Jushin Liger vs. Tiger Mask IV 4/1/00

Contestants
Today's match is from the Super J Cup 2000' first round. It will be between the Jushin "The Heavyweight" Liger of New Japan and Tiger Mask IV of Michinoku Pro. This match could go either way.

Match
The two circle each other then tieup. They struggle for control with know one getting a clear advantage. TMIV surprises Liger with kicks and a rolling solebutt. Liger rolls outside and TM follows Liger out with a plancha! Liger struggles to get back in the ring. TM immediately nails a dropkick. TM locks a sleeper hold and converts it into a leg scissor. Liger escapes and locks his vicious camel clutch. Liger keeps wrenching on it!! Liger lays in some "heavyweight" stomps and gets a somewhat weak backdrop suplex for barly a one count. Liger nails a powerbomb for a one count. Liger locks on a rear chinlock then a leg scissor. TM escapes and locks his own camel clutch!! TM locks on the sleeper body scissors hold and fans are going wild!!! Liger wants the ref to help out. TM converts the sleeper into the CROSS ARMBREAKER. Liger gets out of it and locks on the inverted surfboard dragon sleeper!! Liger locks a ground sleeper, but TM gets rope. Liger lays in some chops and throws TM into the corner, but TM leaps up top and nails a diving bodypress with a twist for a two count.

Liger blocks a Tiger Driver. TM levels Liger with a enziguri anyway, but misses the off the top rope headbutt drop. Liger running kicks TM in the head!! Liger unleashes Palm/Shotei Thrusts of Fury on a helpless TM. Liger continues the assault with a running corner shotei!!! Liger misses a another shotei and TM levels him with a right jab!! Liger is limp. TM nails the TIGER SUPLEX for a 2 7/8 count!!! Liger ducks a roundhouse kick in the corner, but then misses his rolling koppu kick. TM levels him with a roundhouse kick then nails the Both Standing on Top Butterfly Suplex. TM immediately locks on the CROSS ARMBREAKER!!!! Liger struggles and gets rope (Man!). Liger then levels TM with an ultra powered SHOTEI for a 2 9/10 count. Liger nails a Liger Bomb and opts not to pin. Liger picks TM up and drills TM into the mat with an avalanche brainbuster for a 1... count!!! What the!! Liger grazes TM with another shotei for another 1 count. Liger summons all the power. Liger throws the left handed shotei, but TM blocks it. So Liger levels TM with right handed shotei instead to get the victory.

Opinion
The match had good flow. Tiger Mask stood out as being the better wrestler. Liger did not do that much in the match except throw a lot of shotei! Liger sure has lost it over the years. Liger didn't leave his feet once in the whole match. Everytime he has that Black Costume he wrestles like heavyweight!!! The match could have been better if: 1)TM had won 2)Liger gave a better effort 3)If it was longer and was developed better. Overall it was good match though and one of the best in the Super J Cup 2000'.

Rating: ***1/2