Guest Trivia247 Report post Posted August 27, 2002 Was thinking about the famous wrestlers from Puro , Mexican and so forth that were wearing masks. Not just random wrestlers but Masked characters with Legacy's like For example Tiger Mask. My question as a Prelim Puro watcher, Does the Title of "Tiger Mask" Being the extension of the original wrestler Helped the careers of those that proceeded him? Or.... Did the wrestlers whom was famous before donning the Mask increased the Prestigy of the Mask... Satoru Sayama Misawa Koji Kanemoto and conversely the Black Tigers from the first to Eddy Guerrero and Silver King currently? What's your opinion? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RickyChosyu Report post Posted August 27, 2002 Well, it is my understanding the in the case of the Tiger Mask gimick, none of the guys who wore it were well-known beforehand, accept possibly Sayama. So that would definitely be a case of the character keeping up the legacy of the mask. As far as I can tell, the Black Tiger gimick is the same. Silver King was farely well-known within the junior division, but definitely not to the point that it would be prestigious for them to give him a gimick. Lyger's gimick was essentially a comic character that they felt like giving him a chance with, just like the Tiger Mask character. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest PlatypusFool Report post Posted August 27, 2002 I think that the giving of a mask can really, really help a new wrestler to make a name for himself. A perfect example is the brand new wrestler who is about to start in NJPW, who may or may not be someone we've seen before, but the point is is that now he has the mask and is being heavily promoted before his debut. He's even being pimped to 'exceed Lyger', which is a huge thing to say pre-debut and will give him a huge start and probly instant success, much like Lyger himself when he debuted his mask. Was anyone famous before putting on masks? Masks are given to wrestlers that are either stuck on the undercard and need something to boost them upwards or brand new wrestlers. Plus, no one usually knows who people are when they use the mask, so how can their identity help the masks prestige? I suppooooose that if the wrestler proves excellent after they remove the mask then it looks good in the line of wearers, but has anyone heard much of Marc Rocco after he took off the mask, and thats still going strong... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RickyChosyu Report post Posted August 28, 2002 Yeah, but trying to pass off gimicks to the wrong person can sometimes lead to disaster. (See: Super Liger). Hopefully whoever this guy is won't break under the hype. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Black Tiger Report post Posted August 28, 2002 I see it as the mask is how to initially draw attention to the wrestler but its the ring work that keeps him in memory. When we all saw Lyger the first time, did you take extra notice because of his name or because had a weird ass looking mask on? Then later when we saw what he could do in the ring is how he got himself famous as a legend. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest permagrinning Report post Posted September 2, 2002 I think that the giving of a mask can really, really help a new wrestler to make a name for himself. A perfect example is the brand new wrestler who is about to start in NJPW, who may or may not be someone we've seen before, but the point is is that now he has the mask and is being heavily promoted before his debut. He's even being pimped to 'exceed Lyger', which is a huge thing to say pre-debut and will give him a huge start and probly instant success, much like Lyger himself when he debuted his mask. Was anyone famous before putting on masks? Masks are given to wrestlers that are either stuck on the undercard and need something to boost them upwards or brand new wrestlers. Plus, no one usually knows who people are when they use the mask, so how can their identity help the masks prestige? I suppooooose that if the wrestler proves excellent after they remove the mask then it looks good in the line of wearers, but has anyone heard much of Marc Rocco after he took off the mask, and thats still going strong... I'm a bit out of the loop, but who are you referring to? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Black Tiger Report post Posted September 2, 2002 He's talking about Heat, NJPW's newest masked Junior, who is believed to be Katsuyori Shibata at the moment. Shibata was just your average looking Young Lion, but Heat is already big news with his knockout on Giant Silva, and being pimped to "exceed Lyger". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest BigPoppaKev Report post Posted September 3, 2002 I think the mask has greatly helped some people. Look at Liger. I think he is a legend partly because of his mask/costume. It just adds to the mystique of the wrestler. I think that Tiger Mask IV would not be as over as he is if it wasn't for the legend of the Tiger Mask. I think the mask usually helps a wrestler get over. Lets see if it does that with NJ's new wrestler HEAT. (who many assume is Shibata.) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest razazteca Report post Posted September 3, 2002 is that the same Shibata that has been working in CMLL the past few months? As for the question of does the mask make the wrestler? I would say yes, I have seen much of puro and base this opinion solely on the Luchadores that I have been watching for the last year. The mask gives the wrestler a history to live up to, a standard that must be upheld, it gives the wrestler a reason for people to cheer him or to boo him. Such as the case of Hijo de Rayo de Jalisco or La Parka Jr, now these guys were given popular Technico masks for instant crowd approval. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Black Tiger Report post Posted September 3, 2002 The mask is what makes the wrestler stand out from the rest of the pack. Look at what becoming Kendo Ka Shin did to Tokimitsu Ishizawa, Ishizawa was just another mat based worker like Dean Malenko, Kendo Ka Shin was so over with fans, doing exactly what he'd done as Ishizawa, that he was the 3rd man for Lyger's team in the Airforce Wars series. Can anyone who doesn't watch current NJPW on any regular basis tell between Shibata, Inoue, Takamura, Yano, or Shinsuke? They don't look the same but I can't tell who's who until I've seen them all for a very long time or they have something about them to stand out. That's why Shibata as Heat is good for his career at this point, fans will know who Heat is in a heartbeat. Later on if he can't use Heat to get over ala Kanemoto as TMIII he can unmask and fans will remember Shibata as the man who used to be Heat, until Shibata gets himself over by something new. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest razazteca Report post Posted September 4, 2002 tell between Shibata, Inoue, Takamura One of them has pony tails hair and wears face paint just like that britney spears gimmick from NWA Wildside. And Takamura had no ideal what to do during the triple team spots early on. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest BigPoppaKev Report post Posted September 4, 2002 Yes it is Shibiata that has been working in Mexico. Well thats at least what I hear. They are repackaging him as HEAT and he kind of debuted at 8/29 attacking Giant Silva. I hope this gimmick doesnt bomb. As for Kendo Ka Shin I hate him mask or no mask. The fans didn't get into him until he won a PRIDE fight with one of the Gracies. It really wasn't because of the mask. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
