A BATHING APE X All Japan Pro-Wrestling figure review

Blog #282 A BATHING APE x All Japan Pro-Wrestling figure set review: 

Figures from Japan with little-to-no coverage have always been my niche.  Such is the case with the A BATHING APE X AJPW figure set.

The four figure lineup. 


Each figure comes in a plastic drawstring bag that looks better-suited for some oranges at a grocery store. Despite being an officially-licensed product line, nicknames are included for each Wrestler on their respective bags. The figures are:

'KAZ' (Kaz Hayashi)

'Mr. 610' (Keiji Mutoh. The '610' in Japanese numbering translates to 'Mutoh', which has been a nickname of Mutoh's over the years; even naming his restaurant 'Dining 610' after it).

'KOJI' (Satoshi Kojima).

And the most obscure figure of them all 'THE APE MAN' (Apeman - a masked gimmick played by WWE's Jimmy Wang Yang)



The figures themselves are modeled after the minimalist approach of modern designer art figures.
Specifically, figures made by Bearbrick.


 

Bathing Ape, Apeman and the All Japan Pro-Wrestling roster in 2002 when both parties began collaborating.




Additional photos.

Keiji Mutoh owns his Bathing Ape figure; which can be seen at the back end to the right.

Scale-wise, these figures look to stand about 7 to 9 inches tall; when compared standing next to the HAO Collection Mech and Spider Muta figures.



Outside of All Japan Pro-Wrestling, Bathing Ape also joined forces with Kinnikuman years before New Japan could ever strike a licensing deal.

Giant Baba BABABANK figure review

 Blog #279 Giant Baba BABABANK figure review.

In previous posts, we've looked at several Giant Baba figures from the 1980's. Like the Giant Baba BABAWATCH, Upper-Upper World/EHKOH also released another Giant Baba collectible under
the similar-sounding name of the Giant Baba BABABANK. 

The BABABANK is a miniature soft vinyl coin bank of Baba.

As usual, Baba is sculpted performing his signature chop and 16mon kick techniques.

The coin slot is placed along Baba's backside.

The bottom of the bank displays the corporate information for Upper-Upper World and EHKOH.

There is no date on the figure itself, but I would ascertain that the BABABANK was created 
around 1984.

Upper-Upper World and EHKOH's partnership was a brief but colourful one in the 1980's. While collectors may feel Antonio Inoki had the lion's share of figures made in his likeness (which there are), Giant Baba had the majority of licenses made in the 1980's. 

The BABABANK is a simple, yet interesting oddity from the Japanese Wrestling scene of the 1980's.
A collectible that isn't too hard to find, nor commanding that much from a resale perspective. Most examples can be found for less than $20 from Japanese merchants.

More figure reviews on the way! 

Giant Baba Remote Control Wrestler review

 

Blog #278 The Giant Baba Remote Control Wrestler review.


By the early 80's, merchandising was in full-swing with All Japan Pro-Wrestling. Being the founder and star of the promotion, Giant Baba was the central figure in All Japan's merchandising boom of the era. 

Our next wacky figure was released by Japanese toymaker MAME CON in 1984.

Special thanks to Wrestlefigs.com for the above photo.

The Giant Baba remote control figure sold for $6 USD upon it's initial release.


The packaging reads
'Remote Control Wrestler
Giant Baba Con'

(リモートコントロールレスラー
ジャイアント馬場コン).

In case you were wondering, the word 'con' is short for controller.

                 


As expected, the controller makes Giant Baba move and perform chops simultaneously. Notice the 'MAME CON' company logo on the controller.


                          





Providing chops on the-go: the Mame Con Giant Baba operates with three wheels at the bottom of the toy.






A belt-wearing Giant Baba is pictured on the sides of the box.

Sadly, no other likeness was added to expand upon MAME CON's Remote Control Wrestler concept. Stan Hansen would have been a perfect fit swinging his bullrope or Lariat. A fork-stabbing/throat-choppin' Abdullah The Butcher could have been a cool idea, too. Though, Abdullah wouldn't return to AJPW for another 4 years.

TAKARA Giant Baba and Stan Hansen Choro-Q racer figures review

A few blog posts ago, we touched on TOYBOX's early 1980's AJPW racer figures line (for
those interested, the full review can be read HERE<-----). Next up, we'll be looking at another
pair of figure oddities that feature All Japan's two biggest stars. Blog #227 goes for the gold
with TAKARA's AJPW Choro-Q Wrestler figures.


