Jushin Liger
Encyclopedia
, better known as and later, is a Japanese professional wrestler
who primarily works for New Japan Pro Wrestling
.
He has wrestled and beaten many of the top smaller wrestlers in both Japan and the United States, and is frequently cited as one of the greatest and most revolutionary junior heavyweights during the 1990s.
in the finals of a national championship. After high school, he applied to the New Japan Pro Wrestling
Dojo to become a professional wrestler
in the early 1980s. He was not accepted because he did not meet the height requirements they had at that time. Yamada was determined not to give up his dream of becoming a professional wrestler, so he left for Mexico
and began his training there. By his own account, he was almost starving while studying there, so NJPW officials who were visiting took pity on him and asked him to come back to Japan to train in their dojo, where he was trained alongside the likes of Keiji Mutoh
, Masahiro Chono
and Shinya Hashimoto
.
. He began studying various martial arts
styles because he wanted to add something new and different to his wrestling style, which is how he learned his Rolling Koppu Kick.
in England
, under the name "Flying" Fuji Yamada. He won the World Heavy Middleweight Championship twice, once in September 1986 and once in March 1987, both times defeating "Rollerball" Mark Rocco
and both times losing it back to him, the last of these title changes being televised on ITV
. Yamada would later visit All Star again in 1989, with tag partner Flying Funaki
.
, for which he had gotten the idea from reading the manga
Fist of the North Star
. Throughout 1987 and 1988, Yamada improved with each match, occasionally getting shots at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
, most notably against Owen Hart
on June 10, 1988, and against Shiro Koshinaka
on December 9, 1988.
, around May 1987, where he wrestled in Stu Hart
's Stampede Wrestling
in Calgary
under his real name. He also trained under Hart in the legendary "Dungeon". His experiences there led him to refer to Hart as a "very, very tough man." He would return to Calgary in January 1989.
Within months of his second Canadian excursion, NJPW called him back, as they needed him for a gimmick based on an extremely popular anime
superhero
, Jushin Liger
, created by manga artist
Go Nagai
. NJPW had done this previously with Tiger Mask
, which had become a huge success. Yamada was given a superhero-like full body costume and a demonic looking mask, resembling the superhero type featured in tokusatsu
and anime programs.
. He has also had the honor of wrestling all the Black Tigers to date (from Mark Rocco
in 1989 to Tatsuhito Takaiwa
in 2009). After using the Jushin Liger gimmick the anime progressed, and as the Go Nagai anime progressed, the hero powered up and changed three times. As the hero changed so did Liger. First to Fire Liger, then to the character gimmick he goes by today, Jushin Thunder Liger. He quickly became one of NJPW's top Junior Heavyweights, eventually capturing the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
eleven times, between May 25, 1989 and December 6, 1999, among numerous other titles and accolades while wrestling around the world. When appearing without his mask on, Yamada blocks his appearance by covering his face with one hand.
Early in his career, Yamada's style mostly consisted of high flying. Years later, he started adapting more power moves and started focusing more on grappling and telling a story in the ring; part of this change was due to the fact that Liger had to reduce the stress he was putting on his body after undergoing brain tumor surgery in August 1996, which explained why he lost his match to Último Dragón in the first round of the J-Crown
tournament. He also had the opportunity to wrestle "Macho Man" Randy Savage on July 17, in which he lost.
Liger has won two Super J Cup tournaments in 1995 and 2000.
During 2000, as booker Riki Chōshū
decided to de-emphasize the junior heavyweight division (a costly decision that diminished its credibility), Liger wrestled heavyweights without wearing the upper part of his bodysuit or his mask horns (the first time he wore that attire was on February 24, 1994, against Shinya Hashimoto in a non-title match between the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and the IWGP Heavyweight Champion).
From 2001-2007, Liger was the leader of the NJPW heel
stable Control Terrorism Unit (CTU) along with Hirooki Goto
, Minoru Tanaka, Black Tiger IV
, Gedo
, Jado
, Prince Devitt
and briefly James Gibson
. CTU was disbanded in August 2007, when Liger decided CTU would disband while at the top of NJPW, Liger would then join Masahiro Chono's Legend stable. The Legend stable would disband in February 2010, after Chono, Chōshū and AKIRA
's departures.
faced off in a match with Liger. As the match progressed, Muta resorted to his underhand tactics that had become his style over the years. He tore at Liger's mask and eventually ripped it off, but Liger kept his face down on the mat. After grabbing a chair outside the ring, Muta entered the ring but before he could hit Liger with it, Liger stood up and revealed his face to be painted pale white with red writings and spit mist into Muta's face (another Muta trademark). He tore off his bodysuit and revealed a painted chest, then proceeded to fight more aggressively the rest of the match, despite losing the match to Muta.
On July 30, 2006, Liger revived the "Kishin" gimmick and faced off with rival Bad Boy Hido in New Japan Pro Wrestling. The story was that Hido had cut a piece of Liger's hair and Liger vowed revenge, so he transformed into Kishin Liger. Liger won the match with a brainbuster
onto a steel chair.
The gimmick is a variation of The Great Muta gimmick which relies on bloody and evil tactics in a match, using mannerisms and imagery that differ from the person's normal ways. This gimmick also uses many wrestling moves that are regulars in The Great Muta's move set, such as the Asian mist.
(WCW) during the 1990s. He made his debut in December 1991. He feuded with Brian Pillman
over the WCW World Light Heavyweight Championship. He defeated Pillman on December 25 for the title at a house show in Atlanta, Georgia
. He would hold onto the title for over two months, before losing it back to Pillman at SuperBrawl II. Liger left WCW in December 1992 after Starrcade, teaming with Erik Watts
in a losing effort to "Dr. Death" Steve Williams and Sting in a Lethal Lottery match. He returned to WCW in September 1995; he would go on to face many other opponents such as Chris Benoit
, Pillman, Dean Malenko
, Rey Mysterio, Jr., and Juventud Guerrera
, as well as challenging Konnan
for the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship at Slamboree '96, which he lost the match.
He met with controversy around late-November/early-December 1999 while wrestling a short tour in WCW as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion when he lost the title on WCW Monday Nitro
to Juventud Guerrera
via a blow to the head from a tequila
bottle. Liger regained his title the following week from Psicosis, who was substituting for Guerrera because he broke his arm. However, the scripting of these title changes was very embarrassing for New Japan Pro Wrestling, so embarrassing that they moved on like it never happened and chose not to release any information, in turn none of the Japanese sports media outlets reported the two title changes. New Japan didn't recognize Guerrera's reign until 2007. Liger was also referred to as a 10 time champion until this time.
organization against Minoru Suzuki
due to his planned opponent being forced to pull out. In what would be Liger's only Mixed Martial Arts
match, (and Suzuki's last non-worked match) he was easily beaten by Suzuki via rear naked choke
only 1:48 into the first round. After a failed attempt at a Rolling Koppu Kick, Liger was quickly mounted and hit with Suzuki's ground and pound until the choke was applied, forcing Liger to tap out. Liger wore a modified version of his mask during the bout.
, Masahiro Chono
and Yuji Nagata
appeared in Hawaii for Hawai'i Championship Wrestling
. Liger teamed with Tiger Mask and fought to a draw with then HCW Tag Team Champions Kaimana & Kaniala.
, headlining their back-to-back "Weekend of Thunder" shows to huge acclaim. ROH selected Bryan Danielson
as Liger's special opponent for that weekend. For Night 1, the two faced each other in a singles match, with Liger winning the highly competitive bout after a super brainbuster.
On November 6, 2004 Night 2 would see a "dream tag-team" match in the main event. Liger chose then-ROH Champion Samoa Joe
as his partner out of respect for Joe's accomplishments as ROH World Champion, and Danielson selected Low Ki to negate Joe. Liger again came out on top, pinning Danielson with a Liger Bomb to win the match.
