Character Product Riki Choshu vs Atsushi Onita figure review

The next figure spotlight will focus on a very special two-pack released
in 2000 between Character Product and New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

For blog #77, we'll be looking at the very rare Riki Choshu vs Atsushi
Onita figure set.


Backstory:
following Riki Choshu's original retirement as an active Wrestler in
1998, fellow legend (and FMW deathmatch icon) Atsushi Onita
challenged Riki Choshu to come out retirement for the first time
in two years.

In front of a televised audience, Riki Choshu signed a contract
agreeing to the match which would take place on Saturday, July
29th, 2000.

The event "NJPW Riki Choshu Revival" took place in front of
18,000 fans at the Yokohama Arena in Kanagawa, Japan.
The match pitted Choshu against Onita in a special "No Rope
Explosive Barbed Wire Deathmatch".

Let's take a look at the figures themselves:

Japanese toymaker Character Product was quick to capitalize on the
success of the Riki Choshu vs Atsushi Onita match by releasing a
special two-figure set the same year.

The Riki Choshu figure is a re-packaging of Toukon Shop's (the name
Character Product went under while making figures exclusively for
New Japan Pro-Wrestling) Super Star Figure Collection 1 Riki Choshu
figure which was originally released in 1997.

The included Atsushi Onita figure (black shirt variant) is a repackaging
that was originally released by Character Product one year prior in 1999.

A mini contract accessory is also included which is exclusive to this two-pack.

The back of the packaging contains the stats and bios of both Wrestlers
along with New Japan Pro-Wrestling's copyright in both English and
Japanese.

What truly makes the Riki Choshu vs Atsushi Onita figure truly collectible
is the real-life, contract replica that was also included as a free gift!

The contract replica came packed in a paper envelope.

When removed from it's envelope: the contract replica with Riki Choshu's
personal "Hanko Stamp" (in Japanese culture, it is more common to sign
documents with a personalized stamp bearing the signer's name than to
sign with a signature).