Jushin Thunder Liger

Real name: Keiichi Yamada
Height: 5’7″
Weight: 213 lbs.
Date of birth: November 30, 1964
From: Hiroshima, Japan
Pro debut: 1983
Trained by: Kotetsu Yamamoto
Finishing move: Liger Bomb

Biography

– Yamada debuted under his real name in late 1983 and was a regular on New Japan cards by early the following year
– Yamada reached the final of the 1985 Young Lion Cup, losing to Shunji Kosugi
– Yamada went one better in the 1986 Young Lion Cup, defeating Tatsutoshi Goto in the final
– In September 1986, Yamada was sent abroad on a learning excursion, initially to the UK
– On March 3, 1987, the slightly-renamed Fuji Yamada defeated Mark Rocco to win the ASW World Heavy-Middleweight Title. He would lose the title back to Rocco in April, shortly before leaving the UK for a stint in Canada’s Stampede Wrestling
– Yamada returned to Japan in the summer of 1987
– Yamada was given the ‘Jushin Liger’ character, a gimmick based on Go Nagai’s anime of the same name, in April 1989. The character debuted at the Battle Satellite event at the Tokyo Dome on April 24, defeating Kuniaki Kobayashi
– On May 25, Liger defeated Hiroshi Hase to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– On July 12, Liger defeated Black Tiger to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– The next day, Liger fought Naoki Sano to a double-knockout draw to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– On January 31, 1990, Liger defeated Naoki Sano to regain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title, having lost it to Sano in August
– On March 19, Liger defeated Pegasus Kid to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– At the WWF/AJPW/NJPW Wrestling Summit event, Liger defeated Akira Nogami
– Liger lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title to Pegasus Kid in August 1990, but would regain it in November
– On December 26, Liger defeated Negro Casas to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– At the Starrcade 1991 Tokyo Dome event, Liger defeated AKIRA to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– Liger lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title to Norio Honaga in the final of the 1991 Top Of The Super Juniors Tournament, but would regain it in a rematch on June 12
– Liger defeated Pegasus Kid in a Mask vs. Mask match on July 4, 1991
– At a WCW House Show on December 25, 1991, Liger defeated Brian Pillman to win the WCW Light Heavyweight Title. He would retain it against Pillman three times over the next three days
– At Starrcade 1991, Liger & Bill Kazmaier defeated Diamond Dallas Page & Mike Graham
– On February 8, 1992, Liger defeated Norio Honaga in a Title vs. Title Match to retain the WCW Light Heavyweight Title and win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– On February 10, Liger defeated Pegasus Kid to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight and WCW Light Heavyweight Titles
– On March 9, Liger defeated Mad Bull Rex to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– Liger won the 1993 Top Of The Super Juniors Tournament, defeating El Samurai in the final
– On May 17, Liger defeated El Samurai to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– At Clash Of The Champions 19, Liger & Brian Pillman defeated Chris Benoit & Beef Wellington
– On January 4, 1993, Liger defeated Ultimo Dragon to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title for a sixth time
– On March 21, Liger defeated Dean Malenko to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– On August 8, Liger defeated Wild Pegasus to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– On September 23, Liger defeated Masao Orihara to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– On November 24, Liger defeated Black Tiger to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– At the January 4 Tokyo Dome show in 1994, Liger defeated Tiger Mask
– On March 21, Liger defeated Black Tiger to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– At Wrestling Dontaku 1994, Liger fought Satoru Sayama to a time-limit draw
– At TripleMania IIB, Liger, Tiger Mask, Octagon & El Hijo del Santo defeated Eddy Guerrero, La Parka, Blue Panther & Psicosis
– Liger won the 1994 Best Of The Super Juniors Tournament, defeating Super Delfin in the final
