Evil Ways... The Great Nita

Wrestler: The Great Nita (Atsushi Onita)

Version: Deluxe 

Acquired: Mint off card

Promotion: New Japan Pro Wrestling 

Manufacturer: Character Product 

16d Collection: Tiger Mask

I just recieved my 16d Collection Tiger Mask and have to say they knocked it out of the park again. The figure, which depicts Sayama doing his signature rolling sole butt kick (or jumping rolling sole butt if you use the included tall figure stand pole), is everything I could have hoped for. The crisp gold paint on the mask combined with the vibrant blue and yellow gear make this a close second to Takahashi as my favorite from the 16d Collection... but Muta is yet to come...

Minoru Suzuki

Fighter(s): Minoru Suzuki

Version: Masakatsu Funaki Memorial Bout set

Acquired: Loose (missing King Of Pancrase title belt)

Known Variants: none

Promotion: Pancrase 

Manufacturer: Character Product 

Be afraid... be very afraid. Don't let the youthful face, head full of hair and stylish eyebrows fool you; even in this young form Minoru Suzuki was a major threat in the shoot and catch wrestling world. As simple as this figure is, it does a great job capturing the stoic intensity of Suzuki in his founding years of Pancrase. This figure is part of a two pack that includes his rival (& Pancrase co-founder) Masakatsu Funaki. The set also included the King Of Pancrase title belt, which I unfortunately do not have as I picked the pair up loose.

         Carded Masakatsu Funaki Memorial set

Stan Hansen

Wrestler: Stan Hansen

Version: Black entrance gear

Acquired: Loose

Known Variants: Tan/brown entance gear

Promotion: All Japan Pro Wrestling 

Manufacturer: Character Product

Of all of the amazing talent that has traveled to Japan to compete very few can match the tenacity, tenure and consistency of Stan Hansen. The face mold on this figure is very accurate and the cowboy hat has nice deco wrapping around it. The fringe on the vest and chaps is impressive and even has small separations in parts to make it look more life-like. Add the bull rope with cowbell (possibly my favorite CharaPro accessory) and this figure should be in the collection of any Hansen fan.

Kabuto-O Beetle (aka King Of Beetle)

Wrestler: Kabuto-O Beetle

Version: Human eyes

Acquired: Mint off card

Known Variants: Anime style eyes

Promotion: Osaka Pro

Manufacturer: Character Product 

One of my favorite CharaPro figures is the Osaka Pro Wrestling movie tie-in character, Kabuto-O Beetle (aka King of Beetle). From the detailed cut of the mask horn to the grooves on the mask everything looks amazing in person with the rest of his gear being just as toyetic & colorfully detailed. There is also a fun variant with anime eyes. 

"Crazy Monkey" Jun Kasai

Wrestler: Jun Kasai

Version: Red bandana (autographed bubble & back of card)

Acquired: New on card

Known Variants: Black bandana, black bandana bloody figure & weapons two pack with John "Jeeeeezus!" Zandig

Promotion: Combat Zone Wrestling & Big Japan Wrestling

Manufacturer: Alex Toys

Jushin Thunder Liger Inspire mask keychain

Mask: Jushin Thunder Liger
Version: Labeled as Version 2 Black/Silver/Red mask
Acquired: New in package
Known Variants: Red/White/Green mask
Promotion: New Japan Pro Wrestling
Manufacturer: Inspire

Though I am not much of a collector of Inspire keychains, when I came across this Liger in my searches I had to pick it up. The black and silver Liger mask and gear will always remind me of the very underrated J-Cup 2000 which saw Liger clash with another personal favorite, CIMA, in the finals and has always been a favorite of mine. The keychain itself is large with nice detail in the eye mesh. While I could never see myself using one of these bulky masks as a keychain, and they are difficult to display nicely in package, I will definitely pick others in the series up if I find them. 

Black and Silver version from my collection

Red version (source unknown)