s most iconic villains. His feuds with legendary wrestlers like Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, and The Undertaker only further solidified his place in wrestling history before Kamala retired in 2010. So, naturally, being a fan of all sports, Chum wanted his hands on the action figure. However, when Erik announced that he was looking for $7,500 for the Hasbro action figure, he completely rained on Chum’s parade. Of course, the collector didn’t want to say anything before he had thoroughly examined the figure and his willingness to take a step back before diving into negotiations shows that running a pawn business requires patience and knowing exactly when to pause.

Chumlee, with his years of experience, quickly caught on to a major discrepancy. He recognized that this particular figure, with the moon design on the belly, similar to how Kamala appeared in the ring, was an early prototype that never made it to full production. The standard version was redesigned to feature a star on the wrestler’s belly, which means that Erik’s figure could have been an early pre-release prototype. That made it far more valuable than a standard one. According to Chum, if this were the case, the item would be the “holy grail” for wrestling enthusiasts.

The seller probably thought no one at a pawn shop would be able to tell the difference between the real deal and a fake, especially with a rare item like the Kamala figure in their hand. However, Chumlee quickly noticed subtle signs of wear and inconsistencies. That’s when he called in an expert to make sure he wasn’t being scammed. Enter Steve Johnson from Rogue Toys, who immediately pointed out that the figure could be one of 24 samples not intended for public release of the original Kamala action figure.

While everything seemed legitimate, the problem was that even if the figure was original, it had been tampered with. The price sticker on it had been removed, and parts of the item had even been repainted. That obviously brought its value down by a considerable amount. After Johnson’s confirmation, Chumlee told the seller that the deal was off.

This wasn’t the first time a deal didn’t go through on Pawn Stars, despite looking extremely lucrative at first. The show is a lesson in how even the most seasoned experts can face tough calls, and that winning and losing are part of the game in the antique business. It’s a constant balancing act between risk and reward, where sometimes, following one’s gut instinct is the difference between profit and loss.