Tiger Mask IV Set for July 7 Retirement Show, Will Compete Twice in Final Matches

A legendary run in New Japan Pro-Wrestling is drawing to a close. Six-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Tiger Mask IV has announced his in-ring retirement, with NJPW set to honor him with a dedicated retirement show on July 7th. In a notable send-off, he is scheduled to compete in not one but two matches on that card, giving fans a proper final look at one of the promotion’s most enduring masked competitors.

Ahead of the event, Tiger Mask sat down with NJPW1972.com to reflect on the end of his active career and what comes next. Far from disappearing from the scene, he made clear that his presence in the wrestling world isn’t going anywhere. “I’ll still be around, I’ll still be working,” he said, adding that he intends to keep “a stern eye on NJPW” going forward.

Tiger Mask IV has been a cornerstone of NJPW’s junior heavyweight division for decades, carrying one of the most iconic masks in the history of the sport. His six reigns with the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship speak to his sustained excellence at the top of the division over a career that spanned generations of talent.

With two bouts scheduled for his retirement card, the July 7th show figures to be an emotional night for long-time New Japan fans. His pledge to remain involved with the promotion suggests that, even after hanging up the boots, his connection to NJPW is far from finished.