List of masked wrestlers
This is a list of masked wrestlers. The earliest known masked wrestler in the United States was The Masked Marvel who famously "crashed" the international tournament, which featured many of the top stars of the "Farmer" Burns-Frank Gotch era, held at the Manhattan Opera House in 1915.[1] In North America, many professional wrestlers have traditionally worn masks after they had been used in an area, or "territory", that their popularity and drawing ability diminished, it would be an easy way for a wrestler to begin working in a new area as a "fresh face". Sometimes workers wore masks in one territory and unmasked in another territory in order to keep their two identities separate. Several wrestlers used one or two personas for their entire career such as The Destroyer (1962–1984), Mr. Wrestling (1965–1983) and Masked Superstar (1976–1986).[2] Tony Atlas debuted as the Black Atlas in a feud with Randy Savage around 1976.
Wrestling masks also have a significant cultural importance in lucha libre, and puroresu to a lesser extent; famed luchadores such as Blue Demon, Mil Máscaras and El Santo have achieved an almost iconic status in Mexico. In Japan, masked wrestlers are also very popular. Many are heavily influenced by anime and manga characters such as Tiger Mask and Black Tiger during the 1980s, and Jushin Thunder Liger in the 90s. Many of these stars would appear in World Championship Wrestling during the "Monday Night War" period.[2]
In recent years, World Wrestling Entertainment has re-used masked characters for comedic purposes. Edge and Christian donned the masks worn by the WWF's original Los Conquistadores in their feud with World Tag Team Champions The Hardy Boyz in 2000. Under the guise of El Gran Luchadore, Paul London, Shannon Moore, Eddie Guerrero and Kurt Angle each challenged JBL for the WWE Championship in 2004. Likewise, El Generico and Shark Boy play a similar role on the independent circuit.
List
Single wrestlers
Tag teams and stables
Name | Promotion | Years active | Country | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
American Starship (Starship Coyote & Starship Eagle) | Jim Crockett Promotions | 1985 | United States | [3][6] |
The A-Team (The "Atomic Kid" Buddy Wayne and the Frog) | All Star Wrestling | 1987–1988 | Canada | The Atomic Kid decided to start wrestling without his mask revealing himself to be Buddy Wayne not long after forming the A-Team in 1987. The Frog was unmasked by "Vicious" Verne Siebert, The Mighty I-Ton, and "Tiger" Dory Signh in 1988.[25] |
The Assassins (original) (Assassin#1 & Assassin #2) | Florida Championship Wrestling, Georgia Championship Wrestling, National Wrestling Alliance | 1961–1983 | United States | Roger Smith, Randy Colley and Hercules Hernandez each wrestled as "Assassin #2".[3] |
The Assassins (Assassin#1 and Assassin #2) | World Wrestling Association | 1966–1967 | United States | Assassin #1 was unmasked by The Sheik in 1971.[5] |
The Blackhearts (Destruction and Apocalypse) | All-Japan Pro Wrestling, IWA Japan, Stampede Wrestling | 1989–1991; 1993, 1996–1997 | United States | A second incarnation was formed with Apocalypse and Devastation in 1993; Apocalypse was replaced by Agony in 1996.[3] |
The Blue Infernos (Blue Inferno I & Blue Inferno II) | Continental Wrestling Association | 1966–1967 | United States | [3] |
The Colossal Kongs (Awesome Kong and Krusher Kong) | Global Wrestling Federation, United States Wrestling Association, World Championship Wrestling | 1991–1993 | United States | [3] |
The Columbian Tigers (Columbian Tiger I & Columbian Tiger II) | National Wrestling Alliance | 1974 | United States | [3] |
Los Conquistadores (original) (Conquistador I & Conquistador II) | World Wrestling Federation | 1987–1989 | United States | [3][8] |
Los Conquistadores (Conquistador I & Conquistador II) | World Wrestling Federation | 2000 | United States | [3] |
Los Conquistadores (Conquistador I & Conquistador II) | World Wrestling Federation | 2000 | United States | [3] |
Los Conquistadores (Conquistador I & Conquistador II) | World Wrestling Federation | 2003 | United States | [3] |
