Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger is an icon in the world of pro wrestling. This is not in dispute. Liger is someone who redefined what it meant to be a light-heavyweight in the 80’s and early 90’s. He was truly one of the first modern stars to emerge from a foreign promotion and be widely accepted in American and Canadian pro wrestling.
Yes, others came before him; yet none of them were ever embraced or as well traveled as Liger. His loyalty to New Japan Pro Wrestling not withstanding, Liger is arguably the most traveled Japanese star ever. He’s worked in World Championship Wrestling, Ring of Honor, IMPACT Wrestling (then known as TNA), WWE, NOAH, Dragon Gate, AAA, Wrestle-1, PWG, AAW and other outfits.
He’s won NWA, Dragon Gate, CMLL, IWGP, WCW and GHC gold, winning a whopping 14 DIFFERENT light-weight stylized titles. However he never won the WCW/WWE Cruiserweight Championship or the IMPACT X-Division Championship. One of those things, hopefully, they can resolve before he steps away next January at the Dome Show event; Wrestle Kingdom 14.
An all time great. Full stop.
In Other News…
It looks like Jim Ross could be an Elitist in the near future. While speaking on The Ross Report, Ross revealed that he will not renew is WWE contract when it expires, something many people aren’t even fully aware he has. The WWE re-signed Ross not that far back, in order to do work with him but nothing substantial came out of the deal and it ended up just costing Ross work with NJPW. He spoke about his conversation with Vince McMahon, saying;
My WWE contract, after 26 years, will expire on March 29. After talking with Vince McMahon, we mutually agreed that I need to move on. I still want to play the game and stay busy. I still think I can do play-by-play even though others, who may surround Vince, think I can’t. I will not be returning to WWE.
…I do plan on being busy and productive. I don’t think I’ll be out of work long
The rumors of Ross being involved with All Elite Wrestling stretch back to last year, so the odds of him joining up with them make all the sense in the world.
Jeff Jarrett is going to flex his creative muscles once again. PWInsider is reporting that Jeff Jarrett has been added to the creative team, something many expected, I’m told. He was involved in the last round of proudction meetings and has been at WWE HQ gearing up for a return. A huge move for the company considering he spent nearly twenty years away from the company. Ironically, his father Jerry Jarrett was once tapped to run the WWE, then WWF, if Vince McMahon had gone to jail in the early 90’s for the steroid scandal.
The report of Jim Cornette working with MLW was one that perked many a fans ears up. Cornette expounded on his relationship with MLW, stating he was not under any formal contract and that he was committed through BattleRiot II, the weekend of WrestleMania. He’s open to working more for the group, and is mostly there to serve as color commentator, despite working backstage at the last set of tapings as well.
Quick Hits – WWE has launched their very own react series for WWE Fastlane, called Watch Along starring Pat McAfee. The ppv won’t be aired during the segment, so be ready to test that bandwidth! Despite IMPACT seemingly having no interest in Joey Ryan, he wants to wrestle Tessa Blanchard at the United We Stand event on April 4th. Speaking of the event, IMPACT just announced Rosemary, Jordynne Grace and Katie Forbes will challenge Knockouts Champion Taya Valkyrie for the belt on the April 4th show.