For the last decade, there have been several junior heavyweights who have made an huge
impact on the sport.  Jushin “Thunder” Liger is among the top few.  If you ask a semi-
intelligent mark or a semi-intelligent smart, just who is the best non-heavyweight in the
world?  There is a very good chance they will answer with Liger.  The legendary New Japan
artist made several journeys across the ocean and gave American fans some of the best
matches they had ever seen on television.  He stunned the national audience with his
quickness and moves.  It was nothing his native country hadn’t already seen.  Liger had
dominated his class since 1989 and his career provided 15-plus years worth of top matches
against the best in the world.

  He won his first International Wrestling Grand Prix World Junior Heavyweight Title on May
25, 1989 in Osaka from Hiroshi Hase before 12,350 fans.  He dropped the belt to Naoki Sano
on August 10th in Tokyo.  On January 31, 1990 in Tokyo, Liger regained the championship
from Sano.  Chris Benoit, otherwise known as The Pegasus Kid, beat Liger on August 19th in
Tokyo.  He regained the belt for a third time on November 2nd at Budokan Hall.  In a tough
contest, he beat Negro Casas in defense of his title on December 26, 1990 in Hamamatsu,
Japan.  He gave up his claim to the belt and a tournament was scheduled by New Japan
Officials.  

  Norio Honaga beat him in a tournament final on April 29, 1991 in Tokyo.  Liger rebounded
to win his fourth IWGP World Junior Title on June 12th.  The following month in Tokyo, he was
defeated by Akira Nogami.  Liger ventured to America and opened a new culture’s eyes to his
abilities.  He astonished fans and captured the WCW World Light Heavyweight Title from
Brian Pillman in Atlanta, Georgia at the Omni Coliseum on December 25, 1991.

  Upon returning to Japan, Liger became a duel champion when he captured the IWGP
World Junior Title with a victory over Honaga on February 8th.  It was his fifth.  Liger faced
Pillman in a rematch on February 29th in Milwaukee during the SuperBrawl pay-per-view.  
Their high-flying match was an instant classic and ended with Pillman regaining the
championship.  El Samurai beat Liger for the IWGP Title on June 26th.  He regained the belt
for the sixth time with a victory over Ultimo Dragon on January 4, 1993 before 63,500 fans at
the Tokyo Dome.  Tiger Mask pinned Liger on May 3, 1993 in Tokyo, Japan.  His IWGP Title
was not on the line.

  Liger broke his left leg in a “Super J” tournament match in Chigasaki, Japan on June 12th
against 2 Cold Scorpio.  Officials stripped him of the championship and a tournament was
scheduled. Liger beat Koji Kanamoto on January 4, 1996 in Tokyo for his seventh IWGP
World Junior Title.  An estimated 64,000 fans were in attendance.  Amazingly enough, a
larger crowd was at the Tokyo Dome on April 29th to witness The Great Sasuke beat Liger
for the title.

  In August 1996, a number of wrestlers combined to throw their belts into the ring and
formed the “J-Crown” Octuple Championship.  Included were the IWGP World Junior, NWA
World Junior, WWA World Junior, WWF World Light Heavyweight, Great Britain Junior, WAR
Junior Light Heavyweight, UWA Junior and NWA Welterweight Titles.  At the annual New
Japan Tokyo Dome show on January 4, 1997, Liger beat Ultimo Dragon to win the eight
belts.  El Samurai beat him for the belts on July 6th in Sapporo.  In February 1998, he beat
Shinjiro Ohtani to win his ninth World Junior Title at the Nakajima Sports Center in a two-of-
three-falls match.  He held the belt for more than a year.

  On March 17, 1999, Koji Kanemoto beat Liger for the title.  In October 1999, he won his
tenth claim to the IWGP World Junior Title.  Liger returned to North America and lost his claim
to WCW’s Juventud Guerrera on November 29th in Denver, Colorado at the Pepsi Center.  
The new champ was unable to defend his claim against Liger due to an elbow injury.  
Psicosis took his place on December 6th in Milwaukee during WCW’s Nitro.  Liger beat
Psicosis for his eleventh title win.

TITLE HISTORY:

  -An eleven-time IWGP World Junior Heavyweight Champion
          -Defeated Hiroshi Hase (1989)
          -Defeated Naoki Sano (1990)
          -Defeated The Pegasus Kid (1990)
          -Defeated Norio Honaga (1991)
          -Defeated Norio Honaga (1992)
          -Defeated The Ultimo Dragon (1993)
          -Defeated Koji Kanamoto (1996)
          -Defeated The Ultimo Dragon (1997)
          -Defeated Shinjiro Ohtani (1998)
          -Defeated Kendo Ka Shin (1999)
          -Defeated Psicosis (1999)
  -WCW World Light Heavyweight Title (1991-’92) defeated Brian Pillman




Research by Tim Hornbaker
Jushin Liger Wrestling History
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