The Council of Trabajadores | Philippine Wrestling Revolution | 2015– | Philippines | |
The Cruel Connection (Cruel Connection I & Cruel Connection II) | Jim Crockett Promotions | 1987 | United States | [3] |
The Crusaders (Crusader I & Crusader II) | Maple Leaf Wrestling | 1973–1974 | Canada | Crusader I was unmasked by The Sheik in 1974.[5] |
The Cyberpunks (Ice & Fire) | United States Wrestling Association | 1996 | United States | [3] |
The Ding Dongs (Ding Dong I & Ding Dong II) | World Championship Wrestling | 1989 | United States | Unmasked by The Skyscrapers in 1989.[3][5][10][11] |
Doom (Ron Simmons and Butch Reed) | World Championship Wrestling | 1989–1990 | United States | [3] |
The Executioners (original) (Executioner#1 and Executioner#2, and Executioner#3) | World Wide Wrestling Federation | 1976-1977 | United States | [3][6] |
The Executioners (Pain and Agony) | World Wrestling Federation | 1992–1994 | United States | [3][6] |
The Grapplers (Grappler#1 and Grappler#2) | Continental Wrestling Association | 1982–1984 | United States | [3] |
The Infernos (original) (Mephisto & Dante) | Jim Crockett Promotions, National Wrestling Alliance | 1966–1972 | United States | [3] |
The Interns (Central States) (Tom Andrews & Jim Starr) | Continental Wrestling Association | 1971–1975 | United States | Andrews returned to the territory a year later wrestling under the name "Super Intern".[3] |
The Interns (Kenneth & John Moore) | Continental Wrestling Association | 1976–1977 | United States | [3] |
The Interns (Memphis) (Roger Smith & Don Bass) | Continental Wrestling Association | 1984–1985 | United States | [3] |
The Machines (Super Machine, Big Machine, Giant Machine, Hulk Machine) | World Wrestling Federation | 1986–1987 | United States | [2][3][6][8] |
The Invaders (Invader I, II, III, IV) | World Wrestling Council | 1973–2012 | Puerto Rico | [3] |
Jynx Brothers (Ingus Jynx, Wildo Jynx) | World Wrestling Federation | 1996 | United States | [26] |
The Knights (The Red Knight, The Blue Knight and The Black Knight) | World Wrestling Federation | 1993 | United States | [6] |
Los Villanos (Villano I, II, III, IV, V) | AAA, Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, Universal Wrestling Association, World Championship Wrestling | 1970– | Mexico | Villano II committed suicide on April 17, 1989. Villano III was unmasked by Atlantis in 2000.[3] |
The Masked Marvels (Billy Garrett & Jim Starr) | Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling | 1971 | United States | [3] |
The Masked Marauders (Scrubber Daly & Lucky Gordon) | Joint Promotions | 1983 | United Kingdom | [27] Gordon was later replaced by Larry "Black Jack Mulligan" Coulter for some later 1983 house shows. The originals Daly & Gordon teamed as the Marauders without masks 1985 |
The Masked Superstars (Karl Von Steiger & Don Greene) | Florida Championship Wrestling | 1974–1975 | United States | [3] |
The Medics (El Medicos) Medico I & Medico II | Continental Wrestling Association | 1972 | United States | [3] |
Minnesota Wrecking Crew II (Mike Enos & Wayne Bloom) | World Championship Wrestling | 1990 | United States | [3] |
Mr. X #1 & Mr. X #2 | Jim Crockett Promotions | 1976–1977 | United States | Unmasked by Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Champions Paul Jones and Ricky Steamboat in 1977.[3] |
The Robotrons (Craig Bresett and Fabio Chiesa) | All Star Wrestling | 1987 | Canada | |
The Russian Assassins (Russian Assassin#1 and Russian Assassin#2) | Jim Crockett Promotions | 1988–1989 | United States | [3] |
The Shadows (Shadow I and Shadow II) | World Wrestling Federation | 1987 | United States | [28] |
The Super Assassins (Super Assassin#1 & Super Assassin#2) | World Championship Wrestling | 1995–1996 | United States | [3][6] |
The Super Destroyers (original) (Super Destroyer I and Super Destroyer II) | World Class Championship Wrestling | 1983–1984 | United States | [3][15] |
The Super Destroyers (Super Destroyer I and Super Destroyer II) | Eastern Championship Wrestling | 1992–1993 | United States | [3] |
Super Zodiac #1 & Super Zodiac#2 | World Class Championship Wrestling | 1989 | United States | [3][6][15] |
