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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Jan 14, 2024 2:03:37 GMT -5
An update on (most of) my 16d Collection figures from Japan. since stacking 40-ish boxes on top of each other takes up way too much room, (from my office desk alone, the boxes could reach the ceiling), I decided to try out Zakk Ryder's famous toy philosophy of "letting them breathe". The result looks like a N64 Wrestling game cover:  |
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Post by MKSavage on Jan 14, 2024 6:05:04 GMT -5
An update on (most of) my 16d Collection figures from Japan. since stacking 40-ish boxes on top of each other takes up way too much room, (from my office desk alone, the boxes could reach the ceiling), I decided to try out Zakk Ryder's famous toy philosophy of "letting them breathe". The result looks like a N64 Wrestling game cover: Very nice. I hope to find that white Muta one day for a good price. |
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PVA
Main Eventer
Too hot to handle and too cold to hold
Joined on: Apr 12, 2004 15:33:20 GMT -5
Posts: 3,185
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Post by PVA on Jan 14, 2024 11:25:10 GMT -5
Good idea to unbox them!
They look great & the boxes are kinda bulky.
I may need to steal your idea and put the triple crown on mutoh as well.
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Jan 25, 2024 0:36:42 GMT -5
If you've been waiting for the 16d Giant Baba figures to go on sale, the Good Smile website has just re-released both versions.  This is the first time the Giant Baba figures have been made available since the first batch of figures sold out roughly two years ago following the pre-order period. I ended up buying mine over eBay for double the asking price a while ago (learn from my mistakes, people).
NOSAWA RONGAI's special retirement version, a re-release of Mitsuharu Misawa, and a new spin-off series of plushies featuring the Starlight
Kid have also made their way to Good Smile's website.
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Feb 9, 2024 20:43:27 GMT -5
Today's acquisition is a Charapro figure based on one of the shortest gimmicks used by a Professional Wrestler in Japanese history: Satoru Sayama's short-lived 'The Tiger' gimmick.
In 1984, rival promotion All Japan Pro-Wrestling purchased the rights to the Tiger Mask gimmick. Satoru Sayama (the original
Wrestler to compete as Tiger Mask) had left New Japan after a falling out with promotion owner/star Antonio Inoki. In the
process, Sayama decided to cling to the popularity of his in-ring persona, all the while reinventing himself simply as 'The Tiger'.
It's interesting to note that Sayama wrestled just two matches as The Tiger before settling on the rename 'Super Tiger'
(I suppose The Tiger's look and name were too close to the original source material Sayama was trying to distance
himself from).
 Charapro's The Tiger figure features accessories that were common with the company's deluxe line at the time. Accessories include:an acrylic display stand, figure pegs, along with an acrylic nameplate that reads 'THE TIGER'. The figure itself depicts a young Satoru Sayama, in his 1984 UWF-era ring gear. Along with the included display stand, two mask accessories (Sayama's first and second mask designs) were included as well.  If you're wondering why a gimmick that only lasted two days was able to have two ring masks, well, this particular figure is actually a repaint of Charapro's 'Super Tiger' variant - a gimmick that Sayama wrestled under for much longer. |
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PVA
Main Eventer
Too hot to handle and too cold to hold
Joined on: Apr 12, 2004 15:33:20 GMT -5
Posts: 3,185
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Post by PVA on Feb 10, 2024 9:04:56 GMT -5
An update on (most of) my 16d Collection figures from Japan. since stacking 40-ish boxes on top of each other takes up way too much room, (from my office desk alone, the boxes could reach the ceiling), I decided to try out Zakk Ryder's famous toy philosophy of "letting them breathe". The result looks like a N64 Wrestling game cover: I’ll say it again; Super impressive collection! Cool to see them all together. 16d/ HAO figures are probably the most underrated wrestling figure line. Finally got misawa & Hansen coming my way. |
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Feb 13, 2024 15:16:09 GMT -5
