Folks, today we bid farewell to one of Japan’s most iconic wrestling figures, Kuniaki Kobayashi, who passed away at the age of 68. The wrestling world is mourning the loss of a true legend, best known for his unforgettable battles with the original Tiger Mask. And let me tell you, when Kuniaki and Tiger Mask stepped into the ring, it was like fireworks on the Fourth of July—explosive.
Kobayashi’s wrestling career began back in 1972 at the NJPW Dojo, where he laced up his boots for the very first time. He didn’t just stick to Japan, though—no, this man wrestled around the globe, from the rings of Mexico to the gritty territories of the U.S., including a memorable stint in NWA Los Angeles. But it was his return to Japan in 1982 that set the stage for his legendary rivalry with Tiger Mask. Kobayashi billed himself as the “Tiger Hunter,” and boy, did he live up to the name. These matchups became the stuff of legend, with fans glued to the action every time they squared off.
Kobayashi’s career highlights don’t stop there. He was a true belt collector in the 1980s, capturing the prestigious World Junior Heavyweight Championship after taking down the second Tiger Mask, none other than Mitsuharu Misawa. Let’s not forget his reign as IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, a crown jewel in his career.
And folks, if you thought his impact ended there, think again! Kobayashi was also a part of Jushin Liger’s monumental career debut in 1989. That’s right, when Keiichi Yamada donned the Liger mask for the first time at the Tokyo Dome, Kobayashi was his very first opponent. Though he came up short in that historic match, their rivalry spanned years, and Kobayashi even bowed out of professional wrestling after facing Liger in his retirement match in 2000. Well, sort of. Because, like any true wrestler, Kobayashi’s “retirement” was just the beginning of special appearances and epic returns, with his last in-ring hurrah coming in 2017 at Wrestle Kingdom XI.
In a touching full-circle moment, Kuniaki Kobayashi was ringside for Jushin Liger’s own retirement match at Wrestle Kingdom 14 in 2020, showing that, even in the twilight of his career, his connection to the sport—and its legends—was unbreakable.
Behind the scenes, Kobayashi spent his final years paying it forward, helping to train new wrestlers at the NJPW Dojo—the very place where it all began for him. His legacy will live on not just in the stories of his epic matches, but in the careers of the next generation of wrestling stars he helped shape.
Rest in peace, Kuniaki Kobayashi—the Tiger Hunter, the legend, the teacher.