– Liger suffered a broken ankle in a tag team match in September 1994 and would miss close to a year of action
– Liger wrestled in the first ever WCW Nitro match, losing to Brian Pillman
– Liger won the 1995 WAR Super J Cup, defeating Gedo in the final
– At Starrcade 1995, Liger defeated Chris Benoit
– At Wrestling World 1996, Liger defeated Koji Kanemoto to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– On February 3, 1996, Liger defeated Black Tiger to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– On March 17, Liger defeated Shinjiro Otani to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– On June 17, Liger defeated Dick Togo to win the MPW British Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight Title
– On July 20, Liger & El Samurai defeated Lance Storm & Yuji Yasuraoka to win the WAR International Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
– At Starrcade 1996, Liger defeated Rey Misterio Jr
– At Wrestling World 1997, Liger defeated Ultimo Dragon to win the J-Crown
– On February 9, Liger defeated Shinjiro Otani to retain the J-Crown
– A week later, Liger defeated Koji Kanemoto to retain the J-Crown
– On March 20, Liger defeated Masayoshi Motegi to retain the J-Crown
– On April 12, Liger defeated The Great Sasuke to retain the J-Crown
– On February 7, 1998, Liger defeated Shinjiro Otani to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– On April 4, Liger defeated Kendo Kashin to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– On July 15, Liger defeated Koji Kanemoto to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– On September 10, Liger defeated The Great Sasuke to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– On September 23, Liger defeated Kaz Hayashi to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– On October 24, Liger defeated El Samurai to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– On December 4, Liger defeated Tatsuhito Takaiwa to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– At Wrestling World 1999, Liger defeated Koji Kanemoto to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– On February 6, Liger defeated Dr Wagner Jr to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– On April 10, Liger & The Great Sasuke defeated Dr Wagner Jr & Kendo Kashin to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
– At Final Dome 1999, Liger defeated Kendo Kashin to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title for a 10th time
– On November 26, at a CMLL show in Mexico City, Liger defeated Shocker to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– On December 6, Liger defeated Psychosis to regain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title, having lost it to Juventud Guerrera a week earlier. This would be Liger’s final run with the title
– At Wrestling World 2000, Liger defeated Koji Kanemoto to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– On February 4, Liger defeated Minoru Tanaka to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– On March 10, Liger defeated El Samurai to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
– Liger won the 2000 Super J Cup, defeating CIMA in the final
– At TripleMania VIII, Liger, Latin Lover, Hector Garza & Octagon defeated Abismo Negro, Cibernetico, CIMA & Electroshock
– At NJPW’s The 2nd Judgment event, Liger, Shinya Makabe & Minoru Tanaka defeated Takehiro Murahama, Super Delfin & Tsubasa
– On March 6, 2001, Liger & El Samurai defeated Junior Stars (Koji Kanemoto & Minoru Tanaka) to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
– Liger & Yuji Nagata won the 2001 Naeba Cup Tournament, defeating Kensuke Sasaki & Minoru Tanaka in the final
– At Wrestling Dontaku 2001, Liger & El Samurai defeated Dr Wagner Jr & Silver King to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
– Liger won the 2001 Best Of The Super Juniors Tournament, defeating Minoru Tanaka in the final
– At Osamu Kido’s Retirement Show, Liger & Keiji Muto defeated Minoru Tanaka & Yuji Nagata
– At Wrestling World 2002, Liger, Tiger Mask & The Great Sasuke defeated Gedo, Jado & Dick Togo
– On May 2, 2002, Liger & Minoru Tanaka defeated Gedo & Jado to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
– On July 4, Liger & Tanaka defeated Koji Kanemoto & AKIRA to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