On January 29, 2010 at ROH's debut show in Los Angeles, California
as part of WrestleReunion 4, Liger lost a non-title match to ROH World Champion
Austin Aries
via pinfall after a brainbuster
. It was Liger's first ROH match in over five years.
promotion on October 23, 2005 as part of their Bound for Glory pay-per-view
, losing to Samoa Joe
.
He was scheduled to face off against Christopher Daniels at TNA Lockdown 2006
on April 23, 2006. He had been unaware that the match was to be held in a Steel Cage, something in which he had never participated before. When he heard of this he cancelled the match. One of TNA's bookers Scott D'Amore
has speculated that he didn't want to participate in the match due to it being in a new environment, fearing it would have hampered his performance. According to D'Amore, Liger had been unhappy with his previous TNA match against Joe which was cut short due to communication problems, and wanted his next TNA match to be better. D'Amore has also disproved the rumor that communication issues between TNA and NJPW had caused the match to be cancelled. Liger was not double booked to two events at the same time, like had been publicly speculated.
Liger was the captain of the New Japan team in the TNA 2006 World X Cup Tournament
and defeated Team Canada's
Captain Petey Williams
at TNA Sacrifice on May 14, 2006 using a Crash Thunder Buster after Williams was distracted by the rest of Team Japan who draped the flag over Williams after Liger's victory. Liger was eliminated in the X-Cup Gauntlet later that night and Team Japan
was unable to gain any points in the match as it was won by Team Canada with Team Mexico
as runners up.
, NJPW's Mexican associate. He took part in the 2007 CMLL International Gran Prix as the captain of a team of non-Mexican wrestlers. Liger was the last man eliminated from the match by winner Último Guerrero
. Liger returned to CMLL in September 2009 for a longer tour, teaming with Okumura
, Naitō
and Yujiro
as La Ola Amarilla
("The Yellow Wave" in Spanish
). At the CMLL 76th Anniversary Show
La Ola Amarilla
defeated Team Mexico (Último Guerrero, Atlantis
, Black Warrior
and Héctor Garza
) in one of the featured matches on the show. The following week, at the 2009 Gran Alternativa
show Liger unsuccessfully challenged for Último Guerrero's CMLL World Heavyweight Championship
. He also failed to regain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship from Místico before returning to Japan in October, 2009. On May 3, 2010, Liger defeated Negro Casas
at a New Japan show in Fukuoka, Japan
, to win the CMLL World Middleweight Championship
. Liger returned to CMLL in June 2010 for a long tour of the company. As the CMLL World Middleweight Championship he earned entry into the 2010 Universal Championship
. On the August 6, 2010 Super Viernes show Liger won Block B by defeating Negro Casas, Héctor Garza
and La Máscara
to earn a spot in the finals. On the August 13, 2010 Super Viernes Liger defeated La Sombra
to win the 2010 Universal Championship. On August 16, 2010 it was announced that Liger was one of 14 men putting their mask on the line in a Luchas de Apuestas steel cage match, the main event of the CMLL 77th Anniversary Show
. Liger was the seventh man to leave the steel cage, keeping his mask safe. The match came down to La Sombra
pinning Olímpico
to unmask him. During the same tour, Liger also made his first successful defense of the CMLL World Middleweight Championship, defeating La Sombra on September 27. On January 4, 2011, at New Japan's Wrestle Kingdom V in Tokyo Dome event, Liger wrestled in a CMLL showcase match, where he and Héctor Garza were defeated by La Sombra and Máscara Dorada
, when Sombra pinned Liger, setting up a CMLL World Middleweight Championship match for CMLL's Fantasticamania 2011
show on January 22 in Tokyo, Japan
. At Fantasticamania Liger defeated La Sombra to retain the CMLL World Middleweight Championship. On May 3, Liger made his third successful defense of the title, defeating Máscara Dorada at New Japan's Wrestling Dontaku 2011 show. Liger returned to Mexico on September 15, 2011, announcing his intention of working as a technico
for the first time during his run with CMLL. On September 30 at CMLL's 78th Anniversary Show
, Liger defeated eleven other men in a torneo cibernetico
to advance to the finals of the 2011 Leyenda de Plata. On October 7, Liger was defeated in the finals of the tournament by Volador Jr.
On October 24, Liger made his fourth successful defense of the CMLL World Middleweight Championship, defeating El Texano, Jr.
On November 18, Liger lost the title to Dragón Rojo, Jr.
, ending his reign at 564 days.
and competed in UWA Hardcore Wrestling. On night one he teamed with PUMA
and defeated the team of Último Dragón and Kazuchika Okada
, after Liger hit the Liger Bomb on Okada. On night two, Liger teamed with Último Dragón and defeated The Murder City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley
and Chris Sabin
) after a Liger Bomb / Dragon Sleeper combo.
debut in Los Angeles, CA
on January 30, 2010 as part of WrestleReunion 4. He defeated El Generico
via pinfall after a brainbuster.
(JAPW), losing to Homicide in the main event of the evening. He would return to the promotion seven months later on December 10, when he defeated Azrieal
, Bandido, Jr., B-Boy, El Generico and Kenny Omega in a six–way elimination match to win the JAPW Light Heavyweight Championship
. The following day he would successfully defend the title against Mike Quackenbush. Liger would lose the title to Kenny Omega in his second defense on May 15, 2011, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during New Japan's first ever tour of the United States.
1Despite winning the championship, the win and reign aren't recognized by World Wrestling Entertainment
. No reign with the championship is recognized by the company prior to December 1997.
Professional wrestling in Japan
Puroresu is the popular term for the predominant style or genre of professional wrestling that has developed in Japan. The term comes from the Japanese pronunciation of "professional wrestling" , which is shortened to puroresu . The term became popular among English-speaking fans due to Hisaharu...
who primarily works for New Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
.
He has wrestled and beaten many of the top smaller wrestlers in both Japan and the United States, and is frequently cited as one of the greatest and most revolutionary junior heavyweights during the 1990s.
Training
Keiichi Yamada was an amateur wrestler while studying in high school, where in his senior year, he lost to Toshiaki KawadaToshiaki Kawada
is a Japanese professional wrestler who is most known for his work in All Japan Pro Wrestling. In 2005, he started freelancing in other promotions....
in the finals of a national championship. After high school, he applied to the New Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
Dojo to become a professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
in the early 1980s. He was not accepted because he did not meet the height requirements they had at that time. Yamada was determined not to give up his dream of becoming a professional wrestler, so he left for Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and began his training there. By his own account, he was almost starving while studying there, so NJPW officials who were visiting took pity on him and asked him to come back to Japan to train in their dojo, where he was trained alongside the likes of Keiji Mutoh
Keiji Mutoh
is a Japanese professional wrestler who first gained international fame in the National Wrestling Alliance. He is mostly known for his work as The Great Muta in New Japan Pro Wrestling during the 1990s, but he has also competed in United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Taiwan...
, Masahiro Chono
Masahiro Chono
, is a Japanese professional wrestler. He primarily wrestles for New Japan Pro Wrestling , but has also made appearances for the now defunct World Championship Wrestling, as a member of the New World Order. Chono was also known as Mister Black Jack when he first started as a villain. He is a...
and Shinya Hashimoto
Shinya Hashimoto
, was a Japanese professional wrestler. Along with Masahiro Chono and Keiji Mutoh, Hashimoto was dubbed one of the "Three Musketeers" that began competing in New Japan Pro Wrestling in the mid 1980s and dominated the promotion in the 1990s....
.
New Japan Pro Wrestling (1984–1986)
While continuing his studies, he had his debut match in March 1984 at the age of 19, wrestling against Shunji KosugiShunji Kosugi
, is a retired Japanese professional wrestler, who was based in New Japan Pro Wrestling.-Career:Shunji Kosugi made his debut in February 1981. He was known for his technical prowess in the ring, influenced by Karl Gotch. He was the last man to defeat Satoru Sayama, before Sayama became Tiger Mask...
. He began studying various martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
styles because he wanted to add something new and different to his wrestling style, which is how he learned his Rolling Koppu Kick.
