View source for Satoru Sayama

{{short description|Japanese professional wrestler}}
{{BLP sources|date=August 2017}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|image=Tiger Mask I high kick 1983.png
|name=Satoru Sayama
|names='''First Tiger Mask'''<br />Mask of Tiger<br />Sammy Lee<br />Satoshi Sayama<br />'''Satoru Sayama'''<br />Super Tiger<br />Tiger<br />Tiger King<br />'''[[Tiger Mask (professional wrestling)|Tiger Mask]]'''<br />Tigre Enmascarado
|height=5 ft 8 in<ref name=wwe>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/superstars/tiger-mask|title=Tiger Mask|publisher=[[WWE]]|access-date=June 21, 2021}}</ref>
|weight= 198 lb<ref name=wwe/>
|birth_date={{birth date and age|mf=y|1957|11|27}}
|birth_place=[[Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi]], [[Japan]]
|trainer=[[Antonio Inoki]]<br />[[Diablo Velasco]]<br />[[Karl Gotch]]<br />[[Kotetsu Yamamoto]]<br />[[Yoshiaki Fujiwara]]
|debut=May 28, 1976
|caption=Tiger Mask, c. 1983|retired=December 7, 2016 (most recent match)}}

{{nihongo|'''Satoru Sayama'''|佐山 聡|Sayama Satoru|born November 27, 1957}}, best known as the original [[Tiger Mask (professional wrestling)|'''Tiger Mask''']], is a Japanese [[writer]], semi-retired [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] and [[Martial arts|martial artist]], and [[mixed martial arts]] (MMA) and wrestling promoter and trainer. He is the founder of [[Shooto]], a pre-[[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]] MMA promotion, and is widely considered to be one of the most influential masked [[Puroresu|Japanese wrestlers]] of all time (alongside his contemporaries [[Jushin Liger|Jushin Thunder Liger]] and [[Último Dragón|Último Dragon]]). The only man to hold the [[WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship]] and the [[NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship]] simultaneously, Sayama became widely known in the wrestling world for his all-round prowess of high-flying, technical abilities, and martial combat skills (as he was a practitioner of [[judo]] and [[freestyle wrestling]] in his youth).<ref name=OWOW>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/t/tiger-mask/|title=Satoru Sayama profile|access-date=2013-03-06|work=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref><ref name=Puro>{{cite web|url=http://www.puroresucentral.com/sayama.html|title=Profile at Puroresu Central|publisher=Puroresu Central|access-date=2013-03-06}}</ref>

Primarily trained under [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] (NJPW) founder [[Antonio Inoki]] and his mentor [[Karl Gotch]], Sayama made his professional wrestling debut in 1976 at 18 years old. He was sent on an excursion to Europe for [[World of Sport Wrestling|World of Sport]] (WOS), and Mexico for [[EMLL]], where he not only found his ground as a technical wrestler, but also found his niche in [[Lucha libre|''Lucha libre'']]. Sayama became '''Tiger Mask''' in 1981, brought from [[Ikki Kajiwara]]'s 1968 [[Tiger Mask|manga series of the same name]] and the popular anime of the decade. He became involved in highly publicized feuds with [[Black Tiger (professional wrestling)|Black Tiger]] (portrayed by [[Mark Rocco]]), the [[Dynamite Kid]], and [[Yoshiaki Fujiwara]], who was one of Sayama's own trainers. He left NJPW at the height of his popularity in 1983 due to political disenfranchisement, and later became a founding member of the [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan)|UWF]] brand in Japan. He then became dissatisfied with wrestling as a whole, leading him to write ''Kay Fabe'' (1985), which detailed the [[kayfabe]] and secrets of [[Puroresu|''puroresu'']] at the time.

