On Christmas Day in Atlanta, Georgia, an aerial wizard from Japan named Jushin Liger took U.S. wrestling by storm when he defeated Brian Pillman for the WCW light heavyweight title.

It was an amazing performance by the high-flying Liger. Afterward, Pillman was moved to comment: "I have never seen anyone with that combination of quickness and aerial ability. It was like trying to wrestle a falcon."

Liger, a newcomer in the U.S. but a legend in Japan, at first seemed unworthy of the title shot. He proved everyone wrong. Everyone, that is, except a brash 201-pound light heavyweight from Tampa, Florida.

Everyone except the Lightning Kid, who never doubted Liger in the first place.

Lightning Kid wasn't at the match that day, but he heard all about it. Liger was not an unknown name to the Kid and now that he was in the U.S., Kid wanted a piece of him.

But first there was the matter of Kid's Global Wrestling Federation light heavyweight title. On December 27 in Dallas, Kid stepped into the ring with the belt and walked out without it. He suffered a stunning loss to Jerry Lynn, and suddenly, Kid was just another light heavyweight.

Don't bet on it. The wrestling world is now swarming with outstanding light heavyweights and the Lightning Kid is right at the top of the list. With an outstanding combination of aerial and martial arts skills, Kid has made a name for himself, even though he looks like an unlikely candidate for success.

Managing Editor Bob Smith, Senior Writer Dave Rosenbaum, and Associate Editor Andy Rodriguez visited the Lightning Kid at his home in Tampa. They saw a man hungry to regain the GWF title - and to eventually meet Liger in the ring.

BOB SMITH: Some people are calling you the most important and exciting light heavyweight in the United States. That's quite an honor for a man who's been wrestling for less than two years. What do you think about that?
LIGHTNING KID: Only wimps care about honors. What I'm really bugged about right now is that everybody's so up in arms about this Jushin Liger.

DAVE ROSENBAUM: It's hard to blame them, isn't it? I mean, the guy has been just unbelievable in his matches against Pillman, and he was already a legend in Japan.
LIGHTNING KID: Big deal! I'm becoming a legend right here in the United States. I've followed Liger's career for a long time, and sure, I admire his skill, because he's a smaller guy like myself. But gimme a break one time! I could take the guy. Anything he can do, I can do better. If you thought Pillman vs. Liger was great, Lightning Kid vs. Liger would be even better.

ANDY RODRIGUEZ: I don't doubt that for a minute, but can it ever happen? I mean, you're pretty tied up between the GWF and the PWA. When would there be time to wrestle Liger?
LIGHTNING KID: I'd make the time. I'm not saying I want Liger now or even within the next few months. I'd like to wrestle him eventually. What I'm saying is that everybody's talking about Liger like he's the only guy around who can deliver a moonsault. Fans are the dumbest creatures, aren't they? I'll match my "lightning strike" against any finishing maneuver in the world.

SMITH: That's true - that's a great flying smash. But you have to realize that Liger is a phenomenon in the U.S., and that's pretty amazing, considering he was heavily critized for being given a title match in his first WCW appearance. But I guess the same is true of you. When you first started wrestling, people couldn't believe that a 6'2", 200-pounder could make an impact. I mean, you're thin as a rail.
LIGHTNING KID: And you look like you got smashed in the face with a bag of quarters. I'm not the first wrestler who might have been on the smallish side compared to some of the freaks we have running around now. Look at Kendall Windham, Eddie Gilbert, Owen Hart, Brian Pillman. None of those guys are huge, but they all have talent in their own ways. I have talent in my own way. It's just that the biased media out there - including your rotten rag - haven't been giving me any credit for it.

RODRIGUEZ: How can a young guy be so sour? Talent-wise, I guess you remind me most of Owen Hart because of how fearless you are. It's not unusual for a wrestler to execute his flying maneuvers in the ring, but to do it onto the floor is another story.
LIGHTNING KID: The key is accuracy, you simpleton. If I'm on the mark with my move, it doesn't matter where I do it. I'm going to hit my opponent and land correctly. If I do it wrong, then I'm in a bit of trouble. The trick is to do it right, and so far that's the way it's gone. You know, it gets to the point where a moonsault is as easy to execute as a sleeperhold. Easy, that is, for someone with my brillance.

ROSENBAUM: Maybe for you, but that's certainly not true of all wrestlers. I guess you realized pretty early that if you were going to make it in wrestling, it wasn't going to be as a brawler.
LIGHTNING KID: What's that crack supposed to mean?

