Ilu Ilu x Battle Aid Toy x Wrestling Event

Tonight's event was truly like no other I've ever attended. It's also the most fun I've ever had in Japan. Where else can you get new toys, meet up with friends, and run like hell to avoid being dismantled by flying wrestlers???

The event, called Battle Aid, was held at 1st Ring in Shinkiba.

Let's start with a look at the toys.

Ilu Ilu brought four versions of his new wrestling characters, which were designed and made for this event.

These sets are called Dynamic Fight and feature the characters Wild Cross and Great Ozeki.

 More after the jump:

Each set came with random double-sided playing cards on super-thick card stock, like so:

The following table was for display:

Unmasked! Wild Cross's mask has a slit in the back like the old removable toy masks from the 70s. The sofubi has a different feel from the thicker vinyl used for the toys. I told Ilu Ilu it reminded me of the squishy masks that came with the bendable Tiger Mask figures from the late 70s. He nodded yes indeed!

Wrestling ring

Another classic Ilu Ilu poster

Championship belt!

Some pics of the wrestling action:

First match.

Get up Raiden!

This match was something of a mix between MMA, boxing, and wrestling.

This mixed doubles match was really fun.

I think he called this the brain buster.

All hell broke loose as soon as the final match started!

It was pandemonium in the seats!

From a short distance.

I hope we'll see more events like this combining toys with other aspects of pop culture in an atmosphere of good old fashioned fun!