Japanese wrestling legend Jushin “Thunder” Liger has announced yesterday during a press conference that he will retire from in-ring action after January of next year.
In the presser, Liger made mention that he’d like to wrestle worldwide before he hangs up the mask for good as he plans to call it an end after the Tokyo Dome card next year.
From his time in New Japan to his impact in WCW and to even his 2015 cup of coffee with NXT, Liger has competed for promotions all across the world and won the IWGP Jr. Championship a record of 11 times in his 30+ year career. Liger, who is 54, is also a Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Famer (inducted in 1999).
Liger was initially known for his high-flying innovative style in the first leg of his career, but had a battle with brain cancer in 1996 that led him to changing his style to a more technical-based style of wrestling. (h/t to F4Wonline.com for the career synopsis.)