After declaring retirement from professional wrestling in 1985 after the collapse of UWF, he founded Shooto, one of the first MMA organizations in the world. Sayama also started mixed martial arts training and developed his own Shooto syllabus for learning what could be considered the first put together MMA training of its kind, with a focus on striking from arts like [[boxing]], [[Muay Thai|muay thai]], and [[karate]], and grappling from [[wrestling]], [[judo]], and [[Sambo (martial art)|sambo]]. The curriculum would help produce the first well rounded fighters of MMA several years before the first [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]] event.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gould |first1=KJ |title=Satoru Sayama, Shooto And The Style Of Japanese Catch Wrestling |url=https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/7/24/3180963/karl-gotch-week-satoru-sayama-shooto-japanese-catch-wrestling-erik-paulson-brock-lesnar |website=Bloody Elbow |date=July 24, 2012 |access-date=6 December 2022}}</ref> He retired from his post in Shooto in 1996, and returned to professional wrestling soon after.

In 2005, Sayama founded his own promotion, Real Japan Pro-Wrestling (RJPW), which later became [[Strong Style Pro-Wrestling]]. Sayama likened the promotion to include wrestlers from the past, as well as martial artists, Sayama's students, and modern stars from the likes of [[Battlarts]], [[Big Japan Pro Wrestling]] (BJPW), and more. Although he hasn't officially declared retirement, Sayama last wrestled on December 7, 2016. It was announced in 2020 that he had several health problems, possibly linking him to [[Parkinson's disease]] and immobility.<ref>{{Cite web |title=411MANIA |url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/original-tiger-mask-satoru-sayama-dealing-with-health-issues/ |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=Original Tiger Mask Satoru Sayama Dealing With Health Issues |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Professional wrestling and martial arts career ==

===Early career; New Japan Pro-Wrestling and excursion (1976–1981)===
{{Professional wrestling sidebar}}Sayama debuted in [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]], against Shoji Kai (Kanji Kitazawa), a jobber known to have been the debut opponent for future stars ([[Rusher Kimura]], [[Masa Saito]], [[Osamu Kido]], [[Tatsumi Fujinami]], and [[Mitsuo Momota]] had debuted against him before). Sayama weighed only 160 pounds, which, even given his training, impaired him from getting a permanent spot on NJPW cards. So they sent him abroad, to [[England]] where wrestling as '''Sammy Lee''', he took on opponents such as [[Mark Rocco]] and [[Mick McManus (wrestler)|Mick McManus]] as well as teaming with [[Shirley Crabtree|Big Daddy]]. He also had a stint in [[Mexico]], where he wrestled under his real name. It was in Mexico where he started to grow not only in physical stature but also in prominence, winning the [[NWA World Middleweight Championship]] in [[EMLL]].

===Return to NJPW (1981–1983)===
====Becoming Tiger Mask====
In 1981, NJPW was looking for a way to attract young fans to its wrestling. They looked to the popular [[Tiger Mask]] anime and created a wrestling character called [[Tiger Mask (professional wrestling)|Tiger Mask]] for the fans, with the recently returned Sayama playing the role. On the evening of Thursday, April 23, 1981, Satoru Sayama made his way to the ring in the [[Kuramae Kokugikan]] as Tiger Mask. Initially, many traditional Japanese fans scoffed at the thought of artist [[Ikki Kajiwara]]'s popular comic book wrestling hero being pushed as a legitimate wrestling star, but he shocked the Japanese fans in the arena by pinning [[Dynamite Kid]] with his [[German suplex]].  As a result, he was immediately regarded as the premier star in New Japan's junior heavyweight ranks. Moreover, that match would be the first of many classic battles between the two men.

[[File:Tiger Mask German Suplex Black Tiger.jpg|thumb|Tiger Mask applies a [[German suplex]] to [[Black Tiger (professional wrestling)|Black Tiger]], {{Circa|1982}}]]
On May 6, 1982, Tiger Mask was forced to vacate the [[WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship]] after injuring his right knee. Tiger Mask would go on to win the NWA World Junior Heavyweight less than 3 weeks later on May 25, 1982. The next day, Tiger Mask defeated old UK rival [[Mark Rocco]], wrestling in the guise of [[Black Tiger (professional wrestling)|Black Tiger]], in a match for the WWF Junior Heavyweight title. This victory was met with controversy, as some board members on the NWA declared the title vacant, as they felt that the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship was the premier title for the division. However, during an annual meeting between the NWA and New Japan Pro-Wrestling, it was declared that Tiger Mask was still recognized as the official champion, which made him the only man to simultaneously hold the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship and the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship.

