8 Best Masked Wrestling Returns

8. Tiger Mask W

Kota Ibushi is a rarity in pro wrestling: a nomad, happy to trade the safe money of signing with a name promotion for the freedom to compete wherever and whenever he likes. Whether he's taking a Burning Hammer from The Brian Kendrick or moonsaulting off a car while fireworks are shooting everywhere, Ibushi marches to his own curious drumbeat.

Of course, that hasn't kept him from making a noteworthy masked return. As shocking as it was baffling, Kota Ibushi's decision to spend an entire year in New Japan only competing as Tiger Mask W instead of himself was bizarre. But it also made for some very entertaining matches, particularly against Kazuchika Okada and various Tiger Mask-related opponents, including Red Death Mask and Tiger the Dark.

This also allowed Ibushi to make an even more surprising unmasked return, as he competed in this year's G1 Climax tournament, which was billed as his first NJPW match in over two years.

Kayfabe lives!