All-Star Wrestling (1986–1987, 1989)
After winning the Young Lion Cup in March 1986, he went on an excursion of Europe, where he wrestled for All Star WrestlingAll Star Wrestling
All Star Wrestling is a British Professional wrestling promotion also known as All Star Promotions, Superslam Wrestling and Big Time Wrestling and originally known as Wrestling Enterprises , run by Brian Dixon and based in Liverpool, England...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, under the name "Flying" Fuji Yamada. He won the World Heavy Middleweight Championship twice, once in September 1986 and once in March 1987, both times defeating "Rollerball" Mark Rocco
Mark Rocco
Mark Hussey is a retired English professional wrestler who competed for All-Star Wrestling as Mark "Rollerball" Rocco and as the original masked Black Tiger in New Japan Pro Wrestling during the 1970s and 80s...
and both times losing it back to him, the last of these title changes being televised on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
. Yamada would later visit All Star again in 1989, with tag partner Flying Funaki
Masakatsu Funaki
, is a Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler who wrestled in New Japan Pro Wrestling, PWFG, as well as the UWF. He is currently performing at All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is one half of the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Champions, along with Keiji Mutoh...
.
New Japan Pro Wrestling (1987–1989)
After returning to Japan in August 1987, Yamada debuted his Shooting Star Press in a match against Masakatsu FunakiMasakatsu Funaki
, is a Japanese mixed martial artist and professional wrestler who wrestled in New Japan Pro Wrestling, PWFG, as well as the UWF. He is currently performing at All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is one half of the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Champions, along with Keiji Mutoh...
, for which he had gotten the idea from reading the manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
Fist of the North Star
Fist of the North Star
is a Japanese manga series written by Buronson and drawn by Tetsuo Hara that was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1983 to 1988, spanning 245 chapters, which were initially collected in a 27-volume tankōbon edition by Shueisha...
. Throughout 1987 and 1988, Yamada improved with each match, occasionally getting shots at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling junior heavweight championship owned by the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. The title was introduced on February 6, 1986 at a NJPW show....
, most notably against Owen Hart
Owen Hart
Owen James Hart was a Canadian professional and amateur wrestler who worked for several promotions including Stampede Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling , World Championship Wrestling , and most notably, the World Wrestling Federation , where he wrestled under both his own name, and ring name The...
on June 10, 1988, and against Shiro Koshinaka
Shiro Koshinaka
is a Japanese professional wrestler who has competed in All Japan Pro Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling and Wrestle Association "R" during the 1980s and 1990s...
on December 9, 1988.
Stampede Wrestling (1987, 1989)
Yamada went on an excursion in CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, around May 1987, where he wrestled in Stu Hart
Stu Hart
Stewart Edward "Stu" Hart, CM was a Canadian amateur wrestler, professional wrestler, promoter and trainer. Hart founded Stampede Wrestling, a promotion based in Calgary, Alberta, and was the father of famous wrestlers Bret and Owen Hart...
's Stampede Wrestling
Stampede Wrestling
Stampede Wrestling is a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta and was for nearly 50 years one of the main promotions in western Canada and the Canadian Prairies...
in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
under his real name. He also trained under Hart in the legendary "Dungeon". His experiences there led him to refer to Hart as a "very, very tough man." He would return to Calgary in January 1989.
Within months of his second Canadian excursion, NJPW called him back, as they needed him for a gimmick based on an extremely popular anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
, Jushin Liger
Jushin Liger (anime)
is an anime superhero TV series created by Go Nagai. Produced by Sunrise Inc. with cooperation of Dynamic Planning , the series was originally broadcast on Nagoya Broadcasting Network /TV Asahi from to with a total of 43 episodes....
, created by manga artist
Mangaka
is the Japanese word for a comic artist or cartoonist. Outside of Japan, manga usually refers to a Japanese comic book and mangaka refers to the author of the manga, who is usually Japanese...
Go Nagai
Go Nagai
, better known by the penname , is a Japanese manga artist and a prolific author of science fiction, fantasy, horror and erotica. He made his professional debut in 1967 with Meakashi Polikichi, but is best known for creating Cutie Honey, Devilman, and Mazinger Z in the 1970s. In 2005, he became a...
. NJPW had done this previously with Tiger Mask
Tiger Mask
is a Japanese manga series written by Ikki Kajiwara and illustrated by Naoki Tsuji. The series was first published in Kodansha's Bokura Magazine from 1968 to 1969 and was later published in Weekly Shōnen Magazine from 1970 to 1971...
, which had become a huge success. Yamada was given a superhero-like full body costume and a demonic looking mask, resembling the superhero type featured in tokusatsu
Tokusatsu
is a Japanese term that applies to any live-action film or television drama that usually features superheroes and makes considerable use of special effects ....
and anime programs.
New Japan Pro Wrestling (1989–present)
Jushin Liger debuted in New Japan Pro Wrestling on April 24, 1989, at the Tokyo Dome. In his debut match, he defeated Kuniaki KobayashiKuniaki Kobayashi
Kuniaki Kobayashi is a retired Japanese Junior Heavyweight professional wrestler. He wrestled numerous acclaimed matches against the first two Tiger Masks: Satoru Sayama and Mitsuharu Misawa.-New Japan Pro Wrestling :...
. He has also had the honor of wrestling all the Black Tigers to date (from Mark Rocco
Mark Rocco
Mark Hussey is a retired English professional wrestler who competed for All-Star Wrestling as Mark "Rollerball" Rocco and as the original masked Black Tiger in New Japan Pro Wrestling during the 1970s and 80s...
in 1989 to Tatsuhito Takaiwa
Tatsuhito Takaiwa
Tatsuhito Takaiwa is a Zainichi-Korean professional wrestler. Takaiwa is one of the more well-traveled junior heavyweights in Japan, having wrestled for New Japan, and Zero-One, as well as making special appearances in All Japan and NOAH....
in 2009). After using the Jushin Liger gimmick the anime progressed, and as the Go Nagai anime progressed, the hero powered up and changed three times. As the hero changed so did Liger. First to Fire Liger, then to the character gimmick he goes by today, Jushin Thunder Liger. He quickly became one of NJPW's top Junior Heavyweights, eventually capturing the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling junior heavweight championship owned by the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. The title was introduced on February 6, 1986 at a NJPW show....
eleven times, between May 25, 1989 and December 6, 1999, among numerous other titles and accolades while wrestling around the world. When appearing without his mask on, Yamada blocks his appearance by covering his face with one hand.
Early in his career, Yamada's style mostly consisted of high flying. Years later, he started adapting more power moves and started focusing more on grappling and telling a story in the ring; part of this change was due to the fact that Liger had to reduce the stress he was putting on his body after undergoing brain tumor surgery in August 1996, which explained why he lost his match to Último Dragón in the first round of the J-Crown
J-Crown
-Title history:-External links:*...
tournament. He also had the opportunity to wrestle "Macho Man" Randy Savage on July 17, in which he lost.
Liger has won two Super J Cup tournaments in 1995 and 2000.
During 2000, as booker Riki Chōshū
Riki Choshu
Mitsuo Yoshida , better known by his stage name Riki Chōshū , is a Korean-Japanese professional wrestler who is most known for his longtime work in New Japan Pro Wrestling as a wrestler and a booker...
decided to de-emphasize the junior heavyweight division (a costly decision that diminished its credibility), Liger wrestled heavyweights without wearing the upper part of his bodysuit or his mask horns (the first time he wore that attire was on February 24, 1994, against Shinya Hashimoto in a non-title match between the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and the IWGP Heavyweight Champion).
From 2001-2007, Liger was the leader of the NJPW heel
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
stable Control Terrorism Unit (CTU) along with Hirooki Goto
Hirooki Goto
is a Japanese professional wrestler. He has wrestled primarily for New Japan Pro Wrestling since his debut.-Career:Goto attended Kokushikan University, where he took part in freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling. Upon graduating, Goto qualified to join New Japan Pro Wrestling, but left the...
