Just like how the previous Tiger Mask worked with real life wrestlers of his generation such as Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba (and are now considered wrestling legends), Azuma Naoto has the privilege to train and team with the wrestlers of today (and future hall of famers). Two top champions from the New Japan organization are Okada Kazuchika and Tanahashi Hiroshi. Though their real life counterparts do not voice them, their selected seiyuu still capture their intense charisma and larger than life personas.

Tanahashi’s large frame, long bleached hair, and his colorful trunks are taken into animated form as he supports the new Tiger Mask’s quests to take down the Tiger’s Cave. Tanahashi, in fact, plays something of a trainer to Tiger Mask in helping him develop his moves. In the series, some of his trademark moves such as his Sling Blade (think of it as a swinging lariat), his High Fly Flow (a splash onto the opponent from the top rope), and his twelve-to-six (think of it as a variation to a pile driver where you take the opponent upside down and dump them on their head) are portrayed in the series and gives Naoto some inspiration to his style. In addition, there are instances he will either tag team with them or face them man-to-man in the ring.

Just like how life imitates art with previous real life Tiger Mask wrestlers taking inspiration from the anime, art now imitates life with the present anime Tiger Mask borrowing techniques from previous real life incarnations of the wrestler. On some occasions, he borrows the shuffle used by the first two Tiger Masks, Sayama Satoru, and Misawa Mitsuhara. On some occasions, he uses a spinning jump kick, which is famously used by Sayama.

As the series progresses to where it is now, he even goes as far using the Tiger Driver, a variation of the pile driver technique where he hooks the opponent's arms for leverage as opposed to lifting by the waist. If you compare some of Naoto’s matches with the real life Tiger Mask (no matter what generation), their styles are based on speed, accuracy, and agility, and strength whenever necessary. So seeing this influence in the anime is quite a treat for loyal wrestling fans familiar with the real life Tiger Mask.

Sure the real life world of professional wrestling is predetermined but not anybody can just put on a pair of tights and boots and become a wrestler. To do what those guys and gals do and travel around the world for more than 90% of the year is a physically demanding job that requires them to be in top shape in order to not just perform, but maintain their physiques and performance. Whenever Naoto doesn’t have a match, he is always training whether it’d be lifting weights, going out for a run, hitting the bag, or hunting bears in a forest! His pure discipline is a great example to all athletes who wish to succeed.

As the series progresses and begins to acquaint with other baby-faced (a wrestling term for the good guy) wrestlers, he manages to find time to schedule sparring sessions with them. The series also does a great job of emphasizing the performing aspect of wrestling in its own unique way and Naoto’s intense style does a great job of capturing it in anime form.

As previously mentioned, the original series has spawned off a real Tiger Mask wrestler the past 40 years, and men such as Sayama Satoru (who became a trainer as hellish as Tiger’s Cave trainer), Misawa Mitsuhara (who unfortunately passed away in the ring in 2009), and Kanemoto Koji had the privilege of competing as the character.

Upon the debut of this series, a real-life Tiger Mask W made his debut in the ring of New Japan Pro Wrestling. The current man to take up this unique legacy is Ibushi Kota, who has also competed in the WWE’s NXT promotion. Just like the anime, he wears the trademark mask and the black and blue trunks. You can even watch highlights of the real life Tiger Mask W on youtube as he faces the real life Tiger the Dark (who is performed by an American wrestler, ACH of the independent Ring of Honor promotion).

Some of what you see in that match shares some common features from episode 12 of the anime such as the use of the high-flying acrobatics, martial arts strikes, and head crushing techniques.

Episode 13 demonstrates that Naoto is a true sportsman by seeing that the Yellow Devil he defeated was a fake in the mask league tournament. And after he was awarded his victory plaque in the closing ceremony, he publicly destroys it in disgust. After all the training and the hard work, he feels that his victory to avenge his old teacher and stable went down the drain.

Yes, it was a tournament to settle who is the best masked wrestler and win a belt with a lot of money, but Naoto is not about the fame and glory but wants redemption and revenge. Yes, successful professional wrestlers do make the big dough and a good number are in the business for it, but Naoto could care less about the money and just wants to prove who he is as a man.