10 Introductory Matches To The Unrivalled Art Of Japanese Wrestling

5. Jushin Thunder Liger Vs. El Samurai - NJPW Sumo Hall Show 30/04/1992

Fans of WWE's Cruiserweight Classic tournament could do far worse than check out this seminal 1992 match featuring Jushin Thunder Liger, a man who, in innovating the Shooting Star Press and popularising the junior heavyweight style, can lay claim to being one of the most revolutionary wrestlers in the history of the industry.

Liger is so respected that he shored up for a one-off appearance on NXT in an incredibly rare example of WWE cross-promotion - but he was far past his incredible prime at TakeOver: Brooklyn despite the choice he effort he constructed with Tyler Breeze.

This match, possibly his best ever, uses heat-building devices traditionally associated with U.S. wrestling in the early going, as Samurai goes about smashing a beer bottle against Liger's head, but it soon settles into a platform on which for Liger to demonstrate the "Fighting Spirit" crucial to the Puro culture. The protracted beatdown of Liger pays dividends as he finds it within himself to stiffly strike Samurai in the bracket to enormous cheers.

No aerials are deployed within the first ten minutes - the first, a still-spectacular senton, is saved until considerable emotional resonance can be achieved.

The subsequent, desperate planchas and dives become far more impactful after Liger, aggrieved by the Tombstone piledriver onslaught to which he was subjected in the opening exchanges, rips off Samurai's mask to ramp up the audience investment.

Liger wins the match, which conclusively disproves the notion that the "flippy" junior style is bereft of psychology, with a top-rope Frankensteiner.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!