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There have been multiple masked wrestlers in the WWE - Kane, Vader and Rey Mysterio, are three of the many masked superstars who have graced a WWE ring. While a mask enhances the persona of the wrestler and gives him/her an extra mystique, it is quite unusual that almost all the masked superstars in the WWE have been male.
No women wrestler has had a sustained run under a mask in the WWE. While the luchadoras in Mexico -- like the controversial Sexy Star of Lucha Underground and AAA -- predominantly wear masks, we haven't seen a female superstar come over to the biggest wrestling promotion in the world with one.
But many female WWE superstars have adorned a mask -- albeit rarely. This list takes a look at 5 such superstars.
#1 Bayley
Bayley wrestled under a mask only at NXT live events before adopting her fan girl gimmick. She teamed with Paige and Charlotte Flair in January 2013 under a luchador mask and had plans to wrestle in NXT as a luchadora.
However, the plans were scrapped and by June, she was repackaged under her current persona.
Bayley admitted to loving Lucha Libre mainly because her grandmother used to watch the show and that she wanted to wrestle in Mexico one day -- probably under a mask.
#2 Becky Lynch/Alexa Bliss/Mickie James
Late 2016 saw Becky Lynch and Alexa Bliss feud over the SmackDown women's championship. As their feud progressed, a new character called La Luchadora was revealed.
Just like the Los Conquistadores angle between the Hardy Boyz and Edge & Christian many years ago, multiple superstars played the same character.
Becky Lynch would dress up in the La Luchadora costume and take on Alexa Bliss in a match on SmackDown and Bliss would return the favour a week later. The angle got more confusing when another person appeared in the costume while both Lynch and Bliss were in the ring.
The woman under the mask was Indie wrestler Deonna Purrazzo. But when the identity of the Luchadora was revealed during a steel cage championship match between Bliss and Lynch, it was veteran WWE performer Mickie James under the mask.
The concept was used as a means to reintroduce Mickie into the WWE and the La Luchadora angle was quickly forgotten.
#3 Gail Kim
Before winning the Women's title in the WWE and way before becoming a legend in TNA, Gail Kim used to wrestle as La Felina -- 'The Queen of cats'. Wrestling for the Ontario-based Apocalypse Wrestling Federation, Kim adorned a Cat Woman inspired ring gear complete with a mask.
Kim wrestled under the mask until losing a hair vs mask match against Tracy Brooks.
Gail soon signed for the WWE and the La Felina gimmick was dropped for good. She then went on to win the WWE Women's title in her first televised match and also captured the TNA Knockouts title on six different occasions.
#4 The Fabulous Moolah
Wendi Richter was on an incredible run in the mid-1980 WWE scene. She was one of the main characters involved in the 'Rock n Wrestling Connection' and was the Women's Champion.
However, Vince McMahon and Richter could not agree on the terms for a new contract. McMahon booked a Women's title match between Richter and a masked opponent named The Spider Lady at Madison Square Garden. During the match, The Spider Lady went for a cover and the referee counted to three even though Richter had kicked out an one.
Richter -- who was told that she would be retaining the belt -- was livid and continued to attack her opponent and unmasked her, who happened to be The Fabulous Moolah. The entire plan was concocted by Vince McMahon and this has come to be known as the original Screwjob.
Moolah never wrestled as the Spider Lady again, reverting to her usual ring attire. Richter walked out of the WWE, eventually returning in 2010 to accept a Hall of Fame induction.
#5 Sara Del Rey
Sara Del Rey is the current NXT Assistant Head Coach and has been with the WWE for the past five years. Before that, she was making waves as the mainstay of promotions like Shimmer and Chikara, having five-star matches.
Del Rey has wrestled numerous matches with a mask and during her time in Mexico, she wrestled under the masked gimmick "The American Angel". She wore the mask until 2005, before losing a mask vs mask match.
She adorned another mask for the short-lived Wrestling Society X that aired on MTV in 2006. She went on to work in Shimmer, Chikara and ROH, famously becoming a part of the Kings of Wrestling stable, alongside Cesaro and Chris Hero.
