We may be counting down to Jyushin Thunder Liger’s retirement in January 2020, but Liger marked a first, rather than a last on July 28 as he stepped into a ZERO1 ring for the first time in his legendary career. 

In a dream tag match of junior heavyweight legends, Liger teamed with his fierce rival through the 1990s, the Great Sasuke to take on the established  and accomplished team of Shinjiro Otani and Tatsuhito Takaiwa. 

The match all came together in March when Liger announced plans for his retirement . Otani remarked on social media that he wanted to throw down with Liger one more time, and this past weekend, that desire became reality. To add to the all-star feel, the referee for the match was another famed rival of Liger’s, Norio Honaga, while legendary ring announcer Kero Tanaka handled the introductions. 

It was a nostalgic bout, made all the more meaningful to Liger because it was his first time in a Zero1 ring. To be in a promotion that his friend and famed opponent, the late, great Shinya Hashimoto had established at the start of the millennium had to be deeply meaningful. 

The crowd were hot for Liger as soon as the opening strains of his theme music were played, while Sasuke was also mindful of the occasion, clad in a special mask that was adorned with half his and half Liger’s designs.

For the first half of the match, the crowd exploded with delight to see some trademark offense from Sasuke and Liger, including a Sasuke quebrada and Liger rolling tope. As expected, Liger and Otani entered into a spirited back and forth, while Takaiwa maintained his reputation as one of the greatest power juniors of his era. 

Takaiwa and Otani were able to take over on Liger, with Otani delivering a series of painful facewashes to Liger. At the end of the match, Sasuke was legal with Otani; Otani delivered a huge Liger Bomb to Sasuke right in front of the move’s originator, before hitting a brutal Hashimoto style chop for the victory. 

Post match, Otani addressed Liger and the fans, saying ‘Maybe as someone here for the first time, Liger doesn’t know. But this is the ring Hashimoto built. After all these years, Hashimoto’s ring is still here. I’m so happy Liger could stand inside it’.

In response, Liger remarked ‘Of course I know this is Hashimoto’s ring. That’s why I’m here! You just took too long to book me! I might be retiring in January, but I want to do this again with you. I plan to be here as many times as I can!’

Backstage, Liger expressed gratitude for Sasuke, and said of Takaiwa and Otani that they ‘have done so much to maintain Zero1. I still have a lot of chances to wrestle here before I retire. I have less than half a year left in my life as a wrestler, and I plan to live that life with zero regrets.’

Zero1’s official website (Japanese)