Various: Tiger Mask on If The Tiger Mask Character Should Continue in NJPW After He Retires & His Post-In-Ring Wrestling Career Plans, Nattie Set To Compete at NWA 78, NOAH Announces Full Schedule for 2026 N-1 Victory Tournament

Jun 26, 2026

Tiger Mask Comments on If Tiger Mask Character Should Continue in NJPW After He Retires & His Post-In-Ring Wrestling Career Plans

As noted before, NJPW wrestler Tiger Mask, also known as Tiger Mask IV, is currently scheduled to be retiring from his in-ring wrestling career at NJPW’s Tiger Mask Retirement Match event on July in Tokyo, Japan.

NJPW’s NJPW1972.com held a recent interview with Tiger Mask. One of the topics discussed included Tiger Mask’s thoughts about if the Tiger Mask character should continue in NJPW after he retires.

“I don’t really have an opinion one way or the other. I think it would be fine if somebody wanted to do it. Purely when it comes to the different techniques and athleticism, today’s young wrestlers are even better than Sayama-sensei, but with the overall level so high, it’s hard to stand out from the crowd. So it would have to be someone that has (Satoru) Sayama’s accuracy, the weight to what he did, the attitude and the scariness. That’s what I think a new Tiger would need.
If it’s just a case of a decent hand, good high flier, then I don’t think it should continue. If you look at all the other Tigers, even Sayama-san himself, you can see how hard it is to keep the Tiger Mask thing going.”

Tiger Mask also revealed that he will need to undergo back surgery after he retires.

“My body is a mess. You learn to work around and cover for one injury and that just damages something somewhere else. I need back surgery after I retire, and my doctor’s always amazed I can still wrestle at all. My neck isn’t great either, but for some reason when the bell rings, I can still go somewhat. Who knows? Maybe something Satoru Sayama instilled in me. But I have pride in myself to be Tiger Mask to the very end.”

Tiger Mask also gave his thoughts about his current plans for his post-in-ring wrestling career.

“Thank you so much for all the support over the years, and I’m sorry I haven’t always been able to live up to expectations, but I’ve always been aware of just how important all of you are to me. It’s thanks to every one of you that I’ve been able to wrestle for so long, and even though Tiger Mask IV the wrestler is retiring, I’ll still be around, I’ll still be working and I’ll be keeping a stern eye on NJPW, so I hope you’ll keep supporting New Japan. Thank you for these 31 years!”

Nattie Set To Compete at NWA 78

The National Wrestling Alliance recently announced that Nattie will be making an appearance for the company at their NWA 78 event on July 25 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

It was also announced that Nattie will be competing at the upcoming event but no opponent was revealed as part of the announcement.

𝘽𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙆𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎!
WWE Superstar @NatbyNature will appear and be in action at NWA 78, coming July 25 to Philly’s 2300 Arena! https://t.co/yWysZfdt0E

Already announced for the National Wrestling Alliance’s annual anniversary spectacular:
⚡️NWA Worlds Heavyweight… pic.twitter.com/sRdpwqHibq
— NWA (@nwa) June 25, 2026

This will be Nattie’s first appearance for the NWA since May of 2025.

NOAH Announces Full Schedule for 2026 N-1 Victory Tournament

Pro Wrestling NOAH recently announced the full schedule for this year’s N-1 Victory tournament, which takes place from September 12 to October 4 in Japan.

The winner of this year’s will receive a shot at the GHC Heavyweight Championship as a prize.

Full schedule for NOAH N-1 Victory 2026: