6 North Americans who wrestled under a mask in Japan

Japan has one of the most historic legacies in professional wrestling. While there were earlier attempts at bringing wrestling into the country, the sport took off in 1951 with Rikidozan being the first major star in the country. During the 1980s and 1990s, the Japanese wrestling scene became heavily influenced by the American and Mexican wrestling landscape.

Suddenly, the Japanese wrestling scene attracted masked luchadors like Jushin 'Thunder' Liger, Ultimo Dragon, and Tiger Mask. Many masked luchadors became more than professional wrestlers and were seen as living legends.

During this time, several young and up and coming talents from the North American based WCW promotion saw a number of legends pass through the doors of these Japanese promotions. In general, Japanese promotions have brought in "gaijins" or foreigners to their wrestling promotions, as a star attraction. Legends like Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Bam Bam Bigelow, and Big Van Vader all wrestled in Japan.

At the same time, younger wrestlers like Chris Jericho, Eddie Guerrero, and Chris Benoit also wrestled for New Japan Pro-Wrestling as a way of gaining experience while working for WCW. This was a part of the mutual relationship that saw the two promotions share their talent. In the years after the fall of WCW, Japan became a region where independent wrestlers could find reliable work with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Michinoku Pro, and All Japan. In more recent years, Dragon Gate and Pro Wrestling Noah have been added to the list of Japanese wrestling promotions.

As such, many foreign wrestlers have come to Japan in order to get additional experience and work in new territories outside of North America. Sometimes these wrestlers wore masks that continued the legacies of previous masked characters, while others have created new masked characters that they then brought back to North America.

This is a list of six wrestlers from North America who wrestled under a mask in Japan.

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# 6 Rocky Romero - Black Tiger IV

Rocky Romero wrestled under the mask in NJPW as Black Tiger IV

Rocky Romero is probably not going to be a familiar name to many wrestling fans, especially if you have only watched WWE. Romero has wrestled for ROH, CMLL, and AAA, but is probably best known for his run in NJPW. Romero is a former Junior Heavyweight Champion and an 8-time IWJP Junior Tag Team Champion. Romero also won the ROH tag team titles on three separate occasions.

During his time with Ring of Honor, Romero teamed with Davey Richards and defeated wrestlers like Tyler Black, Austin Aries, and Bryan Danielsen. Romero also wrestled an extensive period of time for New Japan, starring in feuds against The Young Bucks for the IWJP Junior Heavyweight Tag Titles. Romero is currently a member of New Japan Pro-Wrestling's CHAOS faction.

Before establishing himself as a name in both ROH and NJPW, Romero became the fourth person to don the legendary Black Tiger mask. Romero wrestled as Black Tiger from 2004-2009. He eventually lost the mask in a Title vs Mask Match against Tiger Mask at NJPW Resolution 2009.

Romero wasn't the only "gaijin" to wrestle under the Black Tiger mask.

# 5 Eddie Guerrero - Black Tiger II

Eddie Guerrero, best known for his run in WWE, wrestled as Black Tiger II in NJPW

Eddie Guerrero, son of wrestling legend Gory Guerrero, was a fantastic wrestler in his own right. Eddie forged his path wrestling as part of a WCW Cruiserweight Division that included Rey Mysterio, Dean Malenko, and Chris Jericho. Toward the tail end of his career, he was also a fantastic WWE World Champion.

Eddie began his wrestling career in Mexico with both major Mexican promotions in CMLL and Triple-A. In 1993, Eddie wrestled in Japan for New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Eddie would wrestle in a mask as the second incarnation of Black Tiger. During his time in Japan, Eddie would win the Best of the Super Juniors Tournament in 1996. Eddie finished wrestling in Japan in 1996 before returning to the United States to continue wrestling with WCW.

Eddie would eventually move over to WWE alongside Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn to form The Radicalz. Eddie struggled for a long period in WWE's mid-card scene before winning his first World title in 2004, after defeating Brock Lesnar.

In November 2005, Guerrero was found dead in his hotel room as a result of acute heart failure. Guerrero was so beloved that WWE, ROH, TNA, OVW, and CZW all held their own tributes to the late legend.

