5 greatest masked superstars in WWE History

#4. WWE's heavyweight masked man, Big Van Vader

At 6'5" and well over 300 lbs, Big Van Vader was one of the most imposing masked superstars in WWE history. He had a successful run in Japan, WCW as well as WWE. Along with his massive size, he had an excellent ring presentation, coming down to the ring with a large black mask over his smaller mask that smoke would billow out of.

Despite his immense size, like many masked superstars, Vader had some aerial moves in his arsenal. His most famous move, a diving moonsault, was a sight to behold.

At WCW, Vader became a World Heavyweight Champion and was paired with Harley Race, a multi-time world champion, as his manager. He would have feuds with Sting, Ron Simmons, and later Cactus Jack. During a match with Vader in Germany, Mick Foley infamously lost part of his ear.

Later in the 1990s, Vader made his way to WWE. He feuded with Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker but never captured gold.

Vader, unfortunately, passed away due to heart complications in 2018. He has yet to be enshrined in the WWE Hall of Fame, but it seems like it's just a matter of time.

#3. One of three faces of Mick Foley, Mankind.

Mick Foley is a WWE Hall of Famer. Unlike most superstars, he did not possess the typical "look" that Vince McMahon craves. Instead, he achieved success through hard work, storytelling, and his amazing ability to take a bump.

Under the name of Cactus Jack, Foley has had successful runs in both WCW and ECW. When WWE came calling, however, the company wanted a new look. Thus, a mask-wearing maniac, Mankind, was born.

Mankind started as a heel and had notable feuds with Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker. His crazed screams and risk-taking nature in the ring were an instant hit with fans.

Foley later introduced two other characters, Cactus Jack and Dude Love, before returning to the Mankind character. The new version was friendlier, still with his mask and an untucked shirt and tie. He would become a fan favorite and win the WWE title on multiple occasions.

He was initially a villainous heel character, mysterious and dark. Later on, he was a loveable face. Either way, very few wore masks better than Mankind.