Around this time, Sayama trained in [[Sambo (martial art)|sambo]] under [[Victor Koga]] and [[kickboxing]] under [[Toshio Fujiwara]].<ref>[https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2007/8/9/134253/6410 MMA History Part III: Proto MMA Evolves Out of Worked Pro Wrestling in Japan]</ref>

==== World Wrestling Federation tours ====
[[File:Tiger Mask, 1982.png|left|thumb|Tiger Mask as the WWF Junior Heavyweight Champion, 1982]][[File:Tiger Mask WWF Junior Heavyweight Champion 1982.jpg|thumb|Tiger Mask wins the [[WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship]], {{Circa|1982}}|left]]
In late 1982, while still a member of the New Japan roster, Sayama made at least two tours of the [[United States]] as part of the NJPW-WWF working relationship. He appeared primarily in the [[World Wrestling Federation]], at the time a regional promotion in the [[northeast United States|northeast region of the country]].

Sayama defended the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship by defeating Dynamite Kid at [[Madison Square Garden]] in [[New York City]] on August 30, and [[Eddie Gilbert (wrestler)|Eddie Gilbert]] at the [[Spectrum (arena)|Spectrum]] in [[Philadelphia]] on November 25. During his time as Tiger Mask, Sayama had faced mainly English and Mexican opponents, with styles complementary to his own. As a result, the match with Gilbert would be regarded as one of his higher-profile matches against an American-style opponent.

Sayama also made appearances at WWF television tapings during these tours, in which he had televised matches against [[José Estrada, Sr.|José Estrada]] and [[Mr. Saito]].

[[Joe McHugh (announcer)|Joe McHugh]], the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission-appointed ring announcer for WWF events in the state and nearing 80 years of age, mistakenly introduced Sayama during one of his appearances as "Timer Mask."

====Departure from NJPW====
During a tag team match on April 3, 1983 he was injured by Dynamite Kid; two days later, he was forced to vacate the NWA World Junior Heavyweight title after it became clear that he would need time off to recuperate. However, once the determined Tiger Mask recovered, he regained his NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship by defeating [[Kuniaki Kobayashi]] on June 2, 1983, making him a simultaneous NWA/WWF Jr. champion for the second time. By 1983, however, Sayama started feeling dissatisfied as he hated the politics behind-the-scenes. As a result, he announced his retirement from active competition on August 12, 1983. His last match occurred on August 4, facing Isamu Teranishi. It was a shock to the wrestling world, as Tiger Mask was going to retire while he was at the top of his game and as the holder of two Junior Heavyweight Championships. Both titles were declared vacant, as he became a trainer to martial arts fighters.

===Universal Wrestling Federation (1984–1985)===
Sayama was inactive from the ring for nearly a year, having founded the Tiger Gym and spending most of his time training with his protege [[Kazuo Yamazaki]].  Sayama resurfaced in the [[Japanese UWF]] in 1984. By then, [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]] had purchased the Tiger Mask name and gimmick and given it to [[Mitsuharu Misawa]]. As a result, Sayama initially made appearances for UWF as '''The Tiger''' (which was the same colors as '''Tiger Mask'''), then alternated between using his real name and the gimmick of '''Super Tiger''' (colored silver and [[purple]]). He initially supported the UWF concept and had several memorable matches against [[Akira Maeda]] and [[Yoshiaki Fujiwara]]. Sayama would soon disagree with Maeda over style ideology, which led to a shoot during a match between Sayama and Maeda in 1985, in which Maeda delivered some controversial kicks to Sayama's lower abdomen. Sayama claimed that he was kicked in the groin, resulting in Maeda being disqualified. Shortly after this, Sayama left UWF, amid recriminations from other UWF wrestlers who disliked him for his selfish leadership. With no key opponents for Maeda, the UWF collapsed and Maeda and the rest of the roster headed back to NJPW.

=== Retirement and Shooto (1985–1996)===
Sayama then left professional wrestling altogether.

