HAO Collection Hayabusa (White ver.) figure review

For Blog #205, we'll be rising like a Phoenix with HAO Collection's Hayabusa (White Ver.) figure.

In 2005, Japanese toymaker HAO Arts Office added Hayabusa to their HAO Collection line of soft
vinyl figures. Hayabusa came in two variants: the standard red variant and the white version.

The white Hayabusa version is a limited edition with an estimated production run (in typical
Japanese figure fashion) of only 500 pieces.

Hayabusa is sculpted in a "spreading wings" taunt.

             

Hayabusa's unique ring mask is a mixture of traditional ninja garb mixed with a phoenix motif.


                      

Even the facepaint Hayabusa around Hayabusa's eyes has been faithfully recreated. The same
can also be said for the large wing tattoo on Hayabusa's chest. I believe this is also the first
(and only figure example) that contains Hayabusa's chest tattoo.

A nod to Hayabusa's hardcore matches in FMW, the HAO Hayabusa figure's upper torso is covered
with gig marks.



Hayabusa's pant legs contains a red phoenix decal.

Even Hayabusa's Japanese tabi footwear (which are commonly associated with ninja attire)
is present.

A similar design is also available in Mogura House's Hayabusa DX figure.

The detail continues with Hayabusa's ponytail, pants decals and even the lace holes in
Hayabusa's mask.



The gig marks continue on the back of the Hayabusa figure.







I can't think of too many Japanese figures outside of Hayabusa and Keiji Mutoh/The Great
Muta that contain body scars.

                       

Gold foil paint accents adorn Hayabusa's mask, arm guards and waistband.

The arm guards themselves contain a feather-like design going back to Hayabusa's Phoenix
motif.

HAO were even kind enough to include the ear holes of Hayabusa's mask with a mesh-like
design for the darker paint.

Hayabusa stands about 6 inches tall in height; making him one of the largest Hayabusa figures
available (next to the 12 inch INSPIRE Hayabusa figure and FMW Hayabusa plush figures,
of course).

                     




Articulation, the Hayabusa HAO figure contains moving joints at the waist, arms and neck.

                          

                     

The top of Hayabusa's mask with slicked back hair and gold accents.



Closing thoughts:

From his complex mask design, era-accurate ring attire, chest tattoo and gnarly body scars,
the HAO Collection Hayabusa figure is easily the most detailed collectible you can find
of the hardcore legend. At about 6 inches tall, it's also one of the largest Hayabusa figures
you can buy today.

Out of the original HAO Collection figure line, Hayabusa was the the only hardcore Wrestler
to be included; a star of the original FMW who stands alone in the HAO Collection.

Maybe one day 16d and HAO will get around to making figures of other Japanese hardcore
legends such as Atsushi Onita, Tarzan Goto, Megumi Kudo, Mitsuhiro Matsunaga or even
Mr. Pogo to name a few.

HAO Collection Mitsuharu Misawa (Green ver.) figure review

Welcome back to the largest source of Japanese Pro-Wrestling collectibles information
anywhere on the web. A constantly growing archive and online store that provides
thousands of high quality photos, in-depth figure coverage and the extensive history
behind many of the collectibles featured in this blog!

From the common to the incredibly obscure, Tiger Driver Collectibles is your go-to
source  covering the incredible world of Puroresu merchandise!


For blog #126, we'll be taking a look at another incredibly rare and highly sought
-after piece. HAO Collection's Mitsuharu Misawa green variant soft vinyl figure!

                               

After a long wait, Mitsuharu "Mr. Triple Crown" Misawa was finally added to
the HAO Collection lineup in 2007.

Misawa would be released alongside other legends the same year as Kensuke
Sasaki, Jushin Thunder Liger, Minoru Suzuki, Yoshihiro Takayama and fellow
rival Kenta Kobashi.

Let's take a closer look at the Mitsuharu Misawa figure itself!

Misawa is sculpted in his signature elbow strike pose.

This standard variant features Misawa in his classic green and silver ring tights.

As one of the largest and most detailed Mitsuharu Misawa figures ever released,

 Misawa stands about 6 inches tall and is made of soft vinyl.

Without question, Misawa's late 2000's Pro-Wrestling NOAH era likeness is very
well captured and almost lifelike.

The Misawa HAO Collection figure even features Misawa's era-accurate facial
hair along Misawa's jawline.

Mitsuharu Misawa was released in two variants. The standard green variant and
a limited edition alternate red variant that was only limited to 500 pieces.

Both variants feature articulation at the arms, right forearm, neck and waist.

HAO Collection Akira Maeda 1 of 500 (RINGS Ver.) figure review

Welcome back to THE largest source of Japanese Pro-Wrestling collectibles
on the web!

