The Mask

Following on from a comment i made on a previous topic, i've decided to create a rather unusual article about Masks in wrestling. I've always found there was something peculiar and alluring about Masks. Mainly the fact that you have no real identity about the persons 'real' identity. For example, Sin Cara, i know he isn't fluent in English but i prefer the mysterious image he portrays, although on the business side fans will never seem to adapt.

So basically, just a few questions to ponder over, and ill post my responses in a new reply.

- Are you a fan of masks in wrestling?
- Do you agree that when a wrestler loses his mask it takes away great value from a character?
- If a wrestler was to be repackaged, do you think with a change in character (and a mask) he would be able to get over with fans?
- Who is your favourite masked wrestler, present and past?
- And finally, if you were to wear a mask, what would it look like?

I don't care if he went onto win the title after being unmasked, but masked kane was far better than now.

His character back then was awesome

gazzyD wrote:I don't care if he went onto win the title after being unmasked, but masked kane was far better than now.

His character back then was awesome

Totally agree!

Nowadays (well WWE) the only masks tend to be for luchadores, which I couldn't care less about


Although even though its perspex I like the cody Rhodes angle with the face protector, don't know if this would class as a mask though

- Are you a fan of masks in wrestling?
Yes
- Do you agree that when a wrestler loses his mask it takes away great value from a character?
Yes
- If a wrestler was to be repackaged, do you think with a change in character (and a mask) he would be able to get over with fans?
Yes
- Who is your favourite masked wrestler, present and past?
Kane/Mankind
- And finally, if you were to wear a mask, what would it look like?
I quite like suicides whole costume

Mankind for me is the best masked Wrestler even though I knew it was Cactus Jack

- Are you a fan of masks in wrestling?

Yeah I think it adds a certain mystique to a character.

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- Do you agree that when a wrestler loses his mask it takes away great value from a character?

Not necessarily, it all depends on what happens after the wrestler loses the mask.

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- If a wrestler was to be repackaged, do you think with a change in character (and a mask) he would be able to get over with fans?

If the wrestler is talented enough and given a decent character then yes. The major sticking point is obviously people saying "Oh that's so and so under the mask" but if the gimmick is strong enough then I think fans would eventually overlook that.

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- Who is your favourite masked wrestler, present and past?

Vader, Mankind, Kane and Aldo Montoya - The Portuguese Man O' War.

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- And finally, if you were to wear a mask, what would it look like?

Probably something similar to Mankind's, I like the idea of it having a bit of movement in the jaw area instead of just sitting there on your face, you probably wouldn't feel as restricted as with a full face mask.

Funnily enough all of my favourite wrestlers have worn a mask:

Mick Foley as Mankind
Vader
TUW - with his painted face
Macho Man - big hat, big glasses, big beard
Flair - crimson mask

Mr America had an awesome mask, took me years to work out who that was!

Abyss was quite good originally but on reflection he's a poor mans Mankind.

Doink The Clown always freaked me out as a kid!

I have a lot of respect for the wresters whose masks obscure the majority of their eyes, eye brows and mouths, basically everything you need to convey emotion within the ring. Kane is a perfect example of this, he got major over with the crowd without the same tools that other wresters have to convey emotion.

I believe this was why Mick Foley initially had big objections to wearing a mask and why his mask was not an all encompassing mask and why you could still see his eyes and facial expressions.

For the Mexican superstars such as Rey Rey and Sin Cara, the mask is all built into their heritage. I think for these two, if their masks were removed, it would severely change the characters that they currently portay.

As for Kane and Foley, the mask gave a hint of mysteriousness, as you almost knew there was something they wanted to hide. You would always be interested, so eventually it would be revealed.

[quote="Legend"]For the Mexican superstars such as Rey Rey and Sin Cara, the mask is all built into their heritage. I think for these two, if their masks were removed, it would severely change the characters that they currently portay.

i read when ray was in wcw he was upset by the way either he was exsposed or another wrestler was along with a few other south american wrestlers.

Fadorock wrote:I have a lot of respect for the wresters whose masks obscure the majority of their eyes, eye brows and mouths, basically everything you need to convey emotion within the ring. Kane is a perfect example of this, he got major over with the crowd without the same tools that other wresters have to convey emotion.

I believe this was why Mick Foley initially had big objections to wearing a mask and why his mask was not an all encompassing mask and why you could still see his eyes and facial expressions.

I think that this is one of the reasons I'm not a huge fan of the mask in wrestling especially within the more entertainment driven companies like WWE.
A human face purveys a huge amount of emotion, it can sell a story without uttering a word, with a mask though then that aspect is removed, no weakness is shown, no anger boils through the vein, no raised eyebrow, no slight smirk revealing a potential heel turn, these little things that add so much depth are lost.

Anyone like Del Wilkes'?

scouse rhino wrote:

Legend wrote:For the Mexican superstars such as Rey Rey and Sin Cara, the mask is all built into their heritage. I think for these two, if their masks were removed, it would severely change the characters that they currently portay.

i read when ray was in wcw he was upset by the way either he was exsposed or another wrestler was along with a few other south american wrestlers.

I think it might have been Juventud Guerrera after Jericho beat him. Mind you looking at Juvi maybe you can understand why people were upset.

I think my favourite mask is still Kane's when he debuted, with only the beard visible - the way Glenn Jacobs played it was brilliant, seeing his head tilt to the side was so powerful and he used his body to convey emotion much better than some wrestlers can use their face. Rather see that than Randy Orton have a tantrum on the mat...

Rey was upset because he lost his mask in a Hair vs Mask match against Kevin Nash. The same happened to Juventud Guerrera (in a Hair vs Title match against Chris Jericho) and Psicosis(Hair vs Mask match against Billy Kidman). This is a quote from Rey Mysterio "I was strongly against it! I don't think WCW understood what the mask meant to me, to my fans and to my family. It was a very bad move on their behalf. The fans wanted Rey Mysterio with the mask and losing it hurt me a lot. It was also frustrating that it didn't come as the climax to a feud with another masked wrestler, but in a throwaway match. The same thing happened to Juventud and Psicosis and psychologically wise it was a bad move by Eric Bischoff. I think the fans understand that I was in a position where I had no option. I either had to lose my mask or lose my job"

Wasn't it bischoff's idea for mysterio to lose his mask even though it was one of their biggest selling items?