KINGS OF THE SKIES:
HIGH FLYING IN NJPW
By Jasmine Olan
Over the years, many of professional wrestling’s greatest high flyers have done battle inside the New Japan ring. Some of them have even become staples of the company’s junior heavyweight division. From living legends like Jushin Thunder Liger and Tiger Mask to legends in the making like Ricochet, Prince Devitt (Finn Balor), and Kota Ibushi, these performers have been dazzling fans around the world and revolutionizing the industry in general. Throughout New Japan Pro Wrestling’s four and a half decade history, high flyers have long been a big attraction at shows. The talent and passion of many of these wrestlers has helped make the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship one of pro wrestling’s most respected titles and added to the prestige of the annual BEST OF THE SUPER JUNIORS tournament. Their matches are often some of the most awe inspiring on each card. High flyers have always been a vital part of the NJPW roster, and one of it’s legends has been a important part of its history for decades.
Widely regarded as one of wrestling’s all time greatest high flyers, Jushin Thunder Liger has been a corner stone of New Japan’s junior division since the early eighties. Throughout his thirty four year career he has made history as one NJPW’s most decorated junior champions. Liger has held the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship a historic eleven times. His innovative style has inspired generations, and even at the age of fifty four, he can still move around the ring the way he did thirty years ago. While still actively competing, Liger also spends a lot of time preparing future stars for their own rise to greatness at the New Japan dojo and is viewed by the wrestling world at large as a living legend.
A wrestler since the staggeringly young age of fifteen, the one and only Ricochet has been leaving the pro wrestling world in complete awe for years. In many ways, he is like a comic book character come to life. Many often watch his matches and wonder just how he does it. In NJPW, he won BEST OF THE SUPER JUNIORS in 2014 and went on to become one half of the highly entertaining junior tag team, Funky Future with Ryusuke Taguchi. Together the two would capture the IWGP Junior Tag Team Championships. His partnership with Matt Sydal would earn two runs with those titles, and his rivalry with the Aerial Assassin Will Ospreay is still touted as one of the best of its time. Now making a name for himself as WWE NXT’s current North American Champion, the future of flight is looking brighter than ever.
NJPW’s current NEVER Openweight Champion has also been breaking new ground in the industry from a young age. The Aerial Assassin, Will Ospreay has made history in New Japan Pro Wrestling all before the age of twenty five. He is the youngest and first ever British born BEST OF THE SUPER JUNIORS winner. He has also been part of some of the greatest junior rivalries in New Japan history. Fans and critics still praise his feuds with the likes of Ricochet and NJPW’s junior Ace, Kushida. The hungry young Brit now has his sights set on moving up to the heavyweight division which means that the best is still yet to come.
CMLL’s Dragon Lee has also made a big impact in New Japan Pro Wrestling through his appearances in BEST OF THE SUPER JUNIORS and the annual FANTASTICAMANIA tour. Only twenty three years old, his critically acclaimed rivalry with former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, Hiromu Takahashi put the industry on notice around the world especially in his home country of Mexico and Japan. He also has close ties to one of NJPW’s most successful factions. His older brother, Rush is a founding member of the original Los Ingobernables in Mexico. His other older brother, Mistico has also made appearances for New Japan. The possibilities are absolutely limitless for this talented and passionate young flyer.
Each of these performers have helped show how amazing of an art form professional wrestling can be. They inspire fans regularly and will continue to leave the world awe struck every time they step into the ring. Their matches will no doubt always have the industry buzzing, and they will forever be the backbone of NJPW’s junior heavyweight division. Whether with New Japan or any other promotion, wrestling fans will always be clamoring to see their favorite kings of the skies.
