Pro-Wrestling Keshi from Japan (Part 3) figure review

Welcome back to the largest source of information for Japanese Pro-Wrestling

figures and collectibles on the web.

For blog #83, we'll be stepping back in time to the early 1980's to look at another
line of 1 inch keshi figure erasers that were released exclusively in Japan.

You can read about the very first wave of Pro-Wrestling Keshi (and the history
behind the Keshigomu craze) HERE


THE PRO-WRESTLINGBy 1983, Japanese toy maker POPY had folded back
into parent company BANDAI. Along with the change of leadership, BANDAI
would also change the name of POPY's keshi eraser line from "最強軍団 スー
パープロレス" (Super Pro-Wrestle Strongest Army) to the simpler ザ・プ
ロレス (The Pro-Wrestling).

                          

The Pro-Wrestling keshi came packaged with a ring playset.

                       

Since the Keshi themselves were made by BANDAI, I feel the illustrations on
the packaging were inspired by Terryman and Buffalo Man from BANDAI's
Kinnikuman (M.U.S.C.L.E.) series.

The text on the front of the packaging reads:

(top left)                                         (top right)
闘魂 (Fighting Spirit)                    ザ・プロレス (The Wrestling)

                                (bottom right)
                               チャンピオンリングマット  (Champion Ring Mat)      
                                                         

                       

The back of the packaging contains illustrations on how to assemble the included
ring as well as providing four games that can be played with the Keshi figures
("Ring Out", bouncing the keshi off the ring ropes, etc).

Strangely, BANDAI or POPY's company logos are nowhere to be found on
the packaging.

The standard set comes packaged with three randomly inserted keshi figures.
Pictured are Hulk Hogan (green), Umanosuke Ueda (left) and Jumbo Tsuruta
(right).

                              

And, yes, there are multiple colour variants to collect as well!

For the collector looking for a much larger set, The Pro-Wrestle line was
also released as an incredible 13 figure + ring gift set!

This version also included larger scale Keshi figures performing moves
like Lariats, Brainbusters and leg locks!

As hobbyists were known for painting these Keshi figures, the packaging
shows painted examples of Stan Hansen vs Terry Funk (applying a Lariat)
as well as Giant Baba vs Abdullah The Butcher (who looks to be applying
a patented Running Neckbreaker to Abby).

                         

The ring playset contains four green turnbuckles that are held together with three
ring ropes made out of rubber bands.

The colour scheme has always reminded me of Cacti among a desert backdrop.

Let's take a closer look at some of the Keshi from this series!

                             

The first up is Giant Baba.

This particular series of The Wrestling line is also referred to as the "Name
Engraved Series" since each Wrestler's name is written on the backs of each

Keshi.

Baba's name is written as:

ジャイ      (GIA
アント      ANT
馬場          BABA)

A yellow variant of Giant Baba.

                                                                            
Like the waves of Keshi that were released beforehand, the Keshi that
were featured in The Wrestling line were not exclusive to one single
Wrestling promotion.

                                

Case and point: New Japan Pro-Wrestling icon - Antonio Inoki.

Antonio Inoki's name is written as:

アント (ANTO
ニオ    NIO
猪木    INOKI)

                                    

The blue variant Antonio Inoki figure (Sorry for the grainy image quality).

                                        

...and a green variant of Antonio Inoki.

Next up is Hulk Hogan from his early 1980's "Ichiban" era.
How many pink-coloured Hulk Hogan figures are there?

Hulk's name is written as:

H. ホー (H. HO
ガン       GAN)

The blue variant Hulk Hogan keshi.

The Hulk Hogan Keshi in his signature yellow colouring.

Keshimania is running wild with Hulk Hogan's orange variant.

Terry Funk in his early 1980's attire.

Terry's name is written as:

テリー      (TERRY
フアンク   FUNK)

Laying down the Funk with a green variant.

                                  

Masked superstar Mil Mascaras in a striking pink variant.

                                

Mil's name is written as:

M. マス  (M. MAS
カラズ    CARAS)

                                

Mil Mascaras green variant keshi.

Mil Mascaras blue variant.

Mil Mascaras orange variant.

                              

Fellow Luchador El Canek in flesh colour.

El Canek's name is written as:

エル           (EL
カネック   CANEK)

El Canek in green.

El Canek in yellow.

Next up is AJPW and WAR veteran Genichiro Tenryu.

Tenryu's name is simply written as:

天龍 (TENRYU)

Our next addition is one of only a handful of Killer Khan figures released in
Japan.

The Killer Khan (who wasn't known for having a six pack) Keshi is an early
example of POPY/BANDAI being one of the first manufacturers of Wrestling
figures to recycle body molds for various Wrestlers.

Khan's name is written as:

キラー  (KILLER
カン      KHAN)

Killer Khan in green.

Stan Hansen is also present with signature elbow pad.

One of his earliest figures: a very young Jumbo Tsuruta.

Jumbo's name is written as:

ジャ  (Ju
ンボ   mbo
鶴田   Tsuruta)

                             

Jumbo Tsuruta in green.

One of the harder figures to find in the set is the villainous Umanosuke Ueda

...as well as the first generation Tiger Mask (Satoru Sayama)!

Tiger's name is written as:

タイ      (TI
ガー       GER
マスク   MASK)

This keshi would be the last figure for the original Tiger Mask (Satoru
Sayama) before All Japan Pro-Wrestling purchased the character in
1984; giving the gimmick to future legend Mitsuharu Misawa.