                        

Known in Japan as  "チョロQレスラー" (ChoroQ Wrestler), the ChoroQ Wrestler figures
were released by TAKARA in 1984. ChoroQ is the name of TAKARA's long-running rev-up
car series that dates back to 1978.

The box depicts Giant Baba on the left and Stan Hansen on the right.

You're probably wondering why Giant Baba and Stan Hansen are both breathing fire and
sweating. Short answer: these specific figures were inspired by TAKARA's other "flame
breathing" figures that actually shot sparks from their mouths!

The packaging also lists both Wrestler's signature moves. In Baba's case "16mon Kick"
(Big Boot) and, for Hansen, "Western Lariat" is written.




Inside the box. An 18 piece assortment of Giant Baba and Stan Hansen figures.
I'm guessing this was a shipping box for stores that carried TAKARA merchandise
in Japan.

Both figures contain a specific All Japan Pro-Wrestling belt. Giant Baba contains the NWA International Heavyweight Championship; while Stan Hansen is holding the PWF Heavyweight
Championship belt.

Both figures stand at 50mm (just under 2 inches tall) and contain moving arms. Giant
Baba is sculpted in a chop pose while Hansen contains his trademark Lariat.

Due to the age of both figures, collectors should pay close attention to each figure's overall
condition; as the included belts have been known to discolour over time.

Out of the pair, the Stan Hansen ChoroQ figure is harder to come by.


Both figures are stamped with "(C) TAKARA '84 JAPAN Choro Wrestler" (left) and
"All Japan Pro-Wrestling" (right) signifying that both the Stan Hansen and Giant Baba
Choro figures were officially licensed.

Next to the rev-up wheel is a gear mechanism that shoots sparks whenever either car is
in motion (I really doubt the equivalent of a lighter on wheels would be marketed to
kids these days).

As the case with older figures, many collectors have stated that their figures have lost
or contain a diminished spark.

A 1983 issue of Hobby Handbook that promoted TAKARA's Wrestler racers with
Giant Baba on the cover.


Closing thoughts:

While action figures were still a few decades away, All Japan Pro-Wrestling did have
an interesting assortment of merchandise that was released throughout the 1970's
into the 1980's.

It's worth noting that TAKARA would eventually own TOYBOX (the company responsible
for the other 1980's All Japan Pro-Wrestling car series).

Really, how many Japanese Pro-Wrestling figures can you think of that shoots sparks?!


For those interested to track down these figures themselves, you can use these Japanese
keywords:

チョロQレスラー スタン・ハンセン (ChoroQ Wrestler Stan Hansen)

チョロQレスラー ジャイアント馬場 (ChoroQ Wrestler Giant Baba)

All Japan Pro-Wrestling Rollertron Plush Figures

One trend that never goes out of style is Japan's love of claw vending machines.

Tucked away in many an arcade parlour or shopping mall in the west, claw vending machines
are a whole different animal in Japan - with some of the biggest licensed properties being
converted in crane prizes.

Previously, we already covered the first and second batches of plush figures that were sold
by Rollerton (which you can read HERE). For Blog #223, we'll be looking at Rollertron's All
Japan Pro-Wrestling plush figures.

First up is "The Giant of The East" Giant Baba.

Baba was always known for his smile, but here, AJPW's Giant looks extra cheerful.

Each figure stands about 7 to 9 inches in height.

                      

On the back of each tag is the corresponding Wrestler's profile. The profile reads:

Nickname:

Name:

Height:

Date of birth:

From:

Blood type:

Debut:

Titles:

Signature moves:

"Mr. Triple Crown" Mitsuharu Misawa.

The Misawa plush comes with one of All Japan Pro-Wrestling's Triple Crown Championship
belts. In this case, the included belt is the NWA International Heavyweight Championship.

Mitsuharu Misawa would become All Japan's 10th Triple Crown Champion in 1992.

I wouldn't recommend it, but the attached belt looks like it can be removed.

"Dangerous K" Toshiaki Kawada.

Kawada comes crafted with a raised knee pose and a surly facial expression. Someone
is certainly ready for a brawl!

Not having Akira Taue (the second half of infamous AJPW tag team Holy Demon Army)
makes me wonder if these Rollertron figures were made before 1993 (my personal guess
is around 1992).