– At NJPW’s The Spiral event, Liger, Tiger Mask & Masahito Kakihara defeated Ricky Reyes, Rocky Romero & American Dragon
– At Wrestling World 2003, Liger, Koji Kanemoto & Takehiro Murahama defeated Masayuki Naruse, Tiger Mask & Heat
– On January 26, 2003, at a Pro Wrestling NOAH event, Liger & Koji Kanemoto defeated Tsuyoshi Kikuchi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
– On February 1, Liger & Takehiro Murahama defeated Infinity (Black Buffalo & Infinity) to win the OPW Tag Team Titles
– On March 9, Liger & Koji Kanemoto defeated AKIRA & Heat to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
– On March 21, Liger & Takehiro Murahama defeated Billy Ken Kid & Gamma to retain the OPW Tag Team Titles
– On April 28, Liger & Murahama defeated Tigers Mask & Ebessan to retain the OPW Tag Team Titles
– At NJPW Ultimate Crush, Liger & Koji Kanemoto defeated Tiger Mask & Heat to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
– On June 2, Liger & Takehiro Murahama defeated Billy Ken Kid & Tsubasa to retain the OPW Tag Team Titles
– On June 10, Liger & Koji Kanemoto defeated Naomichi Marufuji & Kotaro Suzuki to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
– On August 13, Liger & Takehiro Murahama defeated Black Buffalo & Tsubasa to retain the OPW Tag Team Titles
– On September 14, Liger & Koji Kanemoto defeated Gedo & Jado by DQ to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
– The following day, Liger & Takehiro Murahama defeated Big Boss MA-G-MA & Daio QUALLT to retain the OPW Tag Team Titles
– On September 23, Liger & Koji Kanemoto defeated Minoru Fujita & Ikuto Hidaka to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
– On October 18, Liger & Kanemoto defeated Katsushi Takemura & Gedo to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
– On November 4, Liger & Koji Kanemoto had to vacate the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles due to Kanemoto suffering a fractured cheekbone
– At Wrestling World 2004, Liger defeated Takashi Sugiura to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Title
– On February 15, Liger defeated Mitsuo Momota to retain the GHC Junior Heavyweight Title
– On March 6, Liger defeated Makoto Hashi to retain the GHC Junior Heavyweight Title
– At King Of Sports 2004, Liger defeated Masayuki Naruse to retain the GHC Junior Heavyweight Title
– On April 27, Liger defeated Kotaro Suzuki to retain the GHC Junior Heavyweight Title
– At Nexess I, Liger defeated Katsuhiko Nakajima
– On May 21, Liger defeated Tsuyoshi Kikuchi to retain the GHC Junior Heavyweight Title
– At Nexess II, Liger, Gedo, Jado & Katsushi Takemura defeated Hirooki Goto, Ryusuke Taguchi, Wataru Inoue & Katsuhiko Nakajima
– Liger wrestled a pair of events for Ring Of Honor in November 2004
– At Nexess IV, Liger & Manabu Nakanishi defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Koji Kanemoto
– At Wrestling World 2005, Liger defeated Koji Kanemoto
– Liger wrestled for TNA at Bound For Glory 2005, losing to Samoa Joe
– At Sacrifice 2006, Liger (representing Team Japan) defeated Petey Williams (representing Team Canada)
– On March 25, 2007, Liger defeated Don Fujii to win the Dragon Gate Open The Dream Gate Title
– On April 17, Liger defeated Masaaki Mochizuki to retain the Dragon Gate Open The Dream Gate Title
– At Destruction 2007, Liger, Masahiro Chono, Riki Choshu, Super Strong Machine & AKIRA defeated Takashi Iizuka, Tetsuya Naito, Taichi Ishikari, Takashi Uwano & Mitsuhide Hirasawa
– At Wrestle Kingdom 2, Liger, Masahiro Chono, Riki Choshu, Tatsumi Fujinami & AKIRA defeated Shuji Kondo, Gedo, Jado, TARU & YASSHI
– On February 17, 2008, Legend (Liger & AKIRA) defeated RISE (Prince Devitt & Minoru) to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
– On April 13, Legend defeated NO LIMIT (Tetsuya Naito & Yujiro) to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
– At Wrestle Kingdom 3, Liger & Takuma Sano defeated Koji Kanemoto & Wataru Inoue
– At Resolution 2009, Liger, Masahiro Chono & AKIRA) defeated Riki Choshu, Super Strong Machine & El Samurai
– At Wrestling Dontaku 2009, Liger & CIMA defeated Koji Kanemoto & Tiger Mask
– At Dominion 2009, Liger & AKIRA defeated Koji Kanemoto & Nobuo Yoshihashi
– At Shiro Koshinaka’s 30th Anniversary Show, Liger, Koshinaka & Yuji Nagata defeated Genichiro Tenryu, Toshiaki Kawada & TAJIRI
