Biography(references)Throughout his career, which spanned three-and-a-half decades, he wrestled over 4,000 matches and performed in major events for various promotions across the globe. Debuting under his real name for NJPW in 1984, he was given the gimmick of Jushin Liger in 1989, based on the anime series of the same name. Becoming Jushin "Thunder" Liger the following year, he saw unprecedented success in the junior heavyweight division when he won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship a record 11 times and set the record for its longest reign during his second reign, which lasted for 628 days.
Fighter Trivia(references)Yamada resides in Fukuoka.
Awards & Accolades
All Star Wrestling: World Heavy Middleweight Championship (2 times)
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre: CMLL Universal Championship (2010)
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre: CMLL World Middleweight Championship (1 time)
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre: CMLL World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Hiroshi Tanahashi
Dragon Gate: Open the Dream Gate Championship (1 time)
Jersey All Pro Wrestling: JAPW Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
Michinoku Pro Wrestling: British Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
Michinoku Pro Wrestling: Super J-Cup (2000)
National Wrestling Alliance: NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
New Japan Pro-Wrestling: IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship (11 times)
New Japan Pro-Wrestling: IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (6 times) – with The Great Sasuke (1), El Samurai (1), Minoru Tanaka (1), Koji Kanemoto (1), Akira (1) and Tiger Mask (1)
New Japan Pro-Wrestling: J-Crown (1 time)
New Japan Pro-Wrestling: NWA World Welterweight Championship (1 time)
New Japan Pro-Wrestling: UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
New Japan Pro-Wrestling: WWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
New Japan Pro-Wrestling: WWF Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)1
New Japan Pro-Wrestling: WAR International Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
New Japan Pro-Wrestling: Top/Best of the Super Juniors (1992, 1994, 2001)
New Japan Pro-Wrestling: G1 Climax Junior Heavyweight Tag League (2001) – with El Samurai
New Japan Pro-Wrestling: Naeba Prince Hotel Cup Tag Tournament (2001) – with Yuji Nagata
New Japan Pro-Wrestling: Young Lion Cup (1986)
New Japan Pro-Wrestling: Outstanding Performance Award (2000)
New Japan Pro-Wrestling: Tag Team Best Bout (2003) with Koji Kanemoto vs. Kotaro Suzuki and Naomichi Marufuji on June 10
New Japan Pro-Wrestling: IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title #1 Contendership Tournament (1990)
Osaka Pro Wrestling: Osaka Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Takehiro Murahama
Pro Wrestling Illustrated: Ranked No. 8 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2000
Pro Wrestling Illustrated: Ranked No. 12 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003
Pro Wrestling Illustrated: Ranked No. 47 of the top 100 tag teams of the "PWI Years" with El Samurai in 2003
Pro Wrestling Noah: GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
Pro Wrestling Noah: GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (1 time) – Tiger Mask
Pro Wrestling Noah: NTV G+ Cup Junior Heavyweight Tag League (2013) – Tiger Mask
Revolution Pro Wrestling: British J Cup (2017)
Tokyo Sports: Newcomer Award (1985)
Tokyo Sports: Outstanding Performance Award (1994)
Vendetta Pro Wrestling: Vendetty Award: Special Guest Star of the Year (2015)
World Championship Wrestling: WCW Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
WWE: WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2020)
Wrestle Association R: WAR International Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with El Samurai
Wrestle Association R: Super J-Cup (1995)
Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Best Gimmick (1989)
Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Best Flying Wrestler (1989–1993)
Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Best Technical Wrestler (1989–1992)
Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Best Wrestling Maneuver (1987, 1988) Shooting star press
Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Match of the Year (1990) vs. Naoki Sano on January 31 in Osaka, Japan
Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Most Outstanding Wrestler (1990–1992)
Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Rookie of the Year (1984) tied with Tom Zenk
Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1999)
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