Thunder Struck: Jushin Liger Retires
Paying tribute to a pioneer of cruiserweight/junior heavyweight wrestling.
When did you first see or find out about Jushin “Thunder” Liger?
Sam Gladen: I was watching some old WCW on the network and came across a match between him and Eddie Guerrero from 1996. It was around that time that I was also getting into NJPW and couldn’t believe he was still working all these years later.
David Gibb: He would appear periodically on Nitro when I was in middle school. I dug him at the time and always wanted to know more, but had no idea how to get the information. Really fell in love with his work in my early 20s, when I came back to wrestling.
Steven Jackson: The first time I remember seeing Jushin Liger is quite blurred. It must have been really early in my wrestling fandom as I certainly knew of Liger when we got The Wrestling Channel here in the U.K. in 2003. It was probably during his WCW run or somewhere in passing through videotapes. All I do know is that Jushin Liger immediately grabbed my attention and I have been a fan of his ever since.
What is your favorite Jushin “Thunder” Liger Match?
Gladen: Any of the matches he had in WCW are incredible. He was such a nimble guy when he was young and worked a truly unique style. His genius as a light heavyweight can be lost when you watch him today because his style has shifted so much from when he started. But if I only got to pick one, it would be Liger vs. Mysterio at Starrcade 96.
Gibb: Against Pillman at Superbrawl II – it’s a great outing and maybe J.R.’s best call ever. Also a big fan of his match against Savage.
Jackson: Without any shadow of doubt, his match against Hayabusa in the opening round of the 1994 Super J Cup. This was a dream match and the moves the men both performed and the psychology they displayed was astonishing. Junior heavyweight perfection.
Are you sad Jushin “Thunder” Liger is retiring or is it time for him to hang up his boots?
Gladen: No, I wouldn’t say I’m sad because he has had an incredible career. Plus, it seems like he is going to be able to leave the squared circle with his health, which unfortunately is very rare for a performer of his age and stature.
Gibb: It feels a little strange because he’s one of the few people who’s been around for the entirety of time I’ve been enjoying wrestling. With that said, people deserve to retire.
Jackson: I am sad that Jushin Liger is retiring, but that is for selfish reasons. Realistically, Jushin Liger has achieved above and beyond in his wonderful career, and with that, it is the right time to retire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q0imZ4NyDk
Who would you have liked Jushin “Thunder” Liger to face in his retirement match?
Gladen: Ideally, it would be a young lion returning from an excursion. Possibly Ren Narita or Shota Umino, but both of them are fairly early in their excursions so possibly someone who had left a while ago that the casual audience may not be aware of like Hirai Kawato or Tomoyuki Oka.
Gibb: I know it happened on a small stage, but Liger against Brian Pillman Jr. on TV would’ve been a neat bookend and a great send-off for Liger’s North American fans.
Jackson: I would love Jushin Liger to face off against The Great Sasuke in his final match. The young fan in me loves their previous encounters from the 1990s, and this would be a brilliant way to finish Liger’s career.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9sFHbRdO10
What is the legacy of Jushin “Thunder” Liger?
Gladen: Liger’s legacy is that he will go down as one of the greatest cruiserweights/light heavyweights to ever work in pro wrestling. He is not nearly as flashy as Flair or as loud as Dusty, but he has just as much, if not more cultural impact on pro wrestling.
Gibb: Liger is the true “Junior Heavyweight.” He balanced the agile athleticism of smaller wrestlers and the attention-grabbing power of the big boys. He’s got to be considered one of the most important wrestlers of his era.
Jackson: Jushin “Thunder” Liger’s legacy is one of influence and discovery. Jushin Liger has influenced more wrestlers than I can begin to list, while also helping myself and many more fans get introduced to Japanese junior heavyweight wrestling. A selfless and remarkable individual, there is only one Jushin “Thunder” Liger!
About Author
Hi there! This post could not be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this post to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!