10 Things You Need To Know About NXT's Aleister Black
5. Jushin Liger Is His Favourite Wrestler
Given his fandom and appreciation for Japanese wrestling, it’s no surprise that his favourite wrestler is one of the most iconic puroresu stars of all-time. Jushin “Thunder” Liger is the most iconic Junior Heavyweight wrestler of all-time, and a living legend in his homeland.
Anyone who’s been following the sport for longer than five minutes knows his name, and Liger’s ascension in the ‘80s and ‘90s was one of the main reasons Japanese wrestling tapes initially became so sought after in the American market.
Black even had the opportunity to wrestle Liger in 2014, when he defeated the legend with a top rope double-stomp in a match for Germany’s wXw. They’d then share the ring again a few years later, when they wrestled a 5-on-5 comedy match during night three of PWG’s Battle Of Los Angeles 2016 tournament.
Black naturally gravitates towards serious wrestlers that work realistic, mat-based styles, and also counts Hayabusa, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, and Chris Jericho among his early favourites. Black is very much a wrestling purist at heart, and while each of his favourites incorporated varying levels of showmanship into their performances, he clearly has a taste for those who throw forearms and trap opponents in submission holds.