How Collect Major Has Built a Cult Collectable Brand, One Icon at a Time

Collect Major began as a fan’s instinct and evolved into an independent collectible company that stands as an embodiment of modern pop culture. Founded in 2021 by Michael Kanik alongside professional wrestler Matt Cardona and Brian Myers, the business took form in Kanik’s basement, fueled by a Major Wrestling Figure Podcast about collectibles and an idea that refused to stay small.

Kanik had been working in the toy industry when he reached out to the wrestlers, offering to help them develop merchandise as they navigated the independent wrestling circuit. T-shirts and keychains followed, then came a more creative thought. “I asked them, ‘Hey, why don’t we make action figures of yourselves?’ and that resulted in Major Buddies, which was a big plush doll of themselves,” he says. “Once those units began to sell, we realized the potential in front of us, and then there was only one question remaining: how do we grow it?”

Growth came quickly, but not carelessly. Today, Collect Major operates three distinct product lines: Major Bendies, Major Stars, and Big Rubber Guys, each curated in a retro-inspired form factor. “There are no hyper-realistic toys; they are sculptural rubber figures that are intentionally designed to provoke nostalgia,” he says. “These styles were phased out decades ago. We sought to bring it back with our own personal twist.”

That differentiation has opened doors far beyond wrestling. According to Kanik, the company has secured licenses across films, sports, and movie studios. Today, the company positions itself as a full-fledged pop culture company that focuses as much on wrestling as movies, commercial mascots, and sports icons. “Pop culture unites people all around the world, and we’re building a brand that reflects that unity,” he explains.

The ambition also extends into music, where Kanik sees a gap in tangible representation. “There are artists with massive fan bases who have T-shirts and vinyl, but no collectible figure,” he notes. “Some fans want more than apparel. They want a physical representation of their fandom.” For Collect Major, that untapped category signals long-term potential.

What truly distinguishes the company, however, is operational agility. Kanik notes how the team operates in constant communication, enabling the company to move from initial sketch to finished product in a short period of time. “We were once tasked with making a figure for a major wrestling event under intense time pressure,” Kanik recalls. ” We didn’t sleep well for two months, but we got it done. It was worth it.”

However, speed, he emphasizes, does not compromise standards. He notes how obtaining licenses often demands rigorous compliance, such as factory certifications, product safety testing, and strict adherence to brand guidelines. “You can’t just ship a product and hope for the best. Everything needs to be tested and certified, and we strive to do it properly,” Kanik explains. Driven by that discipline and creativity, Collect Major has not only produced the Major Stars Come to Life commercial but also exhibited at major industry events such as the New York Comic Con 2025, the New York Toy Fair 2026, and San Diego Comic-Con, while expanding into new retail partnerships.

Collect Major’s core audience is predominantly adult collectors, fans in their 30s to 60s, who view these figures as artifacts rather than playthings. The company avoids re-releases to preserve scarcity and secondary-market value, reinforcing its positioning to establish prestige. “If something is sold out, we’re not just going to re-release it,” Kanik explains. “Then it’s not collectible anymore.”

As Collect Major scales, its objectives are focused on deeper retail penetration, expanded licensing, graded first-edition releases, and continued exploration of film, sports, and music. Ultimately, with a steep growth trajectory, the company’s ethos continues to remain embedded in being fan-driven and passion-led, helping fandoms build their vibrant collections, one figure at a time.