One of the most popular figures in all of Puroresu has to be the Charapro Bruiser Brody (Shout ver.).  Part of Charapro's infamous legends line, this was Bruiser's first action figure (released one year before Jakks Pacific's Classic Superstars version).  For those that dare to take the legend out of his packaging, may be shocked to discover that Brody's entrance vest is removable! Bruiser contains a bonus left arm (closed fist pose).  Another shocking feature is the ability to remove Bruiser's head sculpt! The reason behind this is to make removing Bruiser's entrance vest manageable.  In his ring gear, Bruiser makes a great display alongside the Charapro Stan Hansen (Lariat ver.). Over the years, I've owned this Brody figure several times. It's a figure (especially when in the package) that contains a mythical feel to it. It's a grail that only continues to appreciate in value. Despite the hundreds of dollars many of the Charapro legends figures go for today, the Charapro Brody's originally sold for 2,200 yen (about $30 in today's money); a bargain compared to what the figures fetch for these days... |
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@Chair.Shot
Main Eventer
WF 10+ Year Member
Joined on: Jan 31, 2012 4:38:24 GMT -5
Posts: 4,863
Member is Online
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Post by @Chair.Shot on Feb 14, 2024 3:21:33 GMT -5
I love following this thread. Out of curiosity, how do you obtain items you want these days? Through groups online, shops in person, auction sites like Yahoo Japan, all of the above? lol
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Feb 14, 2024 10:50:01 GMT -5
I love following this thread. Out of curiosity, how do you obtain items you want these days? Through groups online, shops in person, auction sites like Yahoo Japan, all of the above? lol For years, my top pick was always Toudoukan. In general, Toudoukan's prices were far cheaper than any Japanese Wrestling figure available on eBay, plus the store offered better selection for figure completionists. Though, I can't recommend Toudoukan any longer based on the store's absurd price hikes over the last few years. I've since shifted to Goodsmile Shop, Mercari
and Yahoo Auctions. My only caveat with ordering these days is dealing with insane duty fees with Canadian Customs. Fees I have to pay every....single...time.
To give you an example, the 16d Dynamite Kid net me a bill of $25 in duty fees alone. Order more than 18 figures from Yahoo in one box? Try $130 - $200
in fees. It's insane.
There are cheaper sites out there that sell Wrestling goods, but their selection is hit and miss compared to online auctions. Many stores also refuse to ship
their products outside of Japan.
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Feb 16, 2024 15:02:15 GMT -5
After five years of searching, I was finally able to track down the ultra-rare blue Jushin Liger 16d Collection figure variant:  Both variants contain identical packaging, right down to the product photography. In later releases, 16d would put more effort towards creating separate packages for different figure variants.  The only discernible difference between both variants is a blue or gold sticker. Blue symbolizes the limited edition variant, while gold represents the common version.  The limited edition version contains blue highlights applied to Liger's mask and ring attire (chest and stomach emblems).  The blue highlights continue with the emblem on the back of Liger's ring attire.  Liger's blue design was even incorporated into Fire Pro Wrestling's 'Fighting Road: 2017 NJPW Junior Heavyweight Championship' DLC. In the end, I was able to snag the Blue Liger in a bundle with the common version (which I already own). So, if anyone reading this is interested in owning an unopened 16d Liger at a deal of a price, let me know. |
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Feb 21, 2024 11:03:14 GMT -5
At 6:00 AM this morning, I received an email from GOODSMILE SHOP stating that the Great Muta Retirement figures will be shipping out as of today! As a major Keiji Mutoh/Great Muta fan, I'm super excited for this release.  Both figures went up for pre-order at the end of last October, and are scheduled for regular release some time in March through the GOODSMILE SHOP. Though, it will probably be months before enough figures are made for regular sale through the site (as an example, GOODSMILE has yet to post the Keiji Mutoh version, which was supposed to be released for regular sale last July). I expect a similar fate will follow suit for those that weren't quick enough to snap up the figures during their pre-order period.