For our next figure review, we'll be  looking at another limited edition figure variant released by HAO Arts Office exclusively in Japan.

In fact, it's the 30th HAO Collection figure we've covered in this blog to date!

Blog #115 tackles the very rare HAO Collection Akira Maeda 1 of 500
RINGS ver. figure.


                     



The Akira Maeda RINGS Ver. figure was released in 2008 as part of HAO
Collection's "Regards For Superstars" series as Vol. 003 (the first two
volumes were Giant Baba and Stan Hansen).


                      

The front and back of the packaging for the RINGS ver. Akira Maeda figure
is identical to the UWF version; simply displaying Maeda's stats and title
victories.

Once removed from his slip-case packaging, the Akira Maeda RINGS ver.
figure stands about 6 and 1/2 inches tall and is made of soft vinyl (16.5cm).

As an alternate colour figure variant, the RINGS version (named after
Akira Maeda's Fighting Network Rings promotion) contains red wrist
bands.

Maeda's red coloured wristbands reflect the traditional red and blue
corners of a Boxing ring. In Japanese Pro-Wrestling, the tradition
was carried over while adding matching wristbands of the corner
each fighter was stationed in.

                          

Another variant exclusive are the red "R"(RINGS) decals on the sides
of  Maeda's shoot-style ring boots.


                                

Articulation-wise, the HAO Collection Akira Maeda figure features
articulation at the arms, wrists, neck and waist.

                      


Released in two variants, the HAO Collection Regards For Superstars
Akira Maeda would be the last figure made of Maeda to date.

The RINGS ver. with red coloured wristbands variant is the rarer of
the two with only 500 pieces ever made; making this figure the most
rarest Akira Maeda figure in the world!

For more reading, check out the review for HAO Collection Akira
Maeda (UWF Ver.) HERE

HAO Collection #DS-004 Quinton "Rampage" Jackson figure review

Starting the new year off with a pre-fight penalty, today's figure review "breaks
the ice" with blog #80: HAO Collection's Quinton "Rampage" Jackson!

                               


Being one of the earliest HAO Collection figures, Rampage Jackson was released
in 2003 as "#DS-004" (the "DS" represents the Japanese "Dream Stage Entertain
-ment" promotion - while Rampage was the 4th figure released of the set).


                                 

A close-up of Rampage's grimacing face sculpt shows off a sizeable gap in
Rampage's mouth as well as Rampage's stylized left eyebrow.


                             

The HAO Rampage Jackson figure comes sculpted with an attached MMA
"Yellow Card" in Rampage's left hand.

                        

The pose of the Rampage figure was inspired by Rampage's victory against Mikhail
Ilyukhin at Pride 26: Bad to the Bone which began with Rampage humorously
issuing the referee a "Yellow Card" (in MMA, a yellow card is considered a
"foul". Each time a fighter is issued a yellow card during a match, the fighter
loses 10% of their fight money. If a fighter receives three yellow cards, the
fighter is instantly disqualified).

Rampage's reason for issuing the referee a yellow card? The ref's breath
stunk.



                            


Rampage's left arm contains a tattoo decal of a black panther.



                              

A step down from from HAO's previous figure (#DS-003 Fedor Emelianenko),
there are no logos or designs on Rampage's trunks.

                              


One of the highlights of the HAO Rampage Jackson figure is Rampage's
removable walkout chain accessory!


                          

The bottom of the Rampage Jackson figure includes HAO's copyright
stamp from 2003.


                             

Rampage stands about 6 and a half inches tall and features a surprising
amount of articulation at the arms, wrists, neck, waist AND legs which
can be rotated!

Truly, very few HAO figures have this many poseable joints!

HAO Collection Giant Baba figure review

Welcome back to the largest source of information for Japanese Pro-
Wrestling figures on the web.

For blog #74, we'll be taking a look at another large scale, soft vinyl
figure from HAO Collection's Regards For Superstars line: "The
Giant Of The East": Giant Baba!


                    

Released in 2008, Giant Baba was another long-overdue legend who
was finally added to the HAO Collection at the tail-end of the line's
original production run.


                                        

The slip-case packaging can be removed to reveal a jumbo
trading card.

The front of the packaging reads Giant Baba in both English and Japanese
along with the Regards For Superstars series logo. The bottom right corner
also features the Japanese RINGSIDE website logo (which sold the HAO
Collection figures online).

Giant Baba would be the first figure released for HAO's "Regards For
Superstars" series (Vol. 001).