In 1985 he founded [[Shooto]], one of the world's first [[mixed martial arts]] (MMA) promotions, finally realizing his dream of becoming a martial arts trainer. He taught the art of shooting to fighters like [[Yorinaga Nakamura]], [[Yuki Nakai]] and [[Rumina Sato]], among others. During this time Sayama hosted the [[Vale Tudo Japan]] event, leading to the introduction of [[Brazilian jiu-jitsu]] in Japan, which drove him to change the rules of Shooto to adapt them to the [[vale tudo]]. In 1996 he left Shooto due to disagreements with the board of directors, and was succeeded by Taro Wakayabayshi.

===Return to wrestling and aftermath (1995–present)===
In 1995, Sayama was offered to return to puroresu for a match against old mentor [[Antonio Inoki]]. As there was already a Tiger Mask on the scene (his disciple, [[Tiger Mask IV]], who debuted with the mask), Sayama used the name and gimmick '''Tiger King''', using a [[gold (color)|gold]]-colored outfit. Inoki ended up winning the match.

In subsequent years, he (using the '''Original''' [''Shodai''] '''Tiger Mask''' identity), competing sporadically in various independent promotions, often in legends matches and teams with his younger disciple. In 1998, he was invited by Inoki to be a part of the board of his new venture, Universal Fighting-Arts Organization. He did, but left a year later to form Seikendo.

In 1999, attempting to return to the world of martial arts and to create something similar to Shooto, he created a martial art named '''Seikendo'''. It was a [[Hybrid martial arts|hybrid martial art]] similar to Shooto and MMA, but more akin to a traditional martial art—with focus on etiquette and ceremonials based on traditional Japanese imagery and ideals and spiritual and mental development—and focused on self-defense: Seikendokas would wear [[keikogi]]s to simulate clothing, had rules that based on the principle it had a [[concrete]] floor, with [[groundfighting]] that focused on [[ground-and-pound]], with no submissions allowed, and fighting was in an octagonal ring without ropes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www20.tok2.com/home/gryphon/english/COLUMN%20%26%20INTERVIEW/seikendo.htm |title=Japanese MMA fan pays attention to SEIKAN-DO |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=www20.tok2.com |publisher= |access-date=2022-02-01 |quote= |archive-date=January 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130014013/http://www20.tok2.com/home/gryphon/english/COLUMN%20%26%20INTERVIEW/seikendo.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-11-18 |title=SRC y 2 nuevos conceptos de artes marciales mixtas en Japón. — Diarios del versus |url=http://composta.net/versus/2010/12/src-y-los-nuevos-conceptos-de-artes-marciales-mixtas-en-japon/ |access-date=2022-02-01 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118002504/http://composta.net/versus/2010/12/src-y-los-nuevos-conceptos-de-artes-marciales-mixtas-en-japon/ |archive-date=18 November 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Sayama also created a professional promotion by the same name to promote his martial art (as he had done to Shooto), which ran for three years and had five events before closing down in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sherdog.com|title=Seikendo Fights, Fight Cards, Videos, Pictures, Events and more|url=https://www.sherdog.com/organizations/Seikendo-36|access-date=2022-02-01|website=Sherdog|language=en}}</ref>

In 2005, he founded a new promotion called [[Real Japan Pro-Wrestling]] and started to promote his old '''Super Tiger''' gimmick. However, with a career spanning over 30 years in addition to being actively involved in martial arts aside from wrestling, have taken its toll, with Sayama being fodder in singles matches for current stars aiming to become legends, such as [[Shinjiro Otani]] and [[Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship|Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion]] [[Minoru Suzuki]] (the title was not on the line in their match).

He has also appeared in [[Tatsumi Fujinami]]'s Dradition promotion, as well as Antonio Inoki's [[Inoki Genome Federation]]. Sayama is much heavier than he was in his younger days, and as a result, his style has changed; he focuses more on mat-based wrestling, though he still uses his trademark martial arts kicks.

