Jushin Thunder Liger made a surprise return to the ring on Saturday, answering an open challenge from Joey Janela at WrestleCade.
The 61-year-old legend appeared at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he defeated Janela in a match lasting approximately four minutes.
It marked Liger’s first match since his retirement in January 2020, ending a hiatus of nearly six years.
Janela posted on his Instagram account:
I thought I saw a ghost!
In highschool when I was 16, I would bring a portable dvd player on the bus and watch the George Mayfied 7 hour Jushin Liger compilation, 20 years later some how @wrestlecade made this wizardry happen!
Spectacular feels!
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Game Changer Wrestling owner Brett Lauderdale, who was present at the event, posted on X: “Jushin Liger just came out of retirement to wrestle Joey Janela at Wrestlecade.”
The appearance came as a surprise given Liger’s previous firmness regarding his retirement. In late 2024, it was reported that he had declined an offer to wrestle on the 2025 Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager at Sea, telling Jericho he was “too old” to compete.
Liger’s in-ring career officially concluded with a retirement ceremony at NJPW New Year Dash on January 6, 2020, following back-to-back matches at Wrestle Kingdom 14. In his final advertised match, he teamed with Naoki Sano in a losing effort against Hiromu Takahashi and Ryu Lee (now Dragon Lee in WWE).
One of the most decorated junior heavyweights in history, Liger is an 11-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2020 and the Revolution Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in August 2025.
It is unclear whether this was a one-off appearance or if Liger intends to accept further bookings.
