Giant Baba BABAWATCH review

 #Blog #277 BABAWATCH review

The next bizarre 80's Japanese Wrestling item is the Giant Baba BABAWATCH
(known in Japan as ジャイアント馬場【BABAWATCH】リストウォッチ).


The top of the package reads 'wristwatch' in Japanese.

The front of the packaging includes illustrations of Baba. The first illustration on the left depicts Baba searching for something (or someone). The second illustration features Baba performing his two signature techniques: the Overhead Chop and the 16mon Kick on the right. 

The 'G Baba' text in each corner has a 60's Batman vibe to it.

The back of the packaging contains an illustration of Baba smiling. Again, the Japanese texts reads 'wristwatch'.

The bottom of the packaging contains the company info 'Upper Upper World Production Committee (EHKOH)'



The watch's strap contains the text '16 MON' (short for 16mon Kick - Giant Baba's version of the big boot), along with 'BABA WATCH'.

Giant Baba had a lot of wacky products released during the 70's and 80's, from racecars to remote-controlled chopping figures, to piggy banks, board games and bendable figures. The BABA WATCH kid's watch is just the tip of the iceberg, really.

Given the watch's age, most sell for pretty low prices, as the original batteries in these watches have all long since petered out.






Special thanks to X/Twitter user Japones-lee for posting this two-page scan of the GONG July 1984 issue's MY COLLECTION article. 6 out of 19 of the All Japan roster wore Rolex watches.

begin.jp posted an article of Giant Baba, stating the All Japan owner admired wearing a Rolex Daydate watch. The article also mentions that 'Mr. Puroresu' Genichiro Tenryu also owned the same watch after spotting Baba wearing one.

Super Star Figure Collection Great Muta (White Facepaint) figure review

In the past few days, we've covered a lot of figures produced by Toukon Shop; New
Japan Pro-Wrestling's long-time, in-house figure maker.

Perhaps one of Toukon Shop's most familiar figure to western Wrestling fans,
Blog #164 covers the Great Muta Super Star Figure Collection (white paint
variant) figure.

Great Muta was the third figure added to Toukon Shop's Super Star Figure Collection line
back in 1997. It's also the second figure in the line to contain the "Hyper Heroes" logo.

Great Muta comes dressed in his recognizable white and black facepaint. Muta's lips
are painted - a nod to Muta's signature Poison Mist attack.

The back of the packaging lists Great Muta's name in Japanese Katakana as well as
Muta's physical stats along with an intimidating portrait.

The figure's parted hairstyle and ring attire are a reflection of Great Muta's mid 1990's
New Japan Pro-Wrestling look.

The left side of Muta's ring attire (not shown) contain's Great Muta's name. The right side of
Muta's ring pants contains a komodo dragon motif.


Closing thoughts:

Perhaps one of the most popular figures from the Toukon Shop line with western audiences is
the white paint Great Muta figure ...and for good reason! Great paint job, recognizable sculpt
and plenty of era-accurate details.

The white paint Great Muta variant would be the first-ever action figure made of either Keiji
Mutoh or The Great Muta. Interestingly, Great Muta's red facepaint variant wouldn't be released
until a year later (as Super Star Figure Collection #7) in 1998, Muta's NWO variant (Super
Star Figure Collection #8) the same year and Keiji Mutoh wouldn't get his first action figure
until 1999 (Super Star Figure Collection #21) through Toukon Shop.

Generally speaking, the red facepaint version, despite being released a year later, is considered
slightly more collectible with Japanese collectors; seeing as Muta's red design is the first thing
most fans think of when they imagine the Pearl from the Orient.