Ring Of Honor Wrestling sent out the following:
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES JUSHIN ‘THUNDER’ LIGER, A TRUE LEGEND
The word “legend” gets thrown around liberally in pro wrestling, but it’s not hyperbole to apply the descriptor to Jushin “Thunder” Liger.
Arguably the most famous Japanese wrestler of all time, Liger wrestled the final matches of his magnificent career this weekend at New Japan Pro-Wrestling Wrestling’s two Wrestle Kingdom 14 events at the Tokyo Dome.
Liger, who revolutionized the athletic, high-flying aspect of the sport and is credited with creating the Shooting Star Press, competed in eight-man tag and traditional tag matches this weekend and showed that he can still go at 55 years old.
Liger, who made his debut in 1984, won championships all over the world, including the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title a record 11 times.
Ring of Honor fans had the privilege of seeing Liger perform live on numerous occasions. He made his ROH debut at Weekend of Thunder in 2004, defeating Bryan Danielson in a classic match in Revere, Mass., and then teaming with Samoa Joe the following night in a win over Danielson and Low Ki in Elizabeth, N.J.
A TRUE LEGEND! pic.twitter.com/hnzFIx3xRX
— ROH Wrestling (@ringofhonor) January 4, 2020
Jushin "Thunder" Liger vs Bryan Danielson – 2004 – Weekend Of Thunder
Watch the full match exclusively on our YouTube channel here: https://t.co/1RpcWcceM3#ThankYouLiger @Liger_NJPW @WWEDanielBryan pic.twitter.com/62LkbMmrpN
— ROH Wrestling (@ringofhonor) January 4, 2020
Liger was especially active in ROH during the past five years. He faced then-ROH World Champion Adam Cole for the title at the War of the Worlds pay-per-view in 2014, and also wrestled ROH stars such as Jay Lethal, Dalton Castle, Cody, Kenny King and Silas Young.
He made his Madison Square Garden debut at ROH/NJPW’s G1 Supercard this past April, as he competed in the Honor Rumble and made it to the final three. Over the years, Liger also developed a friendship with ROH’s Cheeseburger and served as a mentor to him.
A number of ROH stars and personalities took to Twitter over the weekend to say #ThankYouLiger.
Thank you Liger ?#villain ?? pic.twitter.com/SLxsBmosx2
— Marty Scurll (@MartyScurll) January 4, 2020
He had a mouth like a sailor & never could seem to keep his hands off my Boys… But I am honored to have been afforded the opportunity to share the ring with @Liger_NJPW #ThankYouLiger pic.twitter.com/iigTo5jvbw
— Dalton Castle (@theDALTONcastle) January 4, 2020
#ThankYouLiger https://t.co/0SPJS8arb9
— Matt Taven (@MattTaven) January 4, 2020
#NewProfilePic #ThankYouLiger pic.twitter.com/cV9NTbpAtY
— Cheeseburger (@CheeseburgerROH) January 4, 2020
Thank you for your eternal kindness Liger-san. You are forever my hero! I’ll try not to cry during your retirement ?.#ThankYouLiger #njwk14 #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/3MdHb9MYuC
— Cheeseburger (@CheeseburgerROH) January 4, 2020
#ThankYouLiger for every lesson in that ring you’ve taught me, and for standing by and doing NOTHING while the Not So Great Muta tried to blind me. pic.twitter.com/XFtffQ87Nj
— Kenny King (@KennyKingPb2) January 4, 2020
El día de hoy será histórico en mi vida..!
Gracias @Liger_NJPW pic.twitter.com/NnAmzybvYi— Dragon Lee ?????? (@dragonlee95) January 5, 2020
#ThankYouLiger ???
It was an honor to be your first ever female partner / mixed tag match. Nicest legend evaaaa ?? congrats on a very successful career. @Liger_NJPW pic.twitter.com/OZM9YUXgyc
— Mandy León (@MandyLeonxo) January 4, 2020
Thank you Liger-San! #ThankYouLiger pic.twitter.com/SsD39TPqmh
— Beer City Bruiser (@bcbwinchester) January 4, 2020
Never in a million years did I think I’d share a ring with you. Saying it was an honor is the understatement of the century. #ThankYouLiger pic.twitter.com/7yLu5fyDY7
— Brian Milonas (@brianmilonas) January 4, 2020
#ThankYouLiger ?????????????? https://t.co/7q6U3h7QFS
— ??Sumie Sakai?? (@SumieSakai) January 5, 2020
#ThankYouLiger pic.twitter.com/1GTfrz6RhR
— Rhett Titus (@RhettTitusANX) January 6, 2020
Legend @Liger_NJPW pic.twitter.com/BsjtPW7Cai
— TheReyHorus (@rey_horus) January 5, 2020
#ThankYouLiger@Liger_NJPW pic.twitter.com/2SBQBLr0zh
— Caprice Coleman (@CapriceColeman) January 4, 2020
#ThankYouLiger pic.twitter.com/WbDeKSasop
— LSG – The Ace of Space ? (@LeonStGiovanni) January 4, 2020
#ThankYouLiger pic.twitter.com/yTTld0nHTU
— Will Ferrara (@WillFerrara) January 4, 2020
#Repost from 2016
The only photo I thought to take with Jushin Liger.
Amazed me when I first saw him in 1992. Amazed I got to call a dozen or so of his matches, including his only MSG match.
What a class act, embodiment of a legend!#ThankYouLiger pic.twitter.com/k3pLirRoXc
— Ian Riccaboni (@IanRiccaboni) January 4, 2020
#ThankYouLiger pic.twitter.com/enloqvm3DD
— Todd Sinclair (@sinclairtodd) January 4, 2020
My 1st night as the lead #ROH ? was in Nov.04 for Bryan Danielson vs Jushin Liger. As @Liger_NJPW came through the curtain and stood on the stage with his signature pose, @sinclairtodd said to me as were standing in the ring, “that’s f*cking awesome”. Sure was. #ThankYouLiger pic.twitter.com/uMm7SzEcS5
— Bobby Cruise (@realBobbyCruise) January 4, 2020