We continue our countdown to Jyushin Thunder Liger’s retirement.

<– 30 Years of Liger in 30 Days: 2008      30 Years of Liger in 30 Days: 2010–>

Wrestle Kingdom 14 night 1: January 4 tickets! 

Wrestle Kingdom 14 night 2: January 5 tickets!

Jyushin Thunder Liger saw his 20th anniversary in 2009, but showed no signs whatsoever of slowing down. At the Tokyo Dome January 4, he reunited with Naoki Sano, just as he will for his last match on January 5 2020, as the two teamed up to take on Koji Kanemoto and Wataru Inoue. Liger would wrestle at a furious pace, and though he would have to content with dangerous submission work from Kanemoto, would land some brutal shoteis and a top rope brainbuster to win. 

Reinvigorated, Liger would move to challenge the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Tiger Mask the next month, his first such challenge in four years. Though he fell short, Liger would ride the momentum of a strong performance into Dontaku in his native Fukuoka, where he would be victorious after pinning Kanemoto again; his rival would team with Tiger Mask that night against Liger and CIMA, the Dragon Gate star making a very rare NJPW appearance. 

Watch Jyushin Thunder Liger & Naoki Sano vs Koji Kanemoto & Wataru Inoue here!

Watch Jyushin Thunder Liger & CIMA vs Tiger Mask & Koji Kanemoto here!