Tiger Mask IV Retires at Sold-Out Korakuen Hall, Original Tiger Mask Among Those to Honor Him

Tiger Mask IV’s long career in professional wrestling came to an emotional close on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, as a sold-out Korakuen Hall in Tokyo played host to his retirement show under the NJPW banner. All 1,490 seats were filled for the occasion, a testament to the legacy the masked veteran built over decades in the ring.

The evening was structured to give Tiger Mask IV a fitting send-off, with three sanctioned matches closing out the card — each featuring the retiring star. The headline moment came when the Original Tiger Mask, the man who created and popularized the iconic character in the early 1980s, stepped between the ropes to lock up with his successor, bringing a deeply symbolic full-circle moment to the proceedings.

Following the in-ring action, Tiger Mask IV received a flower presentation from members of the NJPW roster as well as former rivals who returned to pay their respects. It was the kind of ceremony that Japanese wrestling does better than almost anyone — a dignified, heartfelt farewell that honored both the man and the mask.

Tiger Mask IV had been one of the longest-running figures associated with the Tiger Mask character, carrying the legacy through multiple eras of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. His retirement closes a meaningful chapter not just for NJPW, but for the broader history of lucha-influenced Japanese wrestling. With three final bouts and a packed house to send him off, he got the goodbye his career deserved.