Stan Hansen HAO soft vinyl figure review

In 2008, HAO introduced a brand new, soft vinyl series called

"Regards For Superstars".

The Regards For Superstars (or simply "RS" for short) series
consisted of four figures represented as "Volumes". The
figures featured in the RS series are:

Vol. 001 Giant Baba
Vol. 002 Stan Hansen
Vol. 003 Akira Maeda (UWF Ver. with white wristbands)
Vol. 003 Akira Maeda (RINGS Ver. with red wristbands)

Today, we'll be looking at Vol. 002 - the Badman from
Borger, Texas: Stan "The Lariat" Hansen!

                        
This collectible figure was limited to just 1500 pieces exclusively
in Japan!


                      

The back of the packaging features a dossier on Hansen as
well as his various championship victories. The bio reads:

"STAN HANSEN
 PROFILE
 Real name: John Stanley Hansen
 Date of birth: August 29th, 1949
 From/Nationality: America, Texas
 Blood type: O
 Height: 195cm
 Weight: 145kg
 Debut: January 1st, 1973
 Titles: Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship
            AWA Heavyweight Championship
            NWF Heavyweight Championship
            International Heavyweight Championship
            PWF Heavyweight Championship
            UN Heavyweight Championship
            World's Strongest Tag League Tag
            International Tag Team Championship
            PWF Tag Team Championship
            WWF US Tag Team Championship
            NWA US Heavyweight Championship
Finisher: Western Lariat"
 
The bottom of the packaging also features "(C) John
Stanley Hansen II".

The slip-case packaging also acts as a jumbo trading card!

Stan's name is written in both English and Japanese as  "スタン
・ハンセン" along with the Regards For Superstars logo in the
top left corner.

                            



The HAO Stan Hansen vinyl figure is sculpted in Hansen's
famous "Texas Longhorns" pose. You can almost hear Hansen
shouting his trademark "YOOOUUUTTTTH" battle cry!

Wrestling trivia: Hansen started shouting "Youth" during his feud
against the Funk brothers (who were considered "old") in the
late 1970's as part of All Japan Pro-Wrestling's "youth movement".

Even after the feud ended, Hansen (and the Japanese fans) continued
to keep the taunt alive; which would go on to become Hansen's
signature pre-match catchphrase for the rest of his career.

Before the Rattlesnake, there was the Lariat.

                                     

                    

The left side of Hansen's vest includes his initials "SH".

                       

Stan Hansen is one of the few HAO figures to include an accessory.
In this case, Hansen's famous bull rope which is attached to Hansen's
left hand.

As with many figures from this line, the Stan Hansen HAO figure
is just awesome to look at (and my personal favorite of the legend).



                          


Hansen's boots also include a Texas Longhorns logo complete
with bull decal.


                      

The HAO Stan Hansen figure includes a fringe pattern (sculpted
out of vinyl) along the edges of Hansen's vest and even detailing
around his black cowboy hat.

Posing wise, Hansen features articulation at the left arm waist and
neck joints only. Hansen's right arm can't be lowered from an
upwards position.

To chop or not to chop? That is the question.
Posed next to HAO's Kenta Kobashi throwback figure.

From the horns down, the Hansen HAO soft vinyl figure
is 8 inches tall; making this rarity one of the largest Hansen
figures ever created!


How many HAO figures do you own?