For decades, the masked wrestler has been a key ingredient to the business, as fans are intrigued by the mystery of who’s under the guise. A few masked wrestlers would go on to bigger fame without them (the Blue Blazer/Owen Hart or El Generico/Sami Zayn), but others are synonymous with their masks. The luchador culture revolves around them as tradition and mask vs hair matches are always significant events.
A few guys have lost their masks before going on to have okay careers without them. Others love to maintain the illusion to the point of never removing them if they can avoid it. However, in today’s world, it’s easier to find images of these guys maskless. Here are ten notable masked wrestlers without those masks.
10 Mistico/Sin Cara I
WWE had high hopes when they hired Mexican superstar Mistico, hoping to use him as a replacement for Rey Mysterio. But from the start, Sin Cara had problems as he refused to learn English and he made a few early botches that ruined his mystique.
An altercation with Alberto del Rio pushed Sin Cara further down the ranks to the point WWE fired him and gave someone else the character. He would return to Mexico as Caristico and briefly unmask to try and show up his WWE stint.
9 Shark Boy
One has to credit Dean Matthew Roll for how long he worked this comedy character. Shark Boy was a fan favorite in TNA with his fun mask and goofy act. He was usually beaten up by bigger opponents, but his perseverance won fans over.
The highlight was when a blow to the head caused him to start acting and talking like Stone Cold Steve Austin, which made him more popular. There are plenty of images of Roll unmasked to show how wearing that odd garb was what made him a loveable star.
8 Sexy Star
At one point, Sexy Star appeared ready to break out huge in the U.S. She lived up to her name, even if most of her face was hidden behind a huge mask. In Lucha Underground, she became a leading player and champion.
But in 2017, Star severely injured Rosemary during a AAA event. The backlash was huge, and Star was effectively blackballed for some time. It is a shame Star never lived up to her name due to her actions.
7 Mil Máscaras
Mil Máscaras’ legacy is complex. On the one hand, the “Man of a Million Masks” introduced luchador wrestling to the U.S. and was a terrific star in Mexico for decades; however, Máscaras has received some criticism for not selling for his opponents.
Máscaras's son, Alberto Del Rio, having a bad reputation doesn’t help. Still, it’s hard to argue with his success, and those terrific masks always standing out. A photo of him without it shows how handsome Máscaras is, which is ironic he became so successful hiding his features.
6 Ultimo Dragon
When WWE hired Ultimo Dragon in 2003, they expected a fantastic super-hero like character ala Rey Mysterio to be a hit. Sadly, Dragon’s tenure ended when at Wrestlemania XX, he tripped on his own cape and was let go soon after.
It’s a shame as Dragon was a terrific star, including holding ten titles at one time, including the WCW Cruiserweight title and J-Crown. Since 2004, Dragon has remained a top draw in Japan, and while unmasked photos are rare, they add appeal to his character.
5 Sin Cara II/Hunico
Jorge Arias had a good career in Mexico before joining WWE in 2009. When the original Sin Cara was fired, Arias took on the role, and most agreed he was far better. This led to a feud with the original Sin Cara before Arias teamed with Kallisto and the Lucha Dragons became NXT tag team champs.
An angle had Arias unmasked to become Hunico, but he eventually returned to his Sin Cara persona and a Dragons reunion. Released by WWE in 2019, Arias is now in Mexico as Cinta de Oro and prefers to forget his unmasked tenure.
4 Kalisto
After breaking out in Mexico, Kalisto joined WWE in 2013. He took off paired with Sin Cara as The Lucha Dragons, who went on to win the NXT tag team titles. Kalisto carved out a good singles career, including winning the U.S. and Cruiserweight titles.
Kalisto was last seen in Lucha House Party but has been out for some time due to injury. The only proven images of Kalisto unmasked are screenshots from when Alberto del Rio removed it mid-match as the man protects his real face much better than other masked wrestlers.
3 El Santo
El Santo began the luchador culture as most people know it. Not only was he a sensational in-ring worker but one of the biggest celebrities in Mexico who made over fifty movies. El Santo also began the tradition of luchadors never being unmasked in public.
In 1984, a retired El Santo was on a talk show and shocked everyone by suddenly lifting his mask for a few seconds. He clearly knew something as he died just 10 days later. His funeral was a huge event attended by thousands as he was buried with the mask on. His impact on all wrestling and Mexican culture can never be understated.
2 Rey Mysterio
WWE loves to showcase the pasts of their wrestlers. However, there is one part of his career Rey Mysterio prefers not to show. In 1999, the popular luchador lost a match to Kevin Nash and was thus forced to unmask. It didn’t help as it hurt Rey's persona and caused him to be pushed down the ranks.
Ever since his WWE debut in 2002, Rey has worn that mask, which is one of the company’s biggest merchandise sellers. Rey still prefers not being photographed unmasked, and WWE honors that; however, it’s easy to find videos of how different he looks without those colorful masks.
1 Jushin Liger
An era ended on January 5th, 2020. After 35 years, Jushin “Thunder” Liger finally hung up his boots. It ended a remarkable career as Liger revolutionized high-flying wrestlers in Japan. He also helped establish that style in the U.S. with his classic WCW feud with Brian Pillman.
Liger was hailed for his work, including fighting on despite a brain tumor and known for his elaborate costumes and huge masks. He did unmask a few times in a match and in 2019, changed his look to an impressive white makeup figure. Liger’s legacy as a masked superstar will never be equaled.
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