10 Most Iconic Masks In Wrestling History

1. El Santo

Wrestling Masks
Columbia Pictures

No mask could ever be more iconic than the man who became a cultural icon not just in lucha libre, but in the country that birthed it. There's not a single pro wrestler in the history of the sport who became as famous in any country as Santo is in Mexico, and after all the matches and movies and comic books, a statue of the man was erected in his hometown of Tulancingo.

Santo was a huge draw, captivating fans across the country and making pro wrestling a legitimate sport and art form in Mexico. Like many other luchadors, he never removed his mask - except for giving fans a brief peek on a TV show in 1984. A week later, he died.

And the mask itself? Simple silver, with embellishments around the eyes and mouth. Despite being mostly devoid of features, it's become synonymous with the spirit of lucha libre. The fact that "El Enmascarado de Plata" ("The Masked Man Of Silver") achieved such great heights means that his trademark garment will always be remembered.

 
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Scott Fried is a Slammy Award-winning* writer living and working in New York City. He has been following/writing about professional wrestling for many years and is a graduate of Lance Storm's Storm Wrestling Academy. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/scottfried. *Best Crowd of the Year, 2013