Black Tiger has a long history in professional wrestling. The character first appeared in New Japan Pro-Wrestling as a rival to the iconic Tiger Mask and has returned in various forms since the 1980s.
The character is rarely seen outside New Japan, though today’s wrestling scene makes it easier for performers to appear across different promotions. The current Black Tiger, formerly known as Magnus, wrestles for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) and has also appeared in Major League Wrestling (MLW). He is the ninth wrestler to take on the role.
For him, carrying the Black Tiger name means representing more than just himself. He says he feels a responsibility to CMLL and Lucha Libre, as well as to New Japan and the wrestlers who have previously worn the mask.
That legacy includes second-generation wrestler Eddie Guerrero and the original Black Tiger, Mark Rocco. The current performer says he tries to stay in shape and be ready for opportunities, especially because the character’s history spans several companies and traditions.
Black Tiger teams with Rugido as Los Depredadores. The pair are Mexican National Tag Team champions in CMLL, but he knows the title is only part of the work involved in making the character better known.
His goal is to take the Black Tiger name to major wrestling promotions around the world. He has already wrestled in the United Kingdom, Japan and the United States, and hopes to add places such as Canada or Australia. It may take time, he says, but he wants audiences to recognize the name in its own right—not only associate past Black Tigers with their other identities.
He also hopes to introduce the character to casual fans who may not know much about Japanese wrestling or Lucha Libre. In the ring, he tries to draw on the styles of earlier Black Tigers while gradually establishing an approach of his own. He says New Japan’s trust in him has helped, and that he now needs to keep working to show audiences who he is.
As Magnus, he appeared on several MLW shows and competed in last year’s Battle Riot. He and Rugido also held the MLW Tag Team Championship for 55 days in 2025.
Now wrestling as Black Tiger, he is looking to make a bigger impact in MLW and build a legacy across three countries and three promotions.
His next opportunity comes Saturday night, when he teams with Ultimo Guerrero against Templario and Titan at MLW’s Saturday Night SuperFight. The pay-per-view begins at 8 p.m. ET and will be available on Veeps.