 Younger versions of Keiji Mutoh and Masahiro Chono; which appeared as part of Charapro's Pro-Kaku Heroes Mini Big
Head Figures Vol. 7. (legends series #2).While, I would love to see more gaijins and WWE legends added to the 16d line, a younger Keiji Mutoh, pre-90's NWO Japan heel turn wouldn't hurt either. |
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Feb 24, 2024 0:35:49 GMT -5
This is a photo Keiji Mutoh took himself of his very own Wrestling figure collection. Figures include:  HAO Mech Muta (Black). HAO Mech Muta (White Battleroyale.jp exclusive). INSPIRE Keiji Mutoh DCor figure. Great Muta (Clear Black mail-away) Mini Big Head figure. The Great Kabuki Mini Big Head figure. Mil Mascaras (Sombrero ver.) Mini Big Head figure. Abdullah The Butcher BoFord AJPW legends collection (mystery figure). Abdullah The Butcher Mini Big Head figure. The Destroyer Mini Big Head figure. HAO Great Muta Spider (Red). HAO Great Muta Spider (Black Battleroyale.jp exclusive) Keiji Mutoh King Fighters figure. Great Muta King Fighters figure. Great Muta Spider figure (clear red exclusive full-size version) Great Muta (Spider) Mini Big Head. Great Muta (Aztec) Mini Big Head. Great Muta New Japan keychain. A Bathing Ape Mr. 610 sofubi figure. 16d Collection Great Muta Retirement Memorial version. |
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Feb 29, 2024 15:41:49 GMT -5
Here's another Japanese figure variant many of you may be unaware of: The Charapro Yoshiaki Fujiwara 'Comeback Memorial' version
At first glance, collectors may think this is just the UWF-styled, high boots version of the Charapro Fujiwara figure.  But, on closer inspection, there is a special sticker placed in the top right corner of the packaging, showing Fujiwara himself holding the figure with the text "comeback memorial! Limited edition of 60 signed!"  The back of the Fujiwara figure contains Fujiwara's signature, along with Fujiwara's brand stamp. This marking was used to identify official products sold by Fujiwara at the time. As there was no barcode on the backs of these figures (a trend with early Charapro figures from the era), I'd estimate this variant was sold online through Fujiwara's official website, or at live venues. Due to Fujiwara's lengthy career, finding autographs of the submission master isn't a hard search. Other than the sticker and associated autograph, there isn't any other difference to the figure itself. Though, it's nice to see Charapro worked closely with the Wrestlers they licensed to create unique offerings like the signed Fujiwara variant.
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raylancrowder
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Sept 15, 2018 8:41:27 GMT -5
Posts: 171
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Post by raylancrowder on Mar 1, 2024 1:52:02 GMT -5
Most of my Charapros (particually the later ones) don't have barcodes. I thought it was just a feature of them.
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Mar 5, 2024 20:12:19 GMT -5
When remembering close friends, Keiji Mutoh posts pictures of figures from his Wrestling collection to Twitter: ![]()  Remembering 'The King of Destruction'. A prominent member of the Toukon Sanjuushi: Shinya Hashimoto. While not Hashimoto's first figure (that distinction belongs to the early Rollertron plushies; where Hashimoto was rocking a full beard), the above is Hashimoto's first action figure from Toukon Shop's Superstar Figure Collection that started back in 1997.  Remembering Mitsuharu Misawa. This figure was made by Charapro's sister company Mogura House (best known for their Hayabusa, Misawa and Big Van Vader figures). This specific two-pack features the standard bearded Misawa paired with the Charapro DX Keiji Mutoh. The Keiji Mutoh variant pictured above is known as the 'Kiss Pose' variant, as it features Mutoh about to perform his 'Pro-Wrest LOVE pose' with hands to his lips.
Though, whenever I blow a kiss to someone, I don't have the same grimace on my face that Mutoh does.
