10 Things You Need To Know About NJPW Best Of Super Juniors 2017
3. Jushin Liger's Last Stand
Jushin Thunder Liger is the most celebrated Junior Heavyweight of all-time, and a huge reason for the puroresu tape trading explosion in North America. A three-time BOSJ winner and 11-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, Liger’s primary base of operations has always been NJPW, but he has also appeared for WCW, ROH, and even WWE since debuting in 1984.
Now 52 years old, Liger will be competing in his final BOSJ. His high-level wrestling career is slowly drawing to a close, but NJPW have set him up perfectly. Liger will go out with showcase matches against some of the absolute best wrestlers on the planet, and there’s every chance the company could pull the ultimate feelgood story and have him progress all the way to the finals.
The JHW Title is probably beyond Liger at this stage in his career, but the fact that this is his last BOSJ should make everything he does feel special. He’s one of the wrestlers most responsible for putting the lighter weight classes on the map, and while age has hindered his skillset, he still knows how to put on a compelling match. Nobody will work harder than Liger in this year’s tournament, and his last stand should be a fascinating run.