Akira Maeda HAO Soft Vinyl figure review

Today, we'll be looking at the third (and final) soft vinyl figure from
HAO's "Regards For Superstars" line: Vol. 003 - Akira Maeda!

                          

The Regards For Superstars line was sold through the now defunct Japanese

Wrestling website "ringside.jp" (not to be confused with ringsidecollectibles.
com).

The above advertisement reads:

                           "HAO X RINGSIDE
                           Regards For Superstars
                                                    Series 3!!
                                                 
                                                        Figure
RINGS Version                             HAO X RINGSIDE Akira Maeda
500 pieces only!                             UWF Ver.  [Purchase here]
                                                        RINGS Ver. [Purchase here]"
               

The packaging for the Akira Maeda HAO figure contains the
standard Regards For Superstars packaging.


                                             


The front of the slip-case packaging reads Akira's name in both Japanese
and English while including a throwback photo of Maeda from his early
Fighting Network RINGS years.

The ringside.jp logo is also displayed at the bottom right corner.

The back of the packaging contains the standard bio and list of
championships Maeda won.

The back of the packaging reads:

"Akira Maeda"
Profile

Real name: Akira Maeda
Born: 1959.1.24. (January 24th, 1959)
From: Osaka, Japan
Blood type: A
Height: 192cm
Weight: 115kg
Debut:1977.8.25. (August 25th, 1977)
Titles: European Heavyweight Championship
            UWF Heavyweight Championship
            IWGP Tag Team Championship
Signature moves: Capture Suplex (written simply as "Captured")
                             Big Wheel Kick
                             Jumping Knee Pat

Rings Official site (now defunct)
http://rings.co.jp/"

It's also worth noting that at the bottom of the packaging, the Akira
HAO figure was licensed under "株式会社リングス" (Fighting
Network Rings)


                       


                 


Akira comes sculpted in a fighting stance and is dressed in his
standard black ring trunks and shoot gear.

                       

Akira's likeness is well represented in soft vinyl form.

The sculpt itself is based on Maeda's late 1980's early 1990's
in-ring career as an active fighter for the UWF and RINGS
promotions.

                       

The Akira Maeda HAO figure was released in two variants (both
labeled as "Vol. 003"). The UWF version features white wristbands
while the RINGS version features red coloured wristbands.

Also exclusive to the white wristbands version is the UWF
promotion logo painted on the sides of Maeda's boots. An
unexpected touch and an overall nice addition to make this
variant even more collectible.

The bottom of Maeda's boots reads "(C) HAO 2008" and was the
last Akira Maeda figure released to date.

                             
                              


The Maeda HAO Figure contains articulation at the arms, neck
and waist.

                      


When posed next to Character Product's Yoshiaki Fujiwara figure.
The Akira Maeda HAO figure stands about 7" in height (making
it the largest Maeda figure ever produced).

Collectors should also keep an eye out for the "RINGS Ver."
variant with red wristbands which was limited to just 500 pieces.