Tiger Mask IV
| Born | October 20, 1970 Urayasu, Chiba |
|---|---|
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Tiger Mask IV |
| Billed height | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) |
| Billed weight | 84 kg (176 lb) |
| 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.
Career
Yoshihiro Yamazaki or better known as his ring name Tiger Mask IV was trained by the original Tiger Mask, Satoru Sayama, and The Great Sasuke. 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 joined NJPW officially, and quickly became a popular wrestler in their Junior Heavyweight division. He won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title in April of 2003 from Koji Kanemoto. He held the title for five months before it was vacated.
In 2005 he defeated HEAT for his second IWGP Junior Heavyweight title reign, but would lose the title to Black Tiger. Tiger Mask 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]
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.
Finishing and signature maneuvers
- Tiger Suplex
- Millennium Suplex (Crossface chickenwing suplex)
- Rounding Body Press (Rolling moonsault)
- Tiger Clutch (Crossface chickenwing)
- Top rope double underhook superplex
- Tombstone piledriver
- Diving headbutt
- High angle German suplex
- Rolling sole butt
- Tiger driver
- Rear naked choke
Championships and accomplishments
- Michinoku Pro Wrestling
- APEX OF TRIANGLE Six Man Tag Team Championship (1 time, with The Great Sasuke and Gran Hamada)
- National Wrestling Alliance
- New Japan Pro Wrestling
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- Stampede Wrestling
- British Commonwealth Jr. Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- Universal Wrestling Association
- UWA Middleweight Championship (1 time)
References
- ^ Banks, B. (May 9, 2007). "New Japan Star Tiger Mask To Compete Sunday At Sacrifice". Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help)