Tiger Mask IV
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| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Ring name(s) | Tiger Mask IV |
| Billed height | 173 cm (5 ft 11 in) |
| Billed weight | 88 kg (190 lb) |
| Born | October 20, 1970 Urayasu, Chiba |
| Trained by | Tiger Mask The Great Sasuke |
| Debut | July 15, 1995 |
Yoshihiro Yamazaki (born October 20, 1970), best known by his ring name Tiger Mask (IV) (タイガーマスク), is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Contents |
[edit] Career
Tiger Mask IV was trained by the original Tiger Mask, Satoru Sayama, and The Great Sasuke. For the first six years of his career, he worked in Sasuke's Michinoku Pro. He debuted in NJPW on January 20, 2002, and at first wrestled as a Michinoku Pro star. In December 2002, he officially joined NJPW, and quickly became a popular wrestler in their Junior Heavyweight division. He won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title in April 2003 from Koji Kanemoto, holding it for five months before it was vacated.
In 2005, he defeated HEAT for his second IWGP Junior Heavyweight title reign, but lost the title to Black Tiger. He defeated Black Tiger in a rematch on February 19, 2006, in a match where Black Tiger put both his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title and his NWA Junior Heavyweight Title on the line. His reign as IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion was ended on May 3, 2006 by Koji Kanemoto.
He was appointed as an 'ace' of WRESTLE LAND alongside Hiroshi Tanahashi, but after a lackluster first main event, he had only one more match before apparently leaving the brand.
On July 22, 2006 he married a 32-year-old woman whose given name is unknown (former last name Nishimura).
He appeared on TNA Sacrifice 2007 in a four way bout featuring Alex Shelley, Jerry Lynn, and Senshi. [1]
On the January 24, 2008 edition of TNA iMPACT!, he teamed with Curry Man to defeat the Rock 'n Rave Infection.
Outside of wrestling, Tiger Mask IV appeared on the 2nd SASUKE competition in 1998. He failed to make it past the first obstacle of the First Stage.
[edit] Finishing and signature maneuvers
- Tiger suplex
- Diving headbutt
- Millennium Suplex (Crossface chickenwing suplex) - Innovated
- Tiger Clutch (Crossface chickenwing)
- Rolling moonsault
- Top rope double underhook superplex
- Kneeling belly to belly piledriver
- Delayed high-angle German suplex
- Corner backflip kick
- Tiger feint kick
- Rolling sole butt
- Sitout double underhook powerbomb
- Rear naked choke
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
- Michinoku Pro Wrestling
- APEX OF TRIANGLE Six Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with The Great Sasuke and Gran Hamada
- British Commonwealth Jr. Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- Universal Wrestling Association
- UWA Middleweight Championship (1 time)
[edit] References
- ^ Banks, B. (May 9, 2007). New Japan Star Tiger Mask To Compete Sunday At Sacrifice. Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Retrieved on May 13, 2007.