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Mar 6, 2024 11:38:51 GMT -5
After restarting my Wrestling figure collection, I've made attempts to acquire figures that I never had (but always wanted) in the past. A boxed example of the HAO Collection Antonio Inoki (announcer version) is one of my newest acquisitions:  I've always liked the marble design of the cardboard backing for the series 1 wave; it adds a classy approach to the original HAO figures' appeal, in my opinion.  The back of the packaging contains a special sticker for Inoki's officially-endorsed merchandise; along with Inoki's parent corporation for licensing rights. Reds Inc. and JCTC (Japan Collection Toy Club) handled distribution of the original HAO figures (which have been replaced by Ingram in the years to follow).   This version of Inoki is based on the legend's post-1998 retirement, where Inoki became an announcer for Mixed Martial Arts and Pro-Wrestling events. As such, Inoki is sculpted in his signature taunt/battle cry "Ichi, Nin, San ....DAAAAAAA!" (1,2,3 dah!).  Not the most ideal way to clean out one's eardrum, the HAO Collection announcer Inoki features articulation in both arms, neck, and waist. I recommend being extra careful when turning the waist of this figure; especially if it was just removed from it's original packaging for the first time in 20 years. Mine took a considerable amount of effort to rotate.  Even with the attached base, the Inoki announcer version is slightly-taller than the polystone retirement statue also created by HAO. Personally speaking, I'm glad HAO continued to stick with soft vinyl over polystone. Certainly less fragile and prone to chipping. The bottom of Inoki's shoe states that the announcer version (marble backing) was released in 2002. A year before the blue carded series started appearing in Japan.   For fans of announcer-era Inoki, there's two other figures worth mentioning here. Created by Charapro in 2004, Inoki's announcer attire is one of the rarest and most expensive Mini Big Heads available. This particular variant is the secret mystery figure of Volume 1, and is a shrunken down version of the Inoki announcer figure from Charapro/Toukon Shop's Super Star Figure Collection line (2002). |
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PVA
Main Eventer
Too hot to handle and too cold to hold
Joined on: Apr 12, 2004 15:33:20 GMT -5
Posts: 3,185
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Post by PVA on Mar 18, 2024 13:40:50 GMT -5
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Post by biggerbetterbadder on Mar 19, 2024 7:17:57 GMT -5
Any news on the next 16d figure? The last one was Dynamite Kid. Correct?
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Post by tigerdrivercollect on Apr 6, 2024 8:17:02 GMT -5
In no particular order: 1. Great Muta (classic facepaint) 2. Bruiser Brody 3. Jushin Liger 4. The Great Kabuki 5. Andre The Giant The newest figure in the 16d Collection line is Terry Funk. Terry is currently up for pre-order.   GoodSmile Shop no longer carries the 16d figures. Any old links to the site are considered outdated links. For the most up-to-date info on the 16d line, use the site: 16d.jp/p_category/16dc/I'd love to get my hands on this figure, but the 16d.jp website doesn't seem to ship outside of Japan. I guess we'll have to wait for sites like Big Bad Toystore or eBay to stock them. |
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Post by biggerbetterbadder on Apr 6, 2024 10:06:45 GMT -5
In no particular order: 1. Great Muta (classic facepaint) 2. Bruiser Brody 3. Jushin Liger 4. The Great Kabuki 5. Andre The Giant The newest figure in the 16d Collection line is Terry Funk. Terry is currently up for pre-order. GoodSmile Shop no longer carries the 16d figures. Any old links to the site are considered outdated links. For the most up-to-date info on the 16d line, use the site: 16d.jp/p_category/16dc/I'd love to get my hands on this figure, but the 16d.jp website doesn't seem to ship outside of Japan. I guess we'll have to wait for sites like Big Bad Toystore or eBay to stock them. Oh wow. Love this Terry figure! I’m a mark for Terry, so this is a must buy! |
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