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

<– 30 Years of Liger in 30 Days: 2015      30 Years of Liger in 30 Days: 2017–>

Wrestle Kingdom 14 night 1: January 4 tickets! 

Wrestle Kingdom 14 night 2: January 5 tickets!

2016 marked the start of what Jyushin Thunder Liger called the ‘final phase’ of his career. Still years away from his retirement, Liger admitted that when the book was written about his career, this would be the year its final chapter would start.

It started in memorable form. At the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion’s request, Liger would challenge KUSHIDA in his home of Fukuoka at Dontaku in May. A classic bout, between two top grapplers, Liger and KUSHIDA were evenly matched on the mat, but much as against Tiger Mask at the end of 2015, Liger had a ferocious Shotei countered into a submission as KUSHIDA won with the Hoverboard Lock. 

Much as Liger returned to championship contention in 2016, so too did the Super J-Cup return to the NJPW calendar. The first tournament in seven years would also be the last that Liger would compete in, before producing the 2019 version of the tournament in the United States. 

History would repeat in many a respect in the tournament, as Liger would face an outsider in Dragon Gate’s Eita in the first round, much as he had competed against FMW’s Hayabusa back in the first round of the 1994 cup. Just like that history making night, Eita sought to make an impact out of the gate with a huge dive to Liger as he made his entrance, but it wasn’t enough to put the legend away; Liger would move past Eita before crashing out to Taichi in the second round.

Watch Jyushin Thunder Liger vs KUSHIDA here!

Watch Jyushin Thunder Liger vs Eita here!