Still training young wrestlers, Sayama endorsed a second Super Tiger, played by seikendoka and [[mixed martial artist]] [[Yuji Sakuragi]]. In 2010, Sayama picked [[Ikuhisa Minowa]] as the fifth Tiger Mask, but has not wrestled under the mask since.

At the March 20, 2015, Real Japan event, Sayama was defeated by All Japan wrestler [[Akebono Tarō|Akebono]] following a [[Professional wrestling attacks#Big splash|splash]] from the former [[Makuuchi#Yokozuna|yokozuna]]. Afterwards, Sayama began experiencing chest pains, which forced him to pull out of subsequent matches. After multiple tests, it was determined that Sayama needed to undergo emergency heart surgery, which took place on May 22.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/402886/|script-title=ja:選手生命の危機！初代タイガーマスクが心臓緊急手術|date=2015-05-23|access-date=2015-05-23|work=[[Tokyo Sports]]|language=ja}}</ref> Following the surgery, Sayama began suffering from [[angina]], which forced him to pull out of Real Japan's 10th anniversary event on June 11.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://battle-news.com/?p=9543|script-title=ja:狭心症が発覚した初代タイガーマスクは復帰の目処たたず！愛弟子S・タイガーが覚悟の出陣！リアルジャパン6.11後楽園の全カード決定|date=2015-05-28|access-date=2015-05-28|work=Battle News|language=ja}}</ref> On June 5, Sayama held a press conference, stating that he was not thinking about retiring from professional wrestling despite his life being in danger prior to the catheter surgery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.daily.co.jp/newsflash/ring/2015/06/05/0008095046.shtml|script-title=ja:手術の初代タイガー “遺言”伝えてた|date=2015-06-05|access-date=2015-06-06|work=Daily Sports Online|publisher=[[Kobe Shimbun]]|language=ja}}</ref> Sayama returned to the ring on June 23, 2016, battling [[Ikuhisa Minowa|Minowaman]] to a draw,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.daily.co.jp/newsflash/ring/2016/06/23/0009216293.shtml|script-title=ja:初代タイガーが狭心症から実戦復帰|date=2016-06-23|access-date=2016-06-23|work=Daily Sports Online|publisher=[[Kobe Shimbun]]|language=ja}}</ref> but has not been back since then.

==Other media==
In 1995, Sayama starred along [[Itsumi Osawa]] in the Toshihiro Sato movie ''Roppongi Soldier'' as Ken Washizu, a former [[kickboxer]] turned [[private detective]]. His partner [[Yoshiaki Fujiwara]] appears as well, portraying a fellow fighter.

He also had an appearance in the 2004 movie ''Shinsetsu Tiger Mask'', a [[biographical film]] about Sayama's life in which he is played by [[Masakatsu Funaki]]. Sayama himself plays Tiger Mask's trainer.

==Works==
* (1984) {{nihongo|''Super Tiger Shooting: The road to the strongest combat sports''|スーパー・タイガーシューティング―格闘技最強への道|Sūpā taigāshūtingu ― kakutōgi saikyō e no michi}}
* (1986) {{nihongo|''Introduction to Satoru Sayama's shooting''|佐山聡のシューティング入門|Sayamasatoru no shūtingu nyūmon}} {{ISBN|9784062027113}}
* (1989) {{nihongo|''Satoru Sayama's advanced shooting: The road to pankration''|佐山聡のシューティング上級編―パンクラチオンへの道|Sayamasatoru no shūtingu jōkyū-hen ― pankurachion e no michi}} {{ISBN|9784062032391}}
* (1989) {{nihongo|''Kayfabe''|ケーフェイ|Kēfei}} {{ISBN|9784795220720}}
* (1998) {{nihongo|''This is sambo!''|これがサンボだ!|Kore ga sanbo da!}} {{ISBN|9784583025643}} - with [[Victor Koga]]
* (1999) {{nihongo|''The Kakutoka: The true face of the warrior aiming to be the best''|ザ・格闘家―最強を目指した戦士たちの素顔|Za kakutō-ka ― saikyō o mezashita senshi-tachi no sugao}} {{ISBN|9784334972325}}
* (2000) {{nihongo|''Satoru Sayama's seikendo''|佐山聡の掣圏道|Sayamasatoru no seikendō}} {{ISBN|9784893741448}}
* (2001) {{nihongo|''Brave on heart, with a true hero: If you break, you lose''|ブレイヴ・オン・ハート 真の勇者とは―キレたら負ける|Bureivu on hāto shin no yūsha to wa ― Kiretara makeru}} {{ISBN|9784828409092}}
* (2002) {{nihongo|''Self-defense: The strongest real technique''|護身―最強のリアルテクニック|Goshin ― saikyō no riarutekunikku}} {{ISBN|978-4537201024}}
* (2010) {{nihongo|''Sayama's principles for neworn modern martial arts''|佐山原理 新生武道真陰|Sayama genri Shinsei budō shin'in}} {{ISBN|9784809408502}}
* (2014) {{nihongo|''The real immovable mind: Mental training''|「リアル不動心」メンタルトレーニング|`Riaru fudō kokoro' mentarutorēningu}} {{ISBN|9784062728799}}

