Jushin Thunder Liger Retires At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14
Hardly a dry eye in the Tokyo Dome...
Emotions were high in the wrestling world on night two of Wrestle Kingdom 14 as Jushin Thunder Liger teamed with Naoki Sano against Hiromu Takahashi & Ryu Lee in his last ever professional wrestling match.
The match and Liger's career came to an end after Takahashi hit the Time Bomb and pinned him for the 1-2-3. After the match, Ryu Lee helped Liger to his feet and bowed to him as a sign of respect.
Liger was then left alone in the ring to receive the adulation of the 30,000 people in attendance at the Tokyo Dome. He cut a short promo in which he thanked the crowd, and then quickly exited the ring.
At today's New Year Dash!!, the show opened with Liger's retirement ceremony. After a video package highlighting his career, Liger made his way to the ring. The star was then presented with numerous bouquets of flowers from members of the New Japan locker room, the NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi, the NJPW President Harold Meij, and his wife and son. A special video message from Antonio Inoki then aired, and for the final time, Liger gave a promo in which he thanked the fans, his colleagues and his family.
He then received a 10 bell salute and exited the arena as the crowd serenaded him with his entrance music.
With that, Jushin Thunder Liger's career came to an end. He retires as one of the most decorated men in wrestling history, having won 11 IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championships and six IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships amongst many other titles across a number of different promotions including WCW, Dragon Gate, and Pro Wrestling NOAH.
The match and Liger's career came to an end after Takahashi hit the Time Bomb and pinned him for the 1-2-3. After the match, Ryu Lee helped Liger to his feet and bowed to him as a sign of respect.
Liger was then left alone in the ring to receive the adulation of the 30,000 people in attendance at the Tokyo Dome. He cut a short promo in which he thanked the crowd, and then quickly exited the ring.
At today's New Year Dash!!, the show opened with Liger's retirement ceremony. After a video package highlighting his career, Liger made his way to the ring. The star was then presented with numerous bouquets of flowers from members of the New Japan locker room, the NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi, the NJPW President Harold Meij, and his wife and son. A special video message from Antonio Inoki then aired, and for the final time, Liger gave a promo in which he thanked the fans, his colleagues and his family.
He then received a 10 bell salute and exited the arena as the crowd serenaded him with his entrance music.
With that, Jushin Thunder Liger's career came to an end. He retires as one of the most decorated men in wrestling history, having won 11 IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championships and six IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships amongst many other titles across a number of different promotions including WCW, Dragon Gate, and Pro Wrestling NOAH.
Written by Aidan Gibbons
Editor-in-Chief of Cultaholic.com Twitter: @theaidangibbons