"The Demon of The Mic" Rusher Kimura!

Rusher Kimura was repackaged as a comedy relief by this point in his career. Kimura's
face includes blade marks (a nod to Kimura's bloody bouts from the past) as well as a
wise-cracking look on Kimura's face.

With microphone in hand, the Rusher Kimura plush figure is always ready to drop
a verbal evisceration.

And, of course, the included bio on the back of Rusher's tag.

Stan "The Lariat" Hansen.

The Hansen plush figure contains the most detail with entrance vest, cowboy hat,
bullrope and signature Texas Longhorns pose.
                                

There's even a fringe pattern on Hansen's vest!

"The Black Shaman" Abdullah The Butcher's 2nd time as a plushie figure.

Like the attached photo of the real-life Butcher the Abdullah plushy is crafted in the
middle of Abby's karate routine.

Notice the small typo on Abdullah's name?

Each figure (except for Stan Hansen from what I can see) has a black string to hang
the plushies from a hook.

Often regarded as one of the greatest referees in Japan, the last figure in the Rollertron AJPW
set is referee Joe Higuchi.

Joe is crafted in a counting pose.

                                   

What makes this collectible even more special is the fact that this plush is the only
known figure made of Joe to date.

Original photo credits: Toy&JAN
Website: https://profile.ameba.jp/ameba/teppest8/


Stay tuned for more Japanese plush figures reviews to come!

Character Product Bruiser Brody DX figures review

As we've discussed in the past, when it comes to Japanese Wrestling figures, some of the
most sought-after pieces come from Character Product's early 2000's legends line. A time
when Gaijin Wrestler figures were still fairly uncommon on the Japanese Pro-Wrestling
scene - let alone an entire line dedicated to the greatest stars from the last 70 years.

Today, we'll be taking a look at two figures that tops the sought-after list for many collectors.
Blog #174 goes out swinging with Character Product's Bruiser Brody DX figures review.

Released in 2004 as part of Character Product's legends line, these are the world's first
action figures of the legend. The WWE Classic Superstars Bruiser Brody figure wouldn't
be released until 2005.

This particular Brody variant features Brody with his hair down. Brody's facial sculpt depicts
Brody shouting his signature "HUSS! HUSS! HUSS!" battle cry after just entering the ring.

Lastly, this variant features Brody swinging a chain with his right arm - a recreation of Brody's
wild ring entrances in All Japan Pro-Wrestling where fans literally ran for cover as Brody made
his way to the ring.

As a deluxe figure, the Bruiser Brody shout variant includes the following accessories:

1) Removable entrance vest.
1) Bonus right arm (without chain).
1) Acrylic display base with special cross chains decal.
1) Acrylic wrestler name plate that reads "BRUISER BRODY"

The back of the packaging contains a great photo of Bruiser holding the NWA International
Heavyweight Championship. The same belt held by Rikidozan and Lou Thesz that would
go on to become one of the three Triple Crown Championships.

Beyond Brody's stats and bio, the bottom of the packaging states that Bruiser's widow
Barbara Goodish licensed this figure.

Interestingly, Barbara has gone on record claiming she has never been paid for the Bruiser
Brody figures made by Character Product. Other legends like Dory Funk Jr., Mil Mascaras
and Scott Norton had no idea their Charapro legends figures were even created until fans
brought them in to get signed years after the fact.



The second variant is known as the "real chain" variant. This version of Bruiser Brody
contains a closed-mouth, tied back hair design, bonus arm accessory and....



a real, die-cast metal chain!



In terms of Brody's fearsome entrance, the real chain version depicts Brody pacing his
way to the ring.


Closing thoughts:

Bruiser Brody's passing is one of the great tragedies in all of Pro-Wrestling. Brody was a true
legend of the sport, a pioneer of the hardcore style and a physically intimidating competitor that
struck fear into the hearts of audiences wherever he went.

As such, Bruiser's Character Product figures continue to sell for top dollar wherever they
are listed. One big reason being that the Charapro Brody legend figures were the first action
figures made of the legend - 16 years after Brody's murder in Puerto Rico.

No figure since has captured the insanity and fervour of Brody's pre-match entrance as much
as Character Product's renditions here. Neither has a Brody figure been packaged with so many
accessories making their incredibly high prices a little more understandable.