, Minoru Tanaka, Black Tiger IV
Rocky Romero
John R. Rivera is a Cuban American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Rocky Romero and as the fourth incarnation of Black Tiger. As Romero he was one half of the tag team The Havana Pitbulls , along with Ricky Reyes...
, Gedo
Keiji Takayama
Keiji Takayama better known as Gedo , is a long time professional wrestler. He formed a long-lasting tag team with Jado...
, Jado
Shoji Akiyoshi
, better known by his ring name is a Japanese professional wrestler, best known for his work in New Japan Pro Wrestling with his tag team partner Gedo...
, Prince Devitt
Fergal Devitt
Fergal Devitt is an Irish professional wrestler currently contracted by New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is currently in his second reign as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion...
and briefly James Gibson
Jamie Noble
James Howard Gibson better known by his WWE ring name Jamie Noble, is an American former professional wrestler currently working for WWE as a trainer. He is best known for his work from 2002 to 2009 when a severe back injury forced him to retire from competition...
. CTU was disbanded in August 2007, when Liger decided CTU would disband while at the top of NJPW, Liger would then join Masahiro Chono's Legend stable. The Legend stable would disband in February 2010, after Chono, Chōshū and AKIRA
Akira Nogami
is a Japanese professional wrestler and actor, currently working for Yoshihiro Tajiri's Smash promotion as AKIRA.-New Japan Pro Wrestling :...
's departures.
Kishin Liger
On October 20, 1996, The Great MutaKeiji Mutoh
is a Japanese professional wrestler who first gained international fame in the National Wrestling Alliance. He is mostly known for his work as The Great Muta in New Japan Pro Wrestling during the 1990s, but he has also competed in United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Taiwan...
faced off in a match with Liger. As the match progressed, Muta resorted to his underhand tactics that had become his style over the years. He tore at Liger's mask and eventually ripped it off, but Liger kept his face down on the mat. After grabbing a chair outside the ring, Muta entered the ring but before he could hit Liger with it, Liger stood up and revealed his face to be painted pale white with red writings and spit mist into Muta's face (another Muta trademark). He tore off his bodysuit and revealed a painted chest, then proceeded to fight more aggressively the rest of the match, despite losing the match to Muta.
On July 30, 2006, Liger revived the "Kishin" gimmick and faced off with rival Bad Boy Hido in New Japan Pro Wrestling. The story was that Hido had cut a piece of Liger's hair and Liger vowed revenge, so he transformed into Kishin Liger. Liger won the match with a brainbuster
Brainbuster
A brainbuster is a professional wrestling throw in which a wrestler puts his/her opponent in a front facelock, hooks his/her pants, and lifts him/her up as if he/she was executing a vertical suplex. The wrestler then falls onto his/her back so that the opponent lands on his/her head while remaining...
onto a steel chair.
The gimmick is a variation of The Great Muta gimmick which relies on bloody and evil tactics in a match, using mannerisms and imagery that differ from the person's normal ways. This gimmick also uses many wrestling moves that are regulars in The Great Muta's move set, such as the Asian mist.
World Championship Wrestling (1991–1999)
Jushin Liger also made appearances with World Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
(WCW) during the 1990s. He made his debut in December 1991. He feuded with Brian Pillman
Brian Pillman
Brian William Pillman was an American football player and professional wrestler best known for his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling....
over the WCW World Light Heavyweight Championship. He defeated Pillman on December 25 for the title at a house show in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. He would hold onto the title for over two months, before losing it back to Pillman at SuperBrawl II. Liger left WCW in December 1992 after Starrcade, teaming with Erik Watts
Erik Watts
Erik Watts is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling in the early 1990s. He is the son of legendary wrestler "Cowboy" Bill Watts.-Debut:...
in a losing effort to "Dr. Death" Steve Williams and Sting in a Lethal Lottery match. He returned to WCW in September 1995; he would go on to face many other opponents such as Chris Benoit
Chris Benoit
Christopher Michael "Chris" Benoit was a Canadian professional wrestler whose career and life ended in a murder–suicide...
, Pillman, Dean Malenko
Dean Malenko
Dean Simon is a retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Dean Malenko. He is currently signed to WWE working as a road agent. He is best known for his time with Extreme Championship Wrestling , New Japan Pro Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling...
, Rey Mysterio, Jr., and Juventud Guerrera
Juventud Guerrera
Eduardo Aníbal González Hernández , better known as Juventud Guerrera, is a Mexican professional wrestler who is best known for his work in many wrestling promotions worldwide, including all the major American wrestling promotions, such as World Wrestling Entertainment, World Championship...
, as well as challenging Konnan
Konnan
Carlos Santiago Espada Moises , also known as Charles Ashenoff and better known by his ring name, Konnan, is a Cuban professional wrestler and rapper of Puerto Rican descent...
for the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship at Slamboree '96, which he lost the match.
He met with controversy around late-November/early-December 1999 while wrestling a short tour in WCW as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion when he lost the title on WCW Monday Nitro
WCW Monday Nitro
WCW Monday Nitro was a weekly professional wrestling telecast produced by World Championship Wrestling, created by Ted Turner and Eric Bischoff. The show aired Monday nights on TNT, going head-to-head with the World Wrestling Federation's Monday Night Raw from September 4, 1995 to March 26, 2001...
to Juventud Guerrera
Juventud Guerrera
Eduardo Aníbal González Hernández , better known as Juventud Guerrera, is a Mexican professional wrestler who is best known for his work in many wrestling promotions worldwide, including all the major American wrestling promotions, such as World Wrestling Entertainment, World Championship...
via a blow to the head from a tequila
Tequila
Tequila is a spirit made from the blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila, northwest of Guadalajara, and in the highlands of the western Mexican state of Jalisco....
bottle. Liger regained his title the following week from Psicosis, who was substituting for Guerrera because he broke his arm. However, the scripting of these title changes was very embarrassing for New Japan Pro Wrestling, so embarrassing that they moved on like it never happened and chose not to release any information, in turn none of the Japanese sports media outlets reported the two title changes. New Japan didn't recognize Guerrera's reign until 2007. Liger was also referred to as a 10 time champion until this time.
Pancrase (2002)
On November 30, 2002, Liger was booked as a replacement for a mixed martial arts match in the PancrasePancrase
Pancrase is a mixed martial arts promotion company founded in Japan in 1993 by professional wrestlers Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki. Pancrase is taken from Pankration, a sport in the ancient Olympic games. Suzuki and Funaki are particularly skilled in the art of catch wrestling and based the...
organization against Minoru Suzuki
Minoru Suzuki
is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Suzuki was the co-founder of Pancrase, one of the first mixed martial arts organizations in the world. During the 1990s he was known as one of the best fighters in the Pancrase promotion and was the second King of Pancrase world champion...
due to his planned opponent being forced to pull out. In what would be Liger's only Mixed Martial Arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
match, (and Suzuki's last non-worked match) he was easily beaten by Suzuki via rear naked choke
Rear naked choke
The Rear naked choke is a chokehold in martial arts applied from an opponent's back. Depending on the context, the term may refer to one of two variations of the technique, either arm can be used to apply the choke in both cases...
only 1:48 into the first round. After a failed attempt at a Rolling Koppu Kick, Liger was quickly mounted and hit with Suzuki's ground and pound until the choke was applied, forcing Liger to tap out. Liger wore a modified version of his mask during the bout.
Hawai'i Championship Wrestling (2003)
In summer 2003 Liger along with Tiger Mask IVTiger Mask IV
Yoshihiro Yamazaki , best known by his ring name Tiger Mask , is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for New Japan Pro Wrestling. Yamazaki is the fourth wrestler to portray the Tiger Mask image / persona; having used it since 1995...
, Masahiro Chono
Masahiro Chono
, is a Japanese professional wrestler. He primarily wrestles for New Japan Pro Wrestling , but has also made appearances for the now defunct World Championship Wrestling, as a member of the New World Order. Chono was also known as Mister Black Jack when he first started as a villain. He is a...
and Yuji Nagata
Yuji Nagata
is a Japanese professional wrestler. He was known for his perennial tweener status, currently a solid fan favorite, and his stiff, shoot style wrestling technique....
appeared in Hawaii for Hawai'i Championship Wrestling
Hawai'i Championship Wrestling
Hawai'i Championship Wrestling , was an American professional wrestling promotion founded in 2003. It had been associated with both AWA Superstars, and also, the NWA. The company folded in July 2008.-History:...