Tex Slazenger and Shanghai Pearce | World Championship Wrestling | 1992–1994 | United States | [3][6] |
References
- ^ Pro Wrestling Illustrated (2007). "Pro Wrestling Illustrated: Wrestling History". PWI-Online.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae "Masked Wrestlers". From Parts Unknown. WrestlingMuseum.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-25.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg eh ei ej ek el em en eo ep eq er es et eu ev ew ex ey ez fa fb fc fd fe ff fg fh fi fj fk fl fm fn fo fp "Masked Wrestlers". Wrestler Bios. OnlineWorldofWrestling.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Top 10 Masked Wrestlers". Bleacher Report. June 4, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Stratoti, Paul (January 12, 2010). "Remembering Masked Wrestlers – Photos". Blog Archive. ProWrestlingDigest.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao "Masked Wrestlers". WrestleScoop.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Reynolds, R.D. and Randy Baer Wrestlecrap: The Very Worst of Pro Wrestling. Toronto: ECW Press, 2003. (pg. 14, 115–116, 135, 169–170, 172–173, 212) ISBN 1-55022-584-7
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Boivin, Noel; Chris Lombardo (January 29, 2009). "Top 20 Worst Masked Wrestling Gimmicks of All Time, Part I". Sports. TheSharkGuys.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Mullan, Raymond (December 9, 2010). "WWE: The 25 Most Ridiculous Wrestlers Outfits in History". Wrestling. Bleacher Report.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Tapout, Eric. "The 50 Worst WCW Wrestling Gimmicks Ever". Tapout Zine. BedofNailz.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Boivin, Noel; Chris Lombardo (February 2, 2009). "Top 20 Worst Masked Wrestling Gimmicks of All Time, Part II". Sports. TheSharkGuys.com. Archived from the original on January 21, 2011.
- ^ a b c Bourne, Dick; David Chappell. "An Interview with Don Jardine – The Super Destroyer". Mid-Atlantic Gateway Interviews. MidAtlanticGateway.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Reynolds, R.D. and Blade Braxton. The Wrestlecrap Book of Lists!. Toronto: ECW Press, 2007. (pg. 23, 25, 34, 40, 60, 111, 216–217, 337, 348) ISBN 1-55022-762-9
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Conner, Floyd. Wrestling's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Pro Wrestling's Outrageous Performers, Punishing Piledrivers and Other Oddities. Dulles, Virginia: Brassey's, 2001. ISBN 1-57488-308-9 (pg. 1–2, 62, 66, 74, 83, 87, 114, 120–121, 123, 167–176, 183, 268)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Dananay, John. "Who was (insert masked wrestler's name here)?". World Class Memories: WCCW Frequently Asked Questions. WorldClassWrestling.info.
- ^ Davison, Ruby; Diane Whalen (2004). "WCCW #8 Page #2". Regional Territories: World Class Championship Wrestling. KayfabeMemories.com.
- ^ Inside Wrestling, winter issue 1994, p.22.
- ^ Nevada, Vance (2011). "Ricky Hunter". Slam! Sports – Wrestling. Canoe Inc. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b c "Wrestling Masks". MJ Factory. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
- ^ "WrestlingEpicenter.com - RIP Rest in Peace Obituaries". www.wrestlingepicenter.com.
- ^ http://kendonagasaki.org/node/52
- ^ "Danny Davis' OWW Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-07-26.
- ^ "The Nighthawk's OWW Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
- ^ ""The Yeti" Ron Reis reveals WCW's original plans for the Yeti character, the famous star he replaced in the booking plans, Yeti returning to WWE or TNA, and more". Pro Wrestling Insider. November 24, 2009. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
- ^ youtube video, Posted April 17, 2008.
- ^ "OVW Southern Tag Team Title (Kentucky)". Wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
- ^ TVTimes, Saturday ITV listings, May 21-27 1983
- ^ "Shadows « Tag Teams Database « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
External links
- The History of the Mask, a brief history of masked wrestlers in lucha libre