#237: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Owen Hart, NJPW Explosion Tour (4/28/1991).
This is a Top of the Super Junior Match, which was the original version of what is known today as the Best of the Super Juniors Tournament.
Liger is one of the greatest Junior Heavyweights of all time. No, actually, let me rephrase that – Liger is one of the greatest of all time. His style of wrestling in the 1990s basically influenced everyone who followed in his footsteps. Here, he’s facing a young Owen Hart, years before he became the Blackheart of the WWE. Owen – the younger brother of Bret Hart – was impressing a lot of people early on in his career, and this is a standout match with one of Japan’s greatest. This is their third and final singles match together.
The bell sounds, and we are under way. They lock up, and quickly exchange control of the back. Owen with control of the arm, until Liger flips his way free. Northern Lights suplex by Liger, and we have a clean stand off. They go for a test of strength next, with Liger having the advantage. Owen uses his upper body strength to get back up, then springboard off the ropes with an arm drag. Nice hip toss by Owen, and a series of dropkicks. Liger goes to the floor, and Owen hits a Plancha. The crowd approves!
Owen with a dropkick that sends Liger into the barricade. He brings Liger back into the ring, and hits a snap suplex for a 2 count. Owen takes the chin lock next. Liger gets to his feet and sends Owen into the ropes, and drills him in the midsection with a knee. Another knee by Liger, and he brings Owen to the ropes. On the apron, Liger hits a suplex that sends Owen to the floor! Big irish whip into the barricade, followed by a beautiful dropkick to Owen’s head.
Liger gloats in the ring, as Owen returns. He gets taken down, and Liger wraps the leg around his own. Liger with the Indian Death Lock, Triple H style. Owen briefly reverses it into a roll up, and then looks to take control of the arm. He applies an arm bar, and then stomps on the elbow. Powerslam by the younger Hart, and then he looks for the Chicken Wing submission. Double arm suplex by Owen, and he gets a nearfall off of that. He hammerlocks the arm of Liger next.
Liger is back up, and forces Owen into the turnbuckle. Owen fires back with more offense against the arm, as he hyperextends it to the mat, and then applies an arm bar submission. Liger with a back slide for a quick nearfall. Owen stomps on the arm again, and then hits a hammerlock suplex for a 2 count. Liger with an arm bar of his own out of nowhere, and Owen is selling it like death. Liger transitions to the surfboard lock submission.
Liger goes from that to a double arm submission that he tries to turn into a pin attempt. Wheel Barrel kick by Liger sends Owen to the floor, then Liger dives off the top rope with a clothesline to Owen on the floor. Back in the ring, Owen fires back with a nice belly to belly suplex for 2. Owen with a bridging German Suplex that also gets a 2 count. Liger with a Crucifix pin for a close nearfall. Owen forces Liger into the turnbuckle, and hits him with a chop.
Owen looks for a middle rope splash, and Liger counters with a dropkick. He sends Owen to the apron, and Owen smashes Liger’s head off the turnbuckle. Nice springboard splash by Owen, which Liger rolls through and turns into a pin for 2. Liger looks for a Piledriver, but Owen reverses into a Tombstone. He goes to the top rope, and hits a diving headbutt, and Liger kicks out. Owen with a powerslam, followed by a top rope moonsault. Liger again kicks out.
Owen goes back to the middle rope, but Liger cuts him off. Liger hits an electric chair slam from the middle rope, but Owen kicks out. He places Owen on the top rope, and Owen tries to come back with a series of headbutts. Liger with a dropkick, and he follows with a top rope DDT to the mat. Liger covers, and that’s enough for the win. Not a bad little match here. Nothing world changing or anything, but wrestling doesn’t always need to be that.
Both men looked good here, and this was an early indication that Owen was going to be one of the most solid workers of the decade. Liger was great here, and looked like a true in ring general. There was good arm work throughout, and the finishing stretch was exciting. The crowd was appreciative of the work, and they seemed to really enjoy Owen. Good stuff overall. No complaints.