Protos? Customs? You Decide...

So, I've been struggling to come up with a topic that would be worth mentioning on the blog.

As it always seems to happen, I'll settle for something that puts photos to use in order to carry the weight of the topic. Can you blame me?

Anyway, I came upon a few photos a while back (excuse me because I don't remember where I got them from) that could either be a great discovery or something so obvious that I'll feel dumb for not realizing it sooner.

These were labeled as S.T.O.M.P. Series 2 figures from a much older website I found (I believe) while digging through the Internet archives. In order from first to last, we have Stone Cold Steve Austin (yeah, believe it or not), Headbanger Mosh, Owen Hart, and Ken Shamrock (although it would make more sense to be The Rock/Rocky Maivia since it's series 2).

Having looked over these photos many times, I still am not sure if what I'm seeing is what I should be seeing. In other words, that these are ACTUAL prototypes or possibly even testshots of the figures that were to be made.

Obviously, the coloring is way off and looks cheaply done, so how reliable can these be?

Well, one thing is for sure - the underwater scuba gear was not available before series 2, so we could be seeing an early attempt at showcasing the accessories before the official color schemes were chosen.

In fact, the figures even look to be on display with the carding and inserts placed at their feet.

Since I don't currently own any of the figures from series 2, the best I can do is to share this MOC photo of Owen Hart (courtesy of Rockin' Robin's Figures) and the back of the carding where actual prototypes were often shown.

There are few similarities between the two sets of protos, which is why I would have to lean toward these being very early (around the time of their release in 1998) customs that are beyond the definition of strange.

Especially Austin and whatever that is on top of his deranged head.

Yet, I can't help but think that maybe there is something more to these than just a bunch of ridiculous customs. After all, these were not listed as customs at the time and it could be inferred that these were meant to be placed under the S.T.O.M.P. Series 2 banner of that particular website.

What are your thoughts on the matter? Are these early customs or prototypes?