– At CMLL’s 76th Anniversary Show, Liger, Tetsuya Naito, Okumura & Yujiro defeated Hector Garza, Ultimo Guerrero, Black Warrior & Atlantis
– At Yutaka Yoshie’s 15th Anniversary Show, Liger & Koji Kanemoto fought Tiger Mask & Ryusuke Taguchi to a time-limit draw
– At Wrestling Dontaku 2010, Liger defeated Negro Casas to retain the CMLL Middleweight Title
– On August 13, Liger won the CMLL Campeon Universal Tournament, defeating La Sombra in the final
– At CMLL’s 77th Anniversary Show, Liger was successful in a 14-man Mask vs. Mask Cage Match
– On September 27, Liger defeated La Sombra to retain the CMLL Middleweight Title
– At JAPW’s 13th Anniversary Show, Liger defeated Kenny Omega, El Generico, Bandido Jr, Azrieal & B-Boy in an Elimination Match to win the JAPW Light Heavyweight Title. He retained against Mike Quackenbush the following day
– On January 22, 2011, Liger defeated La Sombra to retain the CMLL Middleweight Title
– At AJPW Pro Wrestling Love in Ryogoku 11, Liger & Yuji Nagata defeated Minoru Suzuki & Masakatsu Funaki
– At Wrestling Dontaku 2011, Liger defeated Mascara Dorada to retain the CMLL Middleweight Title
– At the NJPW/AJPW/NOAH All Together event, Liger, Takuma Sano & Masakatsu Funaki defeated Minoru Suzuki, Atsushi Aoki & Taichi
– On October 24, Liger defeated El Texano Jr to retain the CMLL Middleweight Title
– At Wrestle Kingdom 6, Liger, Tiger Mask, Mascara Dorada & KUSHIDA defeated TAKA Michinoku, Taichi, Valiente & Atlantis
– At NJPW’s 40th Anniversary Show, Liger & Tiger Mask defeated Gedo & Jado
– At Wrestling Dontaku 2012, Liger & Tiger Mask defeated Rocky Romero & Gedo
– At Dominion 2012, Liger & Tiger Mask defeated TAKA Michinoku & Taichi to win the vacant IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
– At Yuji Nagata’s 20th Anniversary Show, Liger, Tiger Mask & Captain New Japan defeated Gedo, Jado & YOSHI-HASHI
– At The New Beginning 2013, Liger, Tiger Mask, Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & Tama Tonga defeated Tomohiro Ishii, Takashi Iizuka, Toru Yano, YOSHI-HASHI & Jado)
– At Wrestling Dontaku 2013, Liger, Tiger Mask, Yuji Nagata & Maximo defeated Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI, Gedo & Jado
– On July 5, Liger & Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Tama Tonga & El Terrible to win the CMLL Tag Team Titles
– On July 28, Liger & Tiger Mask defeated BRAVE (Taiji Ishimori & Atsushi Kotoge) to win the NTV G Cup Junior Heavyweight Tag League and with it, the vacant GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
– On August 24, Liger & Tiger Mask defeated No Mercy (Genba Hirayanagi & Maybach SUWA Jr) to retain the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
– On September 16, Liger & Tiger Mask defeated Daisuke Harada & Hitoshi Kumano to retain the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
– At King Of Pro Wrestling 2013, Liger, Super Strong Machine, Tiger Mask & Manabu Nakanishi defeated Takashi Iizuka, YOSHI-HASHI, Gedo & Jado
– On November 7, Liger & Tiger Mask defeated Crazy Dynasty (Super Crazy & Pesadilla) to retain the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Titles
– At The New Beginning in Hiroshima 2014, Liger & El Desperado defeated Kota Ibushi & BUSHI
– At The New Beginning in Osaka 2014, Liger & Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Shinsuke Nakamura & Yujiro Takahashi
– At NJPW’s 42nd Anniversary Show, Liger, Tiger Mask & Super Strong Machine defeated El Desperado, Captain New Japan & BUSHI
– At Wrestling Dontaku 2014, Liger, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tetsuya Naito & Togi Makabe defeated Bullet Club (Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson, Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga) in an Elimination Match
– At Global Wars 2014, Liger & Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Shinsuke Nakamura & Jado
– At Destruction in Kobe 2014, Liger, Tomoaki Honma, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima defeated Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata, Tiger Mask & Captain New Japan
– At Power Struggle 2014, Liger defeated Chase Owens to win the NWA Junior Heavyweight Title
– At New Year Dash 2015, Liger defeated El Desperado to retain the NWA Junior Heavyweight Title