. Liger teamed with Tiger Mask and fought to a draw with then HCW Tag Team Champions Kaimana & Kaniala.
Ring of Honor (2004, 2010)
On November 5, 2004, Liger debuted in ROHRing of Honor
Ring of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
, headlining their back-to-back "Weekend of Thunder" shows to huge acclaim. ROH selected Bryan Danielson
Bryan Danielson
Bryan Danielson is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE where he wrestles on its SmackDown brand as Daniel Bryan, and currently holds the SmackDown Money in the Bank briefcase, which enables him to have a World Heavyweight Championship match at any time of his choosing...
as Liger's special opponent for that weekend. For Night 1, the two faced each other in a singles match, with Liger winning the highly competitive bout after a super brainbuster.
On November 6, 2004 Night 2 would see a "dream tag-team" match in the main event. Liger chose then-ROH Champion Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe
Nuufolau Joel "Joe" Seanoa is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Samoa Joe. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling....
as his partner out of respect for Joe's accomplishments as ROH World Champion, and Danielson selected Low Ki to negate Joe. Liger again came out on top, pinning Danielson with a Liger Bomb to win the match.
On January 29, 2010 at ROH's debut show in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
as part of WrestleReunion 4, Liger lost a non-title match to ROH World Champion
ROH World Championship
The Ring of Honor World Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in Ring of Honor. The championship has also been through other companies in cooperation with ROH through the Global Professional Wrestling Alliance , the governing body of many independent wrestling...
Austin Aries
Austin Aries
Daniel Healy "Dan" Solwold, Jr. better known by his ring name Austin Aries, is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where he is the current X Division Champion...
via pinfall after a brainbuster
Brainbuster
A brainbuster is a professional wrestling throw in which a wrestler puts his/her opponent in a front facelock, hooks his/her pants, and lifts him/her up as if he/she was executing a vertical suplex. The wrestler then falls onto his/her back so that the opponent lands on his/her head while remaining...
. It was Liger's first ROH match in over five years.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2005–2006)
Liger debuted in the American Total Nonstop Action WrestlingTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
promotion on October 23, 2005 as part of their Bound for Glory pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
, losing to Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe
Nuufolau Joel "Joe" Seanoa is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Samoa Joe. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling....
.
He was scheduled to face off against Christopher Daniels at TNA Lockdown 2006
Lockdown (2006)
Lockdown was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , which took place on April 23, 2006 from the TNA Impact! Zone in Orlando, Florida. It was the second annual event under the Lockdown chronology. Eight professional wrestling matches were featured...
on April 23, 2006. He had been unaware that the match was to be held in a Steel Cage, something in which he had never participated before. When he heard of this he cancelled the match. One of TNA's bookers Scott D'Amore
Scott D'Amore
Scott Francis D'Amore is a Canadian professional wrestler, manager, promoter, booker and entrepreneur. He formerly managed Team Canada in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. He was also the former head of the creative team...
has speculated that he didn't want to participate in the match due to it being in a new environment, fearing it would have hampered his performance. According to D'Amore, Liger had been unhappy with his previous TNA match against Joe which was cut short due to communication problems, and wanted his next TNA match to be better. D'Amore has also disproved the rumor that communication issues between TNA and NJPW had caused the match to be cancelled. Liger was not double booked to two events at the same time, like had been publicly speculated.
Liger was the captain of the New Japan team in the TNA 2006 World X Cup Tournament
TNA 2006 World X Cup Tournament
The TNA 2006 World X Cup Tournament was a professional wrestling X Cup Tournament staged by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in April and May 2006...
and defeated Team Canada's
Team Canada (TNA)
Team Canada was a heel professional wrestling stable in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, which was active from 2004 to 2006.-2004 X-Cups:In 2004, wrestling promoter and personality "Coach" Scott D'Amore brought together fellow Canadians to form his own incarnation of Team Canada in Total Nonstop...
Captain Petey Williams
Petey Williams
Peter "Petey" Williams III is a Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is a two time X Division Champion and a former captain of Team Canada. Williams Currently Wrestles for Lucha Libre USA...
at TNA Sacrifice on May 14, 2006 using a Crash Thunder Buster after Williams was distracted by the rest of Team Japan who draped the flag over Williams after Liger's victory. Liger was eliminated in the X-Cup Gauntlet later that night and Team Japan
Team Japan
Team Japan is a wrestling faction that was brought together as a part of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's World X Cup Tournament.-2004:Team Japan started as six-man team as team captain Nosawa from All Japan Pro Wrestling teamed with Osaka Pro Wrestling's Ebessan and Kamen competed in...
was unable to gain any points in the match as it was won by Team Canada with Team Mexico
Team Mexico
Team Mexico is a professional wrestling stable that was first formed in 2004 to compete in TNA Wrestling's America's X-Cup Tournament and has since returned to compete in other TNA X Cup Tournaments.-2004:...
as runners up.
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (2007, 2009, 2010–present)
In 2007 Liger made a short visit to Mexico, working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha LibreConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
, NJPW's Mexican associate. He took part in the 2007 CMLL International Gran Prix as the captain of a team of non-Mexican wrestlers. Liger was the last man eliminated from the match by winner Último Guerrero
Último Guerrero
Último Guerrero is a Mexican currently working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , where he is also part of the booking committee and former CMLL World Heavyweight Championship...
. Liger returned to CMLL in September 2009 for a longer tour, teaming with Okumura
Shigeo Okumura
Shigeo Okumura is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre and is currently billed simply as Okumura. Okumura originally worked for Tokyo Pro Wrestling and later on All Japan Pro Wrestling in Japan but...
, Naitō
Tetsuya Naitō
is a Japanese professional wrestler trained by and currently performing for New Japan Pro Wrestling , where he is a former IWGP Tag Team and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion with former partner Yujiro Takahashi, with whom he teamed as No Limit....
and Yujiro
Yujiro Takahashi
, also known by his shortened ring name is a Japanese professional wrestler trained by and currently performing for New Japan Pro Wrestling , where he is a former IWGP Tag Team and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion with former partner Tetsuya Naitō, with whom he teamed as No...
as La Ola Amarilla
La Ola Amarilla
La Ola Amarilla is a professional wrestling group, also known as a stable in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre . The group is exclusively for Japanese-born wrestlers, often wrestlers touring CMLL through a talent-sharing agreement with New Japan Pro Wrestling...
("The Yellow Wave" in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
). At the CMLL 76th Anniversary Show
CMLL 76th Anniversary Show
the CMLL 76th Anniversary Show was a professional wrestling major show event produced by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre that took place on September 18, 2009 in Arena Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico. The show featured six matches, with the main event being a Lucha de Apuestas, mask vs. hair match...
La Ola Amarilla
La Ola Amarilla
La Ola Amarilla is a professional wrestling group, also known as a stable in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre . The group is exclusively for Japanese-born wrestlers, often wrestlers touring CMLL through a talent-sharing agreement with New Japan Pro Wrestling...
defeated Team Mexico (Último Guerrero, Atlantis
Atlantis (wrestler)
Atlantis is a Mexican Luchador Enmascarado currently working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre where he performs as a Technico . Atlantis has held a large number of professional wrestling championships over the years, both in Mexico and in Japan...
, Black Warrior
Black Warrior (wrestler)
Jesus Toral López is a luchador or professional wrestler who has worked almost exclusively in Mexico. López has achieved most success under the ring name Black Warrior and has worked for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre since 1995...
and Héctor Garza
Héctor Garza
Héctor Solano Segura is a Mexican professional wrestler, known by his ring name Héctor Garza, who is currently working for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración and Perros del Mal Producciones...
