With Yamazaki retiring in June 2026, there's been a lot of talk around who should be the next Tiger Mask. Right now there's no real option that people are clamoring for, nor is there any indication if there will BE a Tiger Mask whatever number we're on rn it's complicated. (Lets just say 5 since Yamazaki was IV)
I think there's a few guys you can suggest, namely Nagai and Fujita. Both guys are the future of the division but I don't think they need the mask to succeed. They've played with the tweener role for both of them and I think they'll both be part of a new Junior Musketeer trio that may involve a different YL. However, I have another suggestion, Master Wato.
There's clearly been some sort of shift with Wato this year. He has captured two titles, but neither are his main desire, the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. Wato's failure after winning last year was the peak of his career, or at least as Master Wato. We just saw his failure to defeat HOT in the A block finals, and I think this theme of failure will haunt him for the next six months. He will then have his worst BOSJ performance to date and we'll see him at his all time low.. until Tiger Mask retires and gives him the opportunity to fulfill his destiny, the way of the grandmaster.
Wato is now Tiger Mask V and despite not winning JTL with presumably YOH again, he is stacking up win after win until he gets his shot at the gold at WK21 where he finally wins the big one. Wato is now 30 and the next 6-7 years will establish him as the ultimate test for upcoming juniors. Tiger Mask is the ace of the junior division and whilst he'll constantly win and lose the belts to talent of his era like Fujita, Nagai, Robbie X and Clark Connors, he will still be presented as the face after Hiromu moves up and Desperado and Ishimori take on mentorship roles. DOUKI and Connors will be the main heels of the division for a while until someone new pops in, but Tiger Mask will be someone they fear.
Ik this is a little fantasy booking-like and they'll most likely either not give it to someone or give it to a different YL, but I think this would be a good way to spice Wato up and let him live his dream of becoming the grandmaster of the junior division by being the ultimate benchmark. Who do you think should take up the mask?
by Urass007