– At The New Beginning in Sendai 2015, Liger defeated Chase Owens to retain the NWA Junior Heavyweight Title
– On March 22, Liger defeated Tiger Mask to retain the NWA Junior Heavyweight Title
– At Wrestling Dontaku 2015, Liger, Tiger Mask, Yuji Nagata & Mascara Dorada defeated Manabu Nakanishi, Ryusuke Taguchi, Captain New Japan & KUSHIDA
– Liger competed at NXT Takeover Brooklyn, defeating Tyler Breeze
– At King Of Pro Wrestling 2015, Liger, Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi, Mascara Dorada & KUSHIDA defeated Jay White, David Finlay, Juice Robinson, Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu
– At Power Struggle 2015, Liger, Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi & Mascara Dorada defeated Jay White, David Finlay, Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu
– At The New Beginning in Osaka 2016, Liger, Ryusuke Taguchi & Tiger Mask defeated Kazushi Sakuraba, YOSHI-HASHI & Gedo
– At Invasion Attack 2016, Liger, Yuji Nagata & Satoshi Kojima defeated Kazushi Sakuraba, Toru Yano & YOSHI-HASHI
– At Global Wars 2016, Liger & Cheeseburger defeated The Addiction (Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian)
– At War Of The Worlds 2016, Liger, Jay Briscoe & Mark Briscoe defeated Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Adam Page
– At Power Struggle 2016, Liger, Tiger Mask, David Finlay & Ricochet defeated Ryusuke Taguchi, Angel de Oro, Fuego & Titan
– At The New Beginning in Osaka 2017, Liger, Tiger Mask, Yuji Nagata & Juice Robinson defeated Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, Gedo & Jado
– At Sakura Genesis 2017, Liger, Manabu Nakanishi & David Finlay defeated Katsuya Kitamura, Tomoyuki Oka & Hirai Kawato
– At Wrestling Toyonokuni 2017, Liger, Hirai Kawato & Tomoyuki Oka defeated Tiger Mask, Katsuya Kitamura & Shota Umino
– Liger won the 2017 British Super J Cup, defeating Marty Scurll, Will Ospreay & KUSHIDA in the four-way final
– At Destruction in Kobe 2017, Liger, Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi, Togi Makabe & Ricochet defeated Suzuki-gun (TAKA Michinoku, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Takashi Iizuka, El Desperado & Taichi)
– At Power Struggle 2017, Liger, Tiger Mask, Juice Robinson, Hirai Kawato & KUSHIDA defeated Suzuki-gun (TAKA Michinoku, Zack Sabre Jr, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi)
– At NJPW’s 46th Anniversary Show, Liger, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Ryusuke Taguchi, Tiger Mask & KUSHIDA defeated Yuji Nagata, Shota Umino, Ren Narita, Tomoyuki Oka & Tetsuhiro Nagi
– At Destruction in Hiroshima 2018, Liger, Tiger Mask & KUSHIDA defeated Rocky Romero, SHO & YOH
– At Destruction in Beppu 2018, Liger, Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi & KUSHIDA defeated Will Ospreay, Rocky Romero, SHO & YOH
– At Destruction in Kobe 2018, Liger & Tiger Mask defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado
– At The New Beginning in Osaka 2019, Liger, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima defeated Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Takashi Iizuka
– At Honor Rising 2019, Liger & Jonathan Gresham defeated Taiji Ishimori & Robbie Eagles
– In March 2019, Liger announced that he would be retiring from the ring following Wrestle Kingdom 14
– At Wrestling Hinokuni 2019, Liger, Jeff Cobb, Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, TAKA Michinoku, El Desperado & Taichi)
– At Dominion 2019, Liger & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr
– At RevPro’s 7th Anniversary Show, Liger & Michael Oku defeated Chris Brookes & Hikuleo
– At Destruction in Beppu 2019, Liger, SHO & YOH defeated Minoru Suzuki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI
– At Destruction in Kagoshima 2019, Liger, Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Minoru Suzuki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Zack Sabre Jr & DOUKI
– Liger’s final match occurred at the second night of Wrestle Kingdom 14, where he and Naoki Sano were defeated by Ryu Lee & Hiromu Takahashi
– In retirement, Liger has continued his work with New Japan, serving as a trainer at their dojo, as well as providing Japanese commentary for NJPW’s streaming service
– Liger entered the WWE Hall Of Fame during the Wrestlemania 37 festivities