6 Ups And 2 Downs From NJPW Best Of The Super Juniors 24

Ups...

6. Liger Leaves With A Win

BOSJ 24 marked Jushin Thunder Liger's 26th and final Best of the Super Juniors tournament. The 52-year old has competed in all but two editions of the tournament since its inception back in 1988 when it was dubbed 'Top of the Super Juniors', with three trophy wins to his name.

Like the heralded veteran that he is, Liger used his inclusion in this year's field to put over those around him, losing his first six bouts to opponents like Takahashi, Ospreay and Ricochet. He clearly identifies these youngsters as the future of the division that he has called home for a quarter of a century.

Despite prioritising future talent, New Japan pulled a masterful stroke on the final day of Block A competition. Liger's final tournament match would be against the universally-despised Taichi. Predictably, Taichi and his gang jumped Liger and slandered him on the mic. They used scissors to desecrate his iconic attire, unifying the entire crowd behind Liger.

Eventually, Taguchi and KUSHIDA arrived to even the odds, leaving Liger to hit two finishers on Taichi and pick up the win. The eruption from the crowd was a fitting tribute to mark Liger's final match in the tournament he has helped to build for so many years.

Long live Jushin Thunder Liger. F*ck Taichi.