Toukon Shop Keiji Mutoh Super Star Figure Collection 45 review

Coverage of New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Toukon shop figures
continues with blog #70. Our next figure spotlight is Super Star
Figure Collection 45: Keiji Mutoh!

                            

Released in 2001, the packaging of the Toukon Shop Keiji Mutoh
figure features Mutoh's B.A.T.T. stable logo and a "Cross Wizards"
graphic (to the right).

The slogan "NO HOLDS BARRED" would be added to many of
Toukon Shop's later figures from the line.

                         


As an added bonus, the Keiji Mutoh figure also includes a fabric T-Shirt
accessory with the B.A.T.T. logo.

                              

As usual, the back of the packaging includes two stellar photos of
Mutoh along with his stats and bio leading up to the B.A.T.T.
stable formation.

Let's take a look at an opened version.


                            

Toukon Shop's 4th Keiji Mutoh figure is based on Mutoh's early
2000's "Cross Wizard" look and attire.


                               

Mutoh would debut his newly-shaven head (Mutoh had a receding
hairline by the late '90's) and goatee during the Inoki Bom Ba Ye
2000 event while pairing with UWFI star Nobuhiko Takada to
face MMA legends Don Frye and Ken Shamrock.

The Toukon Shop Figure Collection 45 Keiji Mutoh figure would
be one of the very first figures to contain Mutoh's new look as the
leader of the B.A.T.T. stable.

It's also worth noting that Mutoh's forehead gig scars are not present
in this figure's head sculpt.


                                   

Mutoh's left and right kneepads contains decals of the "CROSS
WIZARD" (Mutoh's newest nickname after repackaging himself)
logo.

For those of you wondering, the "Cross Wizard" nickname is a
reference to Mutoh leading the B.A.T.T. stable (a "cross" prom-
otion team of Wrestlers from AJPW, NJPW and Michinoku
Pro-Wrestling).


                        

The left side of Mutoh's tights contains the text:

"WITH                                    
ALL AROUNDS SITE   Since 20:01
WITH THE                                60
GREAT
AFFIR-
MATION

CROSSWD:S"
as well as a voodoo-inspired (voodoo crossroads...get it?)
illustration of the Cross Wizard mascot.

                         

The right side contains another wicked illustration which reads
"WIZARD" with a strange face in the middle.

                      

The Cross Wizard motif continues on the back of Mutoh's tights.

The back of the Keiji Mutoh figure is stamped "(C) NJPW CHINA";
making this one of the very last figures made of Keiji Mutoh under
the Toukon Shop label and as a Wrestler competing for New Japan
Pro-Wrestling.

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