) in one of the featured matches on the show. The following week, at the 2009 Gran Alternativa
Gran Alternativa 2009
the Gran Alternativa 2009 was a professional wrestling major show event produced by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre that took place on September 25, 2009 in Arena Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico...
show Liger unsuccessfully challenged for Último Guerrero's CMLL World Heavyweight Championship
CMLL World Heavyweight Championship
The CMLL World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre and has been in existence since 1991...
. He also failed to regain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship from Místico before returning to Japan in October, 2009. On May 3, 2010, Liger defeated Negro Casas
Negro Casas
José Casas Ruiz is a Mexican professional wrestler and trainer currently working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre under the ring name Negro Casas. He is the son of former wrestler, turned referee Pepe Casas and brother of professeional wrestlers El Felino and Heavy Metal...
at a New Japan show in Fukuoka, Japan
Fukuoka
Fukuoka most often refers to the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture.It can also refer to:-Locations:* Fukuoka, Gifu, a town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan* Fukuoka, Toyama, a town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan...
, to win the CMLL World Middleweight Championship
CMLL World Middleweight Championship
The CMLL World Middleweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship promoted by the Mexican wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre...
. Liger returned to CMLL in June 2010 for a long tour of the company. As the CMLL World Middleweight Championship he earned entry into the 2010 Universal Championship
CMLL Universal Championship (2010)
Block BBlock B took place on the August 6, 2010 Super Viernes, featuring eight champions fighting for a place in the final.FinalsThe finals of the tournament took place on the August 13, 2010 Super Viernes and saw Jushin Liger defeat La Sombra two falls to one, after interference from Liger's...
. On the August 6, 2010 Super Viernes show Liger won Block B by defeating Negro Casas, Héctor Garza
Héctor Garza
Héctor Solano Segura is a Mexican professional wrestler, known by his ring name Héctor Garza, who is currently working for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración and Perros del Mal Producciones...
and La Máscara
La Mascara (wrestler)
La Mascara is a Mexican professional wrestler active as a tecnico in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, where he is the current NWA World Historic Welterweight Champion. Also one of his uncle is Brazo de Plata. His cousins are Psycho Clown and Máximo. La Mascara is the son of Brazo de Oro, and the...
to earn a spot in the finals. On the August 13, 2010 Super Viernes Liger defeated La Sombra
La Sombra (wrestler)
La Sombra is a Mexican luchador enmascarado . La Sombra's real real name is not a matter of public record, as is often the case with masked wrestlers in Mexico where their private lives are kept a secret from the wrestling fans...
to win the 2010 Universal Championship. On August 16, 2010 it was announced that Liger was one of 14 men putting their mask on the line in a Luchas de Apuestas steel cage match, the main event of the CMLL 77th Anniversary Show
CMLL 77th Anniversary Show
The CMLL 77th Anniversary Show was a professional wrestling major show produced by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre that took place on September 3, 2010 in CMLL's home arena Arena México in Mexico City, Mexico. The event commemorates the 77th anniversary of CMLL, the oldest professional wrestling...
. Liger was the seventh man to leave the steel cage, keeping his mask safe. The match came down to La Sombra
La Sombra (wrestler)
La Sombra is a Mexican luchador enmascarado . La Sombra's real real name is not a matter of public record, as is often the case with masked wrestlers in Mexico where their private lives are kept a secret from the wrestling fans...
pinning Olímpico
Olímpico
Joel Bernal Galicia , better known under the ring name Olímpico is a Mexican Luchador , or professional wrestler. Olímpico is sometimes Anglicised as "Olympico", and means "Olympian" in Spanish...
to unmask him. During the same tour, Liger also made his first successful defense of the CMLL World Middleweight Championship, defeating La Sombra on September 27. On January 4, 2011, at New Japan's Wrestle Kingdom V in Tokyo Dome event, Liger wrestled in a CMLL showcase match, where he and Héctor Garza were defeated by La Sombra and Máscara Dorada
Mascara Dorada
Máscara Dorada is a Mexican Luchador Enmascarado . Máscara Dorada's real name has not been officially documented, a tradition in Mexican Lucha Libre where masked wrestler's real names often are not a matter of public record...
, when Sombra pinned Liger, setting up a CMLL World Middleweight Championship match for CMLL's Fantasticamania 2011
Fantasticamania 2011
Fantasticamania 2011 was the name of two professional wrestling major shows produced that took place on January 22 and January 23, 2011 in Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan...
show on January 22 in Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. At Fantasticamania Liger defeated La Sombra to retain the CMLL World Middleweight Championship. On May 3, Liger made his third successful defense of the title, defeating Máscara Dorada at New Japan's Wrestling Dontaku 2011 show. Liger returned to Mexico on September 15, 2011, announcing his intention of working as a technico
Face (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a babyface or face or in simple words, a fan favorite is a character who is portrayed as a heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains...
for the first time during his run with CMLL. On September 30 at CMLL's 78th Anniversary Show
CMLL 78th Anniversary Show
The CMLL 78th Anniversary Show was a professional wrestling major show produced by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre that took place on September 30, 2011 in CMLL's home arena Arena México in Mexico City, Mexico...
, Liger defeated eleven other men in a torneo cibernetico
Torneo cibernetico
A Torneo Cibernetico is a type of elimination tag-team match that frequently appears in Lucha Libre promotions.The match is a 16-man elimination tag team match consisting of 2 teams of 8. It uses standard Lucha Libre tag-team rules with elimination occurring with a pinfall, submission,...
to advance to the finals of the 2011 Leyenda de Plata. On October 7, Liger was defeated in the finals of the tournament by Volador Jr.
Volador Jr.
Volador Jr. is a Mexican Luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler, best known for his work with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre in his native Mexico, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in the United States...
On October 24, Liger made his fourth successful defense of the CMLL World Middleweight Championship, defeating El Texano, Jr.
El Texano, Jr.
Juan Aguilar Leos is a Mexican luchador, or professional wrestler, best known under the ring name El Texano, Jr.. Aguilar is the son of Juan Conrado Aguilar Jáuregui, who wrestled under the name El Texano; Aguilar also has several uncles and cousins that are professional wrestlers...
On November 18, Liger lost the title to Dragón Rojo, Jr.
Dragón Rojo, Jr.
Dragón Rojo, Jr. born November 3, 1982 is a Mexican Luchador Enmascarado Dragón Rojo, Jr. (Red Dragon, Jr., real name unrevealed) born November 3, 1982 is a Mexican Luchador Enmascarado Dragón Rojo, Jr. (Red Dragon, Jr., real name unrevealed) born November 3, 1982 is a Mexican Luchador Enmascarado...
, ending his reign at 564 days.
UWA Hardcore Wrestling (2007)
Liger made his Canadian return after 18 years on May 25 and May 26, 2007 in Mississauga, OntarioMississauga, Ontario
Mississauga is a city in Southern Ontario located in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and in the western part of the Greater Toronto Area. With an estimated population of 734,000, it is Canada's sixth-most populous municipality, and has almost doubled in population in each of the last two decades...
and competed in UWA Hardcore Wrestling. On night one he teamed with PUMA
T.J. Perkins
T.J. Perkins is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to Ring of Honor , while also working on the independent circuit under his real name, under his initials TJP or under a mask as Puma ....
and defeated the team of Último Dragón and Kazuchika Okada
Kazuchika Okada
is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to New Japan Pro Wrestling. From February 2010 until October 2011, he was on a developmental tour, working for American promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the name Okada.-Training and debut:Trained by Último Dragón at his Toryumon...
, after Liger hit the Liger Bomb on Okada. On night two, Liger teamed with Último Dragón and defeated The Murder City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley
Alex Shelley
Patrick Martin , is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Alex Shelley. He wrestles for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he currently teams with Chris Sabin as The Motor City Machine Guns. He previously gained fame on the independent circuit, working most notably for...
and Chris Sabin
Chris Sabin
Joshua Harter is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Chris Sabin. He is currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where he currently teams with Alex Shelley as The Motor City Machine Guns.After being trained by Scott D'Amore, Sabin debuted in 2000 for...