# 4 Christopher Daniels - Curry Man

Christopher Daniels, now signed to AEW, wrestled as the masked Curry Man in Japan and the USA

Christopher Daniels is widely known for his runs in TNA and ROH. Daniels previously held the Ring of Honor World Championship, as well as tag belts in both TNA and ROH. In TNA Daniels was more commonly associated with the X-Division Championship, which he won on four separate occasions. Daniels also wrestled for brief stints with WWE, WCW, and ECW.

In 1999, Daniels went to Japan to wrestle for Japanese promotion Michinoku Pro. Daniels spent several years with the Japanese promotion going back and forth between Japan and the USA. While at Michinoku Pro, Daniels created the Curry Man gimmick. In 2002, Daniels would wrestle for New Japan Pro-Wrestling under the Curry Man mask and would participate in the Best of the Super Juniors Tournament.

Daniels would eventually bring Curry Man to the USA, wrestling against Jay Lethal at Ring of Honor before donning the Curry Man mask for TNA in 2008. Daniels last wrestled under the Curry Man mask at an event for Joey Ryan's Bar Wrestling promotion. Daniels is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling as part of SoCal Uncensored, alongside Scorpio Sky and Frankie Kazarian.

# 3 Chris Jericho - Super Liger

Current AEW Champion, Chris Jericho, wrestled a single match under a mask as Super Liger

Chris Jericho is known as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. He is the first ever AEW World Champion and the very first WWE Undisputed Champion. Before wrestling for WWE, Jericho also wrestled in WCW's illustrious Cruiserweight Division that included the likes of Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, and Rey Mysterio. Towards the end of his time in WCW, Jericho also wrestled in Japan for New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

In New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Jericho donned a mask and wrestled under the moniker of Super Liger. Super Liger was originally intended to be a rival to popular Japanese luchador Jushin 'Thunder' Liger. Jericho had a solitary match under the mask, after complaining that the mask rendered him unable to see. Jericho continued to wrestle for New Japan without the mask, before leaving for WCW and eventually signing with WWE.

Jericho's tenure with WWE would eventually wind down towards the end of 2017. Jericho would return to NJPW twenty years after his initial masked appearance to face Kenny Omega. Jericho would later sign with All Elite Wrestling and would become the inaugural AEW World Champion at the promotion's inaugural All Out pay-per-view.

# 2 Chris Benoit - Pegasus Kid

Chris Benoit wrestled in Japan as Pegasus Kid before signing with WWE

Many wrestling fans know the story of Chris Benoit and his legacy in the ring, as well as his controversial final actions. Benoit's history before wrestling for WCW and WWE is less well known.

Before he was a main event caliber star in North America, Benoit wrestled in Japan under a mask and the name Pegasus Kid. During his time with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Benoit wrestled against fellow famous names like Big Van Vader, Owen Hart, and Scott Hall. Benoit would eventually lose his mask to Jushin 'Thunder' Liger in 1991.

Eventually, Benoit would make his way back to North America and would reach the pinnacle of the wrestling world, by becoming World Heavyweight Champion in both WCW and WWE. Benoit was well decorated in both promotions, as he became a Triple Crown Champion in WCW and WWE.

During his career, Benoit won numerous titles. He won the Tag Team titles with Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, and Edge in WWE, and Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn in WCW. He also won the WWE United States title three times and the Intercontinental Championship four times. After losing his mask, he would also win the Best of the Super Juniors Tournament in Japan twice. In the mask, he had one solitary reign with the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title.

# 1 Daniel Bryan - American Dragon

Daniel Bryan wrestled as the American Dragon in Japan, which also saw he wear a mask

Daniel Bryan was originally trained by Shawn Michaels at the 'Heart Break Kid's' wrestling school called Texas Wrestling Academy. It was during this time that Michaels suggested the American Dragon gimmick. Bryan would take this gimmick with him when he traveled to Japan, where he wrestled for New Japan Pro-Wrestling and FMW.

Bryan would return to America and wrestle as the American Dragon for a variety of promotions, including WWE and PWG. However, many of these appearances were without the mask. Bryan would eventually lose the mask for good and wrestle as Bryan Danielson for Ring of Honor. He went on to change his ring name to Daniel Bryan after signing with WWE, where he would go on to make a household name for himself.

Most wrestling fans are incredibly familiar with the Daniel Bryan that participated in the memorable Triple Threat Match against Randy Orton and Batista at WrestleMania XXX. Shortly thereafter, Bryan was forced to retire from in-ring competition due to issues related to CT. He would eventually return to the ring two years later and continues to be an active in-ring competitor for WWE.