Black Tiger
Takaiwa competed in his first Best of the Super Juniors tournament since 2000 in June 2008, finishing with four points and failing to advance. After going freelance in December 2008, Takaiwa debuted as the fifth Black Tiger on February 15, 2009, breaking the Black Tiger tradition of foreigners under the mask, by attacking Tiger Mask. On June 20, 2009, at Dominion 6.20 Tiger Mask defeated him in a mask vs. mask match and afterwards Takaiwa revealed his identity by removing his mask. Takaiwa lost his mask as Black Tiger V for the second time on May 14, 2011, when he was defeated at a Toryumon Mexico event by Último Dragón. Despite losing his mask twice, Takaiwa continues to make appearances as Black Tiger V.