11 Most Influential Japanese Wrestlers Of All Time

4. Tiger Mask I (Satoru Sayama)

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, New Japan Pro Wrestling was dominating its rival All Japan, due in part to a focus on smaller Junior Heavyweights over the bigger Heavyweights that Baba was pushing. One of the small guys that Inoki saw dollar signs in was Satoru Sayama, the original Tiger Mask. Inoki€™s instinct proved to be spot-on: Tiger Mask is considered to be the most influential light heavyweight of all time. Despite supposedly weighing only 160lbs., Tiger Mask took Japanese wrestling in another direction, with his high-flying maneuvers and impressive speed and stamina. He was also took part in what is considered to be the first match to be rated 5 Stars by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter: his match against Dynamite Kid on April 23rd, 1983. Though not as decorated as other light heavyweights like Ultimo Dragon or Jushin Liger, Tiger Mask was indeed a revolutionary in Japanese wrestling. Many of WWE€™s top wrestlers of the 1980s, including Bret Hart, recall having great matches against the incredibly-agile Tiger Mask while touring Japan. Just as well, Rey Mysterio in particular should thank Tiger Mask, as Sayama is the one who invented the Tiger Feint Kick, better known as the 619. Ergo, without Tiger Mask, there might not have been that impressive finishing maneuver that Mysterio used to dazzle the audience.