) after a Liger Bomb / Dragon Sleeper combo.
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (2010)
Liger made his Pro Wrestling GuerrillaPro Wrestling Guerrilla
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla is a professional wrestling promotion that is run by wrestlers themselves as it was created by Southern California wrestlers Disco Machine, Excalibur, Joey Ryan, Scott Lost, Super Dragon, and Top Gun Talwar...
debut in Los Angeles, CA
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
on January 30, 2010 as part of WrestleReunion 4. He defeated El Generico
El Generico
Rami Sebei is a Canadian professional wrestler, better known by his ring name El Generico. Sebei uses the gimmick of a luchador from Mexico...
via pinfall after a brainbuster.
Jersey All Pro Wrestling (2010–2011)
On May 22, 2010, Liger made his debut for American promotion Jersey All Pro WrestlingJersey All Pro Wrestling
Jersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion based in New Jersey.-1997:Jersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion that was founded by "Fat" Frank Iadeavia on April 19, 1997. This promotion was born out of a dream of "Fat" Frank. He wanted to take the promotion...
(JAPW), losing to Homicide in the main event of the evening. He would return to the promotion seven months later on December 10, when he defeated Azrieal
Federico Palacios
Walter Kirney is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for working under the ring name Azrieal for independent promotions such as Ring of Honor and Jersey All Pro Wrestling.-Total Nonstop Action Wrestling:...
, Bandido, Jr., B-Boy, El Generico and Kenny Omega in a six–way elimination match to win the JAPW Light Heavyweight Championship
JAPW Light Heavyweight Championship
The JAPW New Jersey State Championship is a title in the Jersey All Pro Wrestling professional wrestling promotion. Being a professional wrestling championship, it is not won via direct competition; it is instead won via a predetermined ending to a match or awarded to a wrestler because of a...
. The following day he would successfully defend the title against Mike Quackenbush. Liger would lose the title to Kenny Omega in his second defense on May 15, 2011, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during New Japan's first ever tour of the United States.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Air Scissors Drop (Lou Thesz press pin) – 2009–present
- BrainbusterBrainbusterA brainbuster is a professional wrestling throw in which a wrestler puts his/her opponent in a front facelock, hooks his/her pants, and lifts him/her up as if he/she was executing a vertical suplex. The wrestler then falls onto his/her back so that the opponent lands on his/her head while remaining...
, sometimes from the top rope - CTB – Crash Thunder Buster (Belly-to-back wheelbarrow facebuster)
- Liger Bomb (Standing or a running high-angle sitout powerbomb)
- Liger Suplex (Bridging leg-hook backdrop suplex)
- Shooting star press – innovated; 1987–1994
- Super DDT – late '80s–early '90s, used rarely thereafter
- Signature moves
- Asian mist – as Kishin Liger
- Fisherman buster, sometimes from the top rope
- Frankensteiner, sometimes from the top rope
- Frog splash
- Indian deathlock
- Kneeling belly-to-belly piledriver
- MoonsaultMoonsaultA moonsault, moonsault press, or back flip splash is a professional wrestling aerial technique. Much of its popularity in American wrestling is attributed to The Great Muta, despite it being used in North America by "Leaping" Lanny Poffo years before Muta came from Japan.In a standard moonsault,...
- Multiple suplexSuplexA suplex is an offensive move used in professional sport wrestling . The move consists of one wrestler picking up his or her opponent off the ground and then using a large portion of his or her own body weight to drive the opponent down on the mat. Nearly all suplexes have the attacker going down...
variations
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- Belly-to-back
- German
- Gutwrench
- Rolling Koppu Kick (Rolling wheel kick)
- Senton bomb
- Shotei (Palm thrust)
- Surfboard
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- ManagersManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- Sonny Onoo
- Entrance themesMusic in professional wrestlingMusic in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...
- New Japan Pro WrestlingNew Japan Pro Wrestlingis a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
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- "Moodido (The Match)" by TotoToto (band)Toto is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The group currently consists of Joseph Williams , David Paich , Steve Porcaro , Steve Lukather , Mike Porcaro , and Simon Phillips . Toto is known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard...
(1984–1986) - "Gotta Fly Now" by DeEtta Little (1987–1988)
- "Ikari No Jyushin" by Yumi Hiroki (1989–present)
- "Moodido (The Match)" by Toto
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- World Championship WrestlingWorld Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
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- "War Lords" (1991–1992)
- "Rock Machine" (when teaming with Brian PillmanBrian PillmanBrian William Pillman was an American football player and professional wrestler best known for his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling....
, 1992) - "Way Of The Dragon" (1995–1996)
- "Pacific Zone" (1999)
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Championships and accomplishments
- All-Star PromotionsAll Star WrestlingAll Star Wrestling is a British Professional wrestling promotion also known as All Star Promotions, Superslam Wrestling and Big Time Wrestling and originally known as Wrestling Enterprises , run by Brian Dixon and based in Liverpool, England...
- World Heavy Middleweight Championship (2 times)
- Consejo Mundial de Lucha LibreConsejo Mundial de Lucha LibreConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
- CMLL World Middleweight ChampionshipCMLL World Middleweight ChampionshipThe CMLL World Middleweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship promoted by the Mexican wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre...
(1 time) - CMLL Universal ChampionshipCMLL Universal ChampionshipThe CMLL Universal Championship is an annual lucha libre tournament held by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre since 2009. The tournament format is a "tournament of champions" with all all officially recognized male CMLL Champions at the time of the...
(2010CMLL Universal Championship (2010)Block BBlock B took place on the August 6, 2010 Super Viernes, featuring eight champions fighting for a place in the final.FinalsThe finals of the tournament took place on the August 13, 2010 Super Viernes and saw Jushin Liger defeat La Sombra two falls to one, after interference from Liger's...
)
- Dragon GateDragon Gateis a Japanese professional wrestling promotion formerly known as Toryumon Japan. Most of Dragon Gate's wrestlers are graduates from Último Dragón's Toryumon Gym, and thus the promotion is based on a Junior Heavyweight style with varying emphasis on high flying maneuvers, flashy technical grappling,...
- Open the Dream Gate ChampionshipDragon Gate Open the Dream Gate ChampionshipThe Open the Dream Gate Championship is the top professional wrestling title in Japanese promotion Dragon Gate. The wrestler who holds it is considered the top singles wrestler in Dragon Gate. It was created on July 4, 2004 when CIMA was awarded the title as a result of being the last Último Dragón...
(1 time)
- Jersey All Pro WrestlingJersey All Pro WrestlingJersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion based in New Jersey.-1997:Jersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion that was founded by "Fat" Frank Iadeavia on April 19, 1997. This promotion was born out of a dream of "Fat" Frank. He wanted to take the promotion...
- JAPW Light Heavyweight ChampionshipJAPW Light Heavyweight ChampionshipThe JAPW New Jersey State Championship is a title in the Jersey All Pro Wrestling professional wrestling promotion. Being a professional wrestling championship, it is not won via direct competition; it is instead won via a predetermined ending to a match or awarded to a wrestler because of a...
(1 time)
- Michinoku Pro Wrestling / North Eastern WrestlingMichinoku Pro WrestlingMichinoku Pro Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded by The Great Sasuke in 1993. Michinoku Pro was the first independent wrestling promotion in Japan to not base its operations in Tokyo, but rather in Morioka, Iwate...
- British Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipBritish Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipThe British Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship that although being created in England, it gained its biggest notoriety in Japan...
(2 times) - Super J Cup (2000)
- New Japan Pro WrestlingNew Japan Pro Wrestlingis a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipIWGP Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipThe IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling junior heavweight championship owned by the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. The title was introduced on February 6, 1986 at a NJPW show....
(11 times) - IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team ChampionshipIWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team ChampionshipThe IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship owned by the New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. The title was introduced on August 8, 1998 at a NJPW live event...
