Great Muta Spider version (Character Product) figure review

Today's figure review is all about another long-time favourite of mine.
The Great Muta Spider version figure by Character Product.


Backstory:
In 2002, Keiji Mutoh shocked the Wrestling world when he jumped ship from
New Japan Pro-Wrestling to rival company All Japan Pro-Wrestling; becoming
the company's third president after founder Giant Baba's passing in 1999 and
follow -up president Mitsuharu Misawa's departure to create Pro-Wrestling
NOAH.

During this time, Keiji Mutoh would also resurrect his Great Muta gimmick
by replacing Muta's Kabuki-styled facepaint for a collection of bizarre
looking ring masks.

                               
The Spider look was Great Muta's first design used within All Japan Pro-
Wrestling and the first Great Muta figure made under the Character
Product banner.

The detail in this design is simply amazing. Muta's mask features a
spider web design, demonic spider skeletons and a green, poison
-mist induced, wagging tongue & lips!

As a continuation of Muta's facepaint days, the sides of Muta's Spider
mask also features Japanese Kanji. Keiji Mutoh's noticeable arm scar is
also present.

The group of skeletons cover Muta's entire ring mask. How many
can you spot?

The Spider design would be the first of several Great Muta figures
released by Character Product in a hunched-over, pre-Poison Mist
pose.

                     

The splattered colours (another great highlight of this figure) on
Muta's pants contains the text "MUTA".

The splatter work is consistant on the back of Muta's pants, too.

The Great Muta Spider version contains articulation at the waist,
and arms.

                                    

By rotating Muta's waist, the Muta figure can be rotated into an
upwards spraying position!

When compared to Character Product's Great Muta Spider version
 Mini Big Head figures.

When compared with HAO's 6" Great Muta Spider version figures.



Closing thoughts:Character Product's Spider design Great Muta figure has always been
a personal favorite of mine when it comes to Puroresu figure collecting.
In a nutshell, the Spider design was an amplification of The Great Muta's
classic red facepaint taken to a whole new level.

Until next time!

Genichiro Tenryu Retirement figure review

Today's figure review is all about Japanese Pro-Wrestling legend
"Mr. Puroresu" Genichiro Tenryu and his Tenryu Project commem-
-orative retirement figure.

On November 15th, 2015, Tenryu would stage his retirement match
against New Japan Pro-Wrestling star Kazuchika Okada in a highly
publicized 17 minute match that received Japan's "match of the year"
2015 award!

To celebrate Tenryu's last match, Japanese toymaker Character Product
would release a special 4" soft-vinyl figures in two different variants:

The version I picked up feature's Tenryu's signature "Tenryu
Chop" (Knife Edge Chop to everyone else) pose.

The Japanese text reads "CIRCLE K SUNKUS exclusive GOO PNCH Ver."

The second variant is called the "Goo Punch" (another signature
move of Tenryu's) and replaces Tenryu's chop arm with an outstr-
-etched fist pose.

This variant was sold exclusively at Japanese Circle K Sunkus
locations.


                                 

I've never seen someone so cheerful to apply a Knife Edge Chop!
This is the face of a man who clearly loves his job.

Tenryu has articulation in both of his arms and neck only.

                           

The tried and tested slogan of many a toy written clearly in
white at the sole of Tenryu's left boot.

HAO figure scale comparison.

Tenryu is about 1 to 2 inches shorter than HAO's Great Muta
figures.

                           

When compared to Character Product's Tenryu Mini Big Heads
and Kokushi Muso action figure.

The packaging of the retirement figure is pretty nifty with both
the modern "TENRYU PROJECT" and classic REVOLUTION
(Tenryu's own Wrestling stable) logos on the front of the box.

Some sites mention that the retirement Tenryu figure was made
by Japanese toy maker "HAO" but, if you look closely at the bottom
left corner, you'll notice a "Pro-Kaku Heroes" logo (プロ格ヒーロー
ズ) which was a line of minifigures released by Character Product
from  2003 until about 2010.

                       

The left side of the package mentions Tenryu's final match against
Okada with the date of the event followed by famous Sumo Arena
"Ryogoku Kokugikan" where the match took place.

The full event was titled "TENRYU PROJECT - GENICHIRO
TENRYU REVOLUTION FINAL".

The right side of the box contains a mini bio on Tenryu.
The translation is as follows:

PROFILE
------------------------------------------------------------------
Real name:  Shimada Genichiro (Genichiro Shimada)

DOB: 1950 2 day 2 month (February 2nd 1950)
Birthplace: Fukui, Katsuyama
Height/Weight: 189cm/117kg
Bloodtype: A
Debut: 1976 11 month 13 day (November 13th 1976) (Vs. Ted Dibiase)
Promotions: AJPW - SWS - WAR - Freelance - All Japan
                    - Freelance - WJ - Freelance - Tenryu Project
Signature moves - Tenryu Chop. Powerbomb. Goo Punch.

The back of the packaging contains a recent portrait of Tenryu
taken at his last match with the words "Revolution Final" (the
name of the event) in yellow.

The top of the box contains the Pro-Kaku Heroes and Revolution
logo once again. Strangely, Character Product's old, holographic
"?" sticker logo is nowhere to be found.

Closing thoughts:

When it comes to owning a Genichiro Tenryu figure, there's nothing
more detailed than the 2015 retirement figure. The figure looks great
and captures Tenryu's likeness to a T.

The only downside is the size of the Tenryu figure when compared
to scale with HAO's assortment of  6" soft-vinyl figures. Since there
is no sign of HAO's logo anywhere on the figure or packaging, it's
hard to assume whether HAO was responsible for creating these
figures or not under the "Tenryu Project" banner.

Another small problem is the minor difficulty standing the Tenryu
retirement figure. Due to the figure's body proportions, pose and
overall lightweight materials, keeping the Tenryu figure standing
on it's own two feet can be tough at times (I prefer to keep mine on
display in it's original packaging).

Hopefully Character Product or HAO will continue to release MORE
figures in this style in the not-too-distant future. One can only hope!