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

<– 30 Years of Liger in 30 Days: 2012      30 Years of Liger in 30 Days: 2014–>

Wrestle Kingdom 14 night 1: January 4 tickets! 

Wrestle Kingdom 14 night 2: January 5 tickets!

After 2012 saw Liger pick up the last IWGP championship victory of his illustrious career, he was phenomenally successful in outside promotions through 2019. He and Hiroshi Tanahshi picked up CMLL World Tag Team gold in the summer, and Liger and Tiger Mask would also be GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions in NOAH, eventually falling to Yoshinari Ogawa and Zack Sabre Junior, who had been a thorn in Liger’s side through the year. 

Another thorn in the side was NWA’s President at the time, Bruce Tharpe. The eccentric head of the legendary promotion would grow obssessed with destroying Liger, and put obstacle after obstacle in his path. Eventually this would lead to a bout in Kobe against NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Rob Conway. 

Tharpe’s distraction would result in a loss for Liger, but in the same Kobe World Hall where 17 years earlier Kishin Liger had appeared to face another champion heavyweight in the Great Muta, Liger once again showed how much fight he had in him against any opponent. 

Watch Jyushin Thunder Liger vs Rob Conway here!