(5 times) – with The Great SasukeMasanori Murakawa, , is a Japanese professional wrestler who is best known by his stage name The Great Sasuke, as well as a former Iwate Prefectural Assembly legislator. He has wrestled in Japan and in the United States in various wrestling promotions...
(1), El Samurai (1), Minoru Tanaka, (1), Koji KanemotoKoji Kanemotois a professional wrestler. He is of Zainichi Korean descent.-Career:Kanemoto practiced Judo during his high school days and won a few championships as a professional before being recruited by the New Japan Dojo. He debuted in November 1990, wrestling against Michiyoshi Ohara. In March 1992, he...
(1), and AKIRAAkira Nogamiis a Japanese professional wrestler and actor, currently working for Yoshihiro Tajiri's Smash promotion as AKIRA.-New Japan Pro Wrestling :...
(1) - J-CrownJ-Crown-Title history:-External links:*...
(1 time) - NWA World Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA World Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world championship and secondary title in the National Wrestling Alliance that was for the lighter wrestlers. It started in 1945 and still exists today. The title was unified with the National Boxing/Wrestling Association's...
(1 time) - NWA World Welterweight ChampionshipNWA World Welterweight ChampionshipThe NWA World Welterweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship governed by the National Wrestling Alliance . For the majority of its existence, the title has been promoted by Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , where it was known as the Campeonato Mundial Welter de...
(1 time) - UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight ChampionshipUWA World Junior Light Heavyweight ChampionshipThe UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship that was originally promoted by the Mexican lucha libre Professional wrestling) promotion Universal Wrestling Association...
(1 time) - WWA World Junior Light Heavyweight ChampionshipWWA World Junior Light Heavyweight ChampionshipThe WWA World Light Heavyweight Championship is a singles professional wrestling championship promoted by the Mexican Lucha Libre wrestling based promotion World Wrestling Association since 1989. In the 1990s the title was taken to Japan when reigning champion Gran Hamada returned to his home...
(1 time) - WWF Light Heavyweight ChampionshipWWF Light Heavyweight ChampionshipThe World Wrestling Federation Light Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship. The title was challenged by light heavyweights at a maximum weight of 220 lbs.- History :...
(1 time)1 - Top/Best of the Super JuniorsBest of the Super JuniorsThis article is about the professional wrestling tournament. For the South Korean boy band, see Super Junior.The Best of the Super Juniors is an annual professional wrestling tournament held by New Japan Pro Wrestling , typically in May or June...
(1992, 1994, 2001) - G1 Junior Tag League (2001) – with El Samurai
- Naeba Cup Tag Tournament (2001) – with Yuji NagataYuji Nagatais a Japanese professional wrestler. He was known for his perennial tweener status, currently a solid fan favorite, and his stiff, shoot style wrestling technique....
- Young Lion Cup (1986)
- Outstanding Performance Award (2000)
- Tag Team Best Bout (2003) with Koji KanemotoKoji Kanemotois a professional wrestler. He is of Zainichi Korean descent.-Career:Kanemoto practiced Judo during his high school days and won a few championships as a professional before being recruited by the New Japan Dojo. He debuted in November 1990, wrestling against Michiyoshi Ohara. In March 1992, he...
vs. Kotaro SuzukiKotaro SuzukiKotaro Suzuki , born June 18, 1978 in Warabi, Saitama is a professional wrestler who currently wrestles for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is one half of the reigning GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.- Career :...
and Naomichi MarufujiNaomichi Marufujiis a Japanese professional wrestler who competes for Pro Wrestling Noah, with occasional appearances in other professional wrestling promotions like Ring of Honor, All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling, among others. Marufuji is the first of only two Grand Slam Champion in Pro...
on June 10
- Osaka Pro WrestlingOsaka Pro WrestlingOsaka Pro Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 1998 by Super Delfin.-Current champions:-External links:**...
- OPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Takehiro Murahama
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI ranked him #8 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2000
- PWI ranked him #12 in the PWI Years in 2003
- Pro Wrestling NoahPro Wrestling Noahis a major Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2000 by former All Japan Pro Wrestling ace Mitsuharu Misawa. NOAH is broadcast weekly in Japan...
- GHC Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipGHC Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipThe Global Honored Crown Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title in Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Noah, specifically for junior heavyweight The Global Honored Crown (GHC) Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title in Japanese promotion Pro...
(1 time)
- World Championship WrestlingWorld Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
- WCW World Light Heavyweight ChampionshipWWE Cruiserweight ChampionshipThe World Wrestling Entertainment Cruiserweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment and was originally a World Championship Wrestling title. It was challenged by cruiserweights at a maximum weight of 215 lbs...
(1 time)
- Wrestle Association RWAR (wrestling promotion)Wrestle and Romance, and later Wrestle Association R, was a professional wrestling promotion founded and run by Genichiro Tenryu as the successor to Super World of Sports, and which lasted from 1992 to 2000. The promotion had very few regular contracted workers, instead most of the workers were...
- WAR International Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with El Samurai
- Super J Cup (1995)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- 5 Star Match (1994) vs. The Great Sasuke on July 8
- Best Gimmick (1989)
- Best Flying Wrestler (1989–1993)
- Best Technical Wrestler (1989–1992)
- Best Wrestling Maneuver (1987, 1988) Shooting star press
- Match of the Year (1990) vs. Naoki SanoNaoki Sanois a Japanese professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. He currently goes by the name Takuma Sano.-New Japan Pro Wrestling :...
on January 31 in OsakaOsakais a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Japan - Most Outstanding Wrestler (1990–1992)
- Rookie of the Year (1984) tied with Tom ZenkTom ZenkThomas Erwin "Tom" Zenk is a former Mr. Minnesota Bodybuilder, and most notably a American professional wrestler, also known by his nickname Z-Man.-Early career:...
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of FameWrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of FameThe Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is a professional wrestling hall of fame that recognizes people who make significant contributions to the sport. It was founded in 1996 by Dave Meltzer, editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is not...
(Class of 1999)
1Despite winning the championship, the win and reign aren't recognized by World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
. No reign with the championship is recognized by the company prior to December 1997.
Lucha de Apuesta record
| Wager | Winner | Loser | Location | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mask | Jushin Liger | Pegasus Kid Chris Benoit Christopher Michael "Chris" Benoit was a Canadian professional wrestler whose career and life ended in a murder–suicide... |
Fukuoka, Japan | ||
| Mask | Jushin Liger | Tiger Mask III Koji Kanemoto is a professional wrestler. He is of Zainichi Korean descent.-Career:Kanemoto practiced Judo during his high school days and won a few championships as a professional before being recruited by the New Japan Dojo. He debuted in November 1990, wrestling against Michiyoshi Ohara. In March 1992, he... |
Tokyo, Japan | ||
Mixed Martial Arts Record
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0-1 | Minoru Suzuki Minoru Suzuki is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Suzuki was the co-founder of Pancrase, one of the first mixed martial arts organizations in the world. During the 1990s he was known as one of the best fighters in the Pancrase promotion and was the second King of Pancrase world champion... |
Submission (Rear Naked Choke Rear naked choke The Rear naked choke is a chokehold in martial arts applied from an opponent's back. Depending on the context, the term may refer to one of two variations of the technique, either arm can be used to apply the choke in both cases... ) |
Pancrase - Spirit 8 | November 30, 2002 | 1 | 1:48 | Yokohama, Kanagawa |
See also
- Jushin Liger (anime)Jushin Liger (anime)is an anime superhero TV series created by Go Nagai. Produced by Sunrise Inc. with cooperation of Dynamic Planning , the series was originally broadcast on Nagoya Broadcasting Network /TV Asahi from to with a total of 43 episodes....
- The 1989 anime series that started it all. - Jushin Thunder Liger: Fist of ThunderJushin Thunder Liger: Fist of Thunderis a 1995 direct-to-video tokusatsu wrestling/superhero/horror movie. Produced by Bandai Visual, this film is a showcase for the popular wrestler Jushin Liger, who was based upon the anime series Jushin Liger created by Go Nagai, who supervised this film's production...
- The 1995 OVT tokusatsu movie.