13 Ups & 1 Down From NJPW's 47th Anniversary Show

5. Old Vs. New

Taiji Ishimori Jushin Liger
NJPW

So Jushin 'Thunder' Liger vs. Taiji Ishimori, then. Good? Nah. Incredible? Yes.

We've already celebrated Liger's showing, but the champion was instrumental in the bout's success as well. His selling was off the charts, and he helped make his celebrated foe look like a million dollars as he took his cannonball to the outsider and Liger Bomb, building the crowd's hopes that he'd be upset, and that the icon would capture his first IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in 19 years.

The fans were firmly behind Liger from the first bell, and shook the building to its core as Ishimori trapped the challenger in a submission late on. A stunning tap-out tease followed. Reminiscent of Liger's underrated BOSJ clash with TAKA Michinoku in 2017, it was impossible not to be pulled into the legend's struggle, and the relief was palpable when he eventually made it to the ropes.

Liger managed just one flurry after that tease. Finally, depressingly, Liger was forced to tap, completing the most dramatic title fight this division has seen in a long time.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.