==Championships and accomplishments==
*'''[[Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre|Empresa Mexicana de la Lucha Libre]]'''
:*[[NWA World Middleweight Championship]] ([[NWA World Middleweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])
:*[[WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship]] ([[WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])
*'''[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]]'''
:*[[NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship#Title history|2 times]])
:*[[WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship]] ([[WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship#Title history|2 times]])
*'''[[International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
**Class of 2021<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prowrestlinghall.org/induction|title=Induction Weekend 2021 &#124; Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame}}</ref>
*'''''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''''
:*PWI ranked him #'''274''' of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the [[PWI 500]] in 2006
:*PWI ranked him '''#37''' of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the [[PWI Years]] in 2003
*'''[[Real Japan Pro Wrestling]]'''
:*[[Legend Championship]] ([[Legend Championship#Combined reigns|1 time]])
*'''[[Tokyo Pro Wrestling]]'''
:*TWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with [[Yoji Anjo]]
*'''''[[Tokyo Sports]]'''''
:*[[Tokyo Sports Puroresu Awards#MVP Award|MVP Award]] (1982)<ref name=TokyoSportsAwards80s>{{cite web|url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/wrestling/wrestling_past2/|script-title=ja:東京スポーツ プロレス大賞|access-date=2014-01-20|work=[[Tokyo Sports]]|language=ja}}</ref>
:*[[Tokyo Sports Puroresu Awards#Popularity Award|Popularity Award]] (1981)<ref name=TokyoSportsAwards80s/>
:*[[Tokyo Sports Puroresu Awards#Technique Award|Technique Award]] (1982, 1984)<ref name=TokyoSportsAwards80s/>
*'''[[Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan)|Universal Wrestling Federation]]'''
:*UWF Tournament winner (1984)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/shoot/uwf/uwftourney.html#1984|title = Original UWF Tournaments}}</ref>
:*Kakuto Nettai Road "A" League Tournament (1985)
*'''[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards]]'''
:*[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Best Flying Wrestler|Best Flying Wrestler]] (1982, 1983)
:*[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Most Impressive Wrestler|Most Impressive Wrestler]] (1982)
:*[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Best Technical Wrestler|Best Technical Wrestler]] (1982, 1983)
:*[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Match of the Year|Match of the Year]] (1982) <small>vs. Dynamite Kid, August 5, Tokyo, Japan</small>
:*[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame]] ([[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame#Inductees|Class of 1996]])

===Luchas de Apuestas record===
{{See also|Lucha libre#Luchas de apuestas|l1=Luchas de Apuestas}}
{|class="wikitable sortable" width=100%  style="text-align: center"
!width=20% scope="col"|Winner (wager)
!width=20% scope="col"|Loser (wager)
!width=20% scope="col"|Location
!width=20% scope="col"|Event
!width=15% scope="col"|Date
!class="unsortable" width=5% scope="col"|Notes
|-
|Satoru Sayama (hair) || [[Alfonso Dantés]] (hair) || México City || Live event || {{dts|1979|6|15}} || 
|-
|Tiger Mask (mask) || [[Bobby Lee (wrestler)|Masked Hurricane]] (mask) || Tokyo, Japan || Live event || {{dts|1981|10|8}} || 
|}

