CHRIS BENOIT VS. JUSHIN LIGER

Starrcade has had some rough “theme events” as the 80's became the 90's, but this best of seven WCW vs NJPW was the one exception, although as a nitpick, it's a series, not a tournament. This match opened the show. “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and Tony “Give me a fucking nickname already” Schiovane. At this point, Benoit was a member of the Four Horsemen at this point, making his run with that faction longer than I thought. Sonny Onoo accompanies Jushin Liger to the ring. Bobby Heenan is straight in with pro-NJPW commentary, having sold his soul to NJPW for a list of stuff he lists off himself.

Chris Benoit VS. Jushin Liger

WCW Starrcade 1995 (27^th December 1995)

They lock-up and Chris Benoit shoves Liger down straight away. He does it a second time and frustrates Liger. Benoit grabs a headlock and is sent off the ropes, sending Liger to the mat. Benoit runs the ropes and Liger goes prone, then leapfrogs a baseball slide. Benoit trips Liger but Liger turns out of it and Benoit runs into a pair of arm drags. Jushin Liger dropkicks Benoit and he goes for a short break on the floor. Liger knocks Benoit down and runs across the apron to take him down with a somersault senton. Tony Schiovane talks about Jushin Liger's Saturday morning cartoon as a faint USA chant starts. He waves the mini Japanese flag as Benoit gets back into the ring, challenging Liger to a test of strength. Chris Benoit powers Liger down into a bridge, Liger tries to get back up to his feet but Benoit sends him down to the mat. Jushin Liger uses that momentum to monkey flip to his feet with Benoit and takes him down with a headscissors, following up with a dropkick. Jushin Liger chops Benoit but the irish whip is reversed, Liger runs into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and is covered for 2.

Jushin Liger counters a powerbomb into an arm drag, leapfrogs Benoit and takes him over with a hybrid of a belly to belly suplex and a Japanese arm drag. Jushin Liger teases a dive but handsprings back as he gets to the ropes then holds the ropes open for Benoit to get back in the ring. Chris Benoit decides to not take the assistance, getting in himself a moment later, asking Liger for a test of strength but kicking him in the gut and snapping off a vertical suplex. Chris Benoit hits a back suplex and stalls for a while, sending Liger off the ropes and taking him down with a clothesline. Chris Benoit puts Liger in the Liontamer, but he refuses to tap so he covers instead, but Liger immediately kicks out. Benoit chops Liger and headbutts him, but a flurry of slaps sends Benoit back into the corner. Jushin Liger is cut off with a kick to the gut and Benoit gets a nearfall from a bridging german suplex, he covers immediately after for another. Jushin Liger trips Benoit with the double-leg and brings him into the surfboard, pulling Benoit's neck back for more pressure. “that'll hurt ya in 17 different places” - Brain.

Liger rolls forward, bringing Benoit into a modified dragon sleeper, but Benoit fights out. Jushin Liger goes straight to the camel clutch, Chris Benoit is able to get to his feet and plants Liger with an electric chair drop, but Liger counters a back suplex into a cover for 1. Chris Benoit lifts Liger for the tombstone but Liger shifts the weight and momentum, falling forward onto Benoit and climbing to the top rope, where Benoit meets him. He slaps Liger in the face to soften him up for the superplex, but the referee starts counting them both down. Benoit crawls over for the cover and gets a nearfall. Chris Benoit slams Jushin Liger and eats shit on the diving headbutt. Liger sends Benoit into the corner and follows with a running heel kick, getting a nearfall with a sitout powerbomb. A brainbuster gets Liger another nearfall as Tony calls his covers “arrogant not putting enough pressure on Benoit to keep him down. Jushin Liger has some words with the referee and gets sent off the ropes by Benoit, he ducks a chop but not the clothesline that followed it. Chris Benoit hits a pair of rolling suplexes and plants Liger with a powerbomb as Tony Schiovane announces the entrance of Kevin Sullivan. Benoit connects with the diving headbutt but turns his attention to Sullivan. Liger takes advantage and a sloppy hurricanrana keeps Benoit down for 3.

WINNER: JUSHIN LIGER (WCW 0-1 NJPW)

This was a good little match until the final seconds. They were as 50/50 as they can be in a positive way, but the distraction ending and hurricanrana ended it on a downer.– As a match, it's ** ½ but personally, I'd rate it 4/10