                                  

The back of the slip-case packaging features Giant Baba's stats
and Championship accolades. The profile reads:

"GIANT BABA
Profile
Real name: Shohei Baba (the brackets indicate how "Baba" is written)
DOB: 13.1.23. (January 23rd 1938 - "13" is 1938 in the Japanese calendar)
Place of birth: Niigata, Prefecture, Japan
Blood type: 0
Height: 209cm (6ft 8 in)
Weight: 135kg (297 lbs)

Debut: 35.9.30. (September 30th 1960 - "35" is 1960 in the Japanese calendar)
             Taito Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
             vs. Yonetarō Tanaka

Titles: NWA World Heavyweight Championship
            PWF Heavyweight Championship
            International Heavyweight Championship
            Asia Heavyweight Championship
            International Heavyweight Tag Championship
            Asia Heavyweight Tag Championship

Special Skill: 16 inch Kick (or "Big Boot" - named after Baba's boot size).
                        Running Neck Breaker Drop


The bottom text also mentions that the Giant Baba HAO Collection
figure was licensed by Baba's company "GIANT SERVICE Co.
Ltd." (株式会社ジャイアントサービス).


Let's take a look a closer look at the Giant Baba figure itself:

                        

Giant Baba comes sculpted in his signature, hands on hips pose with
classic entrance robe.
                                  

Baba's likeness is captured in soft vinyl form accurately; marking
Baba's first and only appearance in the HAO Collection since the

company's inception in the late 1990's.


                             

Even the mole on the left side of Baba's nose has been added.


                                   

                       


Baba's gown depicts a pattern of a Japanese Phoenix (鳳凰 - "Ho-oh").

                                 

                           

The clear and vivid details of the gown's decals are a highlight of
the Giant Baba HAO Collection figure.

If you look closely, you'll see a glitter finish applied to the white
portions of Baba's robe.

Unfortunately, the belt is molded into the gown itself.

                             

The back of the Giant Baba HAO figure continues the Phoenix
design perfectly.

The Giant Baba HAO Collection figure has articulation at the waist
and neck only (sadly, Baba's arms are frozen at Baba's sides.

When stood next to HAO Collection's Bob Sapp figure.

At just under 8 inches tall, Giant Baba stands the tallest (and right
fully so) of the regular HAO Collection figures.

                    

HAO Collection #DS-003 Fedor Emelianenko figure review

Just this week, I was finally able to get my hands on another coveted
figure from the Japanese HAO Collection line.

For blog #73, we'll be squaring off against the master of the Armbar,
Mixed Martial Arts champion: Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emeliane
-nko!

Released in 2003 as part of HAO Collection's line of large-scale soft
-vinyl figures.

As usual, the cardboard backing slips off easily revealing awesome, full
-colour graphics of Fedor and his fight gloves.

Fedor's name is displayed in both English and Japanese Katakana along
with the serial "#DS-003" ("DS" is short for the Dream Stage Entertain
-ment promotion while Fedor was the third figure from the set).

The back of the slip-case packaging. I love the scratched metal design.

The Fedor figure's packaging contains the standard item description
found on early HAO Collection releases. The description reads:

"FIGHTERS FIGURE LIMITED MODEL

This figure is the selected superstar from world sports entertainment.
Learn the spirit behind a figure shows you a new perspective on your
passion for the fight."
The back of the packaging also features the Dream Stage promotion
logo as the official licensee and Fedor's name once again in Japanese.

Let's take a look at the Fedor figure out of the package:

Sculpted in fighting pose, Fedor Emelianenko is one of the very few
HAO Collection figures to come packaged with a Championship belt.


                               

The included belt accessory (exclusive to the HAO Collection Fedor
figure) is the PRIDE Heavyweight Championship.


                             

The PRIDE belt has a lightweight fabric strap with durable plates and
buckle designs on the sides and back of the belt.

Each plate contains plenty of detail and has a 3-dimensional, textured
look.

                        

The back of the Pride Heavyweight belt contains four buckles and is
fastened with Velcro.


                                  


The only other mixed martial artist to contain a championship belt in
the HAO Collection is Wanderlei Silva (#D2-002 and repackaged as
an alternate variant as #DS-005 with white shorts). Both of which
contain the Pride Middle Weight Championship.

Fedor comes in his PRIDE-era "ADRENALINE" attire.

The design continues on the back of Fedor's trunks.

For display purposes, the Pride Heavyweight Championship can also
be slung over Fedor's shoulders.

At just under 7 inches (17cm) The HAO Collection Fedor soft-vinyl
figure is the largest figure ever made of the Emperor.

If you look closely, you'll even see Fedor's right cheek scar!

                               


Articulation-wise, Fedor features artciulation at the arms, wrists,
neck and waist.

What's even cooler is that Fedor's head tilts direction when rotated;
adding to the figure's intimidation factor!



In our next figure review, we'll be looking at another "giant" in the
HAO Collection!