Courtesy of WWE.com:
As much a part of professional wrestling as ring aprons and three-counts, masks have a long and important role in the history of sports-entertainment.
Although there’s some argument about when the first masked grappler actually appeared inside the squared circle — some say it was The Masked Marvel in 1915, while others claim it was The Masked Wrestler, way back in 1873 in Paris — masks have a special significance to the performers who wear them. They’re also pretty cool, and help add to the mystique of the already larger-than-life personas that have thrilled fans for generations.