==Kickboxing record==
{{Kickboxing record start|title=Kickboxing record|record='''0 wins, 1 loss'''}}
|-
|{{dts|1977|November|14}}
|{{no2}}Loss
|Marc Costello
|Kakutōgi Daisensō
|[[Tokyo|Tokyo, Japan]]
|Decision (unanimous)
|6
|2:00
|0-1
|-
| colspan=9 | '''''Legend''''': {{legend2|#CCFFCC|Win |border=1px solid #CCFFCC}} {{legend2|#FFBBBB|Loss |border=1px solid #FFBBBB}} {{legend2|#c5d2ea|Draw/No contest |border=1px solid #c5d2ea}}
{{end}}

==Mixed martial arts exhibition record==
{{BLP unsourced section|date=April 2024}}
{{MMA exhibition record box
|ko-wins=1
|ko-losses=
|sub-wins=
|sub-losses=
|dec-wins=
|dec-losses=
|draws=2
|nc=
}}
{{MMA record start}}
|-
| {{draw}}Draw
| align=center| 1–0–2
| Yoshinori Nishi
| Technical Draw
| Lumax Cup - Tournament of J'95
| {{dts|1995|October|13}}
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 5:30
| Tokyo, Japan
| 
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|align=center|1–0–1
|[[Kuniaki Kobayashi]]
|KO (high kick)
|[[1995 in Shooto#Shooto - Vale Tudo Perception|Shooto: Vale Tudo Perception]]
|{{dts|1995|September|26}}
|align=center|1
|align=center|6:05
|[[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]
|
|-
| {{draw}}Draw
| align=center| 0–0–1
| [[Yuji Ito (fighter)|Yuji Ito]]
| Technical Draw
| VTJ 1994 - Vale Tudo Japan 1994
| {{dts|1994|July|29}}
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 3:00
| Tokyo, Japan
| 
|-
{{end}}

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! style="width:75px;"| Year
! style="width:250px;"| Title
! style="width:150px;"| Role
|-
| 1995
| ''Roppongi Soldier''
| Ken Washizu
|-
| 2004
| ''Shinsetsu Tiger Mask''
| Tiger Mask's trainer
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Waru (2006 film)|Waru]]''
| 
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Waru: kanketsu-hen]]''
| 
|}

==See also==
* [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Japan)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{wwe superstars|tiger-mask|Tiger Mask}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090202101636/http://wrestlingmuseum.com/pages/bios/halloffame/tigerbio.html Tiger Mask (Satoru Sayama) biography]
* {{Professional wrestling profiles}}

{{Navboxes|
|list1= 
{{NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship}}
{{NWA World Middleweight Championship}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sayama, Satoru}}
[[Category:Tiger Mask]]
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:Japanese male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Japanese male judoka]]
[[Category:Japanese male mixed martial artists]]
[[Category:Japanese catch wrestlers]]
[[Category:Japanese professional wrestling trainers]]
[[Category:Japanese sambo practitioners]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Masked wrestlers]]
[[Category:People from Shimonoseki]]
[[Category:Professional wrestlers from Yamaguchi Prefecture]]
[[Category:Japanese professional wrestling executives]]
[[Category:Professional wrestling writers]]
[[Category:Mixed martial arts executives]]
[[Category:Martial arts school founders]]
[[Category:Mixed martial arts trainers]]
[[Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing judo]]
[[Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing sambo]]
[[Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing wrestling]]
[[Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing shoot wrestling]]
[[Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing catch wrestling]]
[[Category:Mixed martial artists utilizing kickboxing]]
[[Category:Stampede Wrestling alumni]]
[[Category:Japanese sportsperson-politicians]]
[[Category:Japanese writers]]
[[Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:20th-century Japanese professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:21st-century male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:21st-century Japanese professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:NWA World Middleweight Champions]]
[[Category:NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:WWF Junior Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:20th-century Japanese sportsmen]]