ROSENBAUM: Well, someone of your size...
LIGHTNING KID: My size, my size. You call me small, but I'm a lot bigger than you. How'd you like me to show you what I can do to a ripe melon head like yours? Hell, I know I'm not like the Patriot when it comes to size and physique, but at least I'm not a wimp like Jerry Lynn. God, I can't believe he beat me for the title - my title!

SMITH: Do you think you underestimated Lynn when you lost the belt?
LIGHTNING KID: Underestimate a pansy like Lynn? No. I got a few bad breaks and the stipulations of the match - two-of-three-falls - made things a little more difficult. Scott Anthony tried to help me out, but he ended up hurting me. Yeah, I guess I thought that if anyone would win the belt from me, it would be Chaz, but it didn't turn out that way. I'll get it back. I have to get it back.

RODRIGUEZ: You sound very determined.
LIGHTNING KID: Yeah, because I have to be. Let's face it: This sport is built for the big man. The ropes, the turnbuckles, the size of the ring, it gives the advantage to bigger wrestlers. If the ring was about twice the size that it is, we smaller, quicker wrestlers would have a tremendous advantage. But the way things are now, it's too easy for us to get cornered. One wrong move and we're dead. That's why I'm glad that even a dope like [GWF Commissioner] Max Andrews could see the lightweight guys have something to offer, too. Now, almost all the federations have light heavy champs - and I could win any belt anywhere. Who else is as talented?

ROSENBAUM: Have you ever considered wrestling in Japan?
LIGHTNING KID: Have you considered a nose job, Toucan Sam? Japan is a big goal of mine. The fans there, unlike the dirt-eaters that attend Global cards, really appreciate my type of wrestling. They wouldn't be all over my case because of my size. In the Orient, people wouldn't point at me because I weigh 201 - they'd respect me because I'm a great athlete. I just can't stand what the Global fans do.

SMITH: They get on your case, Kid, because as talented as you are, you still resort to things like kicking and using foreign objects. That's why.
LIGHTNING KID: Prove it, jerk. These rubes have called me a stringbean, people tell me that they can't see m when I'm standing sideways, that kind of tripe. Heck, maybe I'm not as big as the average wrestler, but I'm certainly as big as the average man. I spend my share of time in the gym, and my aerobic conditioning is as good as anyone's. People talk about what great condition Hulk Hogan is in, but I'll outlast him any day in any event.

RODRIGUEZ: Except arm-wrestling.
LIGHTNING KID: Maybe except arm-wrestling or weightlifting or throwing bodies around the ring. But, heck, this is wrestling, not a test of strength. I'm surprised you supposed wrestling experts can't tell the difference. You guys get paid to do what you do?

SMITH: Have you thought about bulking up a little, just to put yourself on more even ground with bigger wrestlers?
LIGHTNING KID: If I bulk up, I lose agility and stamina. I'd have to put on about 30 pounds of muscle just to be the equal of the average guys, but then what would I have left? I think I'm as effective as any wrestler in the sport. If I had to wrestle regularly in the heavyweight division, I don't think I'd have much of a problem. The thing is, the light heavyweight division is much more enjoyable for me because there's so much emphasis on skills.

ROSENBAUM: That's certainly true, and anybody who's ever seen you or Pillman or Liger knows it. Kid, thank you for your time.
LIGHTNING KID: Don't thank me now. Don't say anything now. Just be aware that a certain Kid from Florida is gonna make everybody forget about Liger - and especially Lynn. I finished fourth for Rookie of the Year? See you in ten months, when you crown me Wrestler of the Year.

WHY HE WAS INTERVIEWED: Light heavyweight divisions were on the upswing throughout wrestling and the Lightning Kid was the hottest newcomer... He had recently lost the GWF light heavyweight title to Jerry Lynn... Also competed for Pro Wrestling America in Minnesota.

POSITION IN RATINGS: No. 4 in PWA.

AFTER THE INTERVIEW: Didn't regain the GWF light heavyweight title... Went to the WWF and pinned Razor Ramon in a stunning upset in 1993... Turned rulebreaker again in 1995 and has since joined several groups, including the Million Dollar Corporation, the nWo and D-Generation X.

CURRENT STATUS: Now known as X-Pac as a member of DX.

INTERVIEWER'S COMMENTS: (Dave Rosenbaum): "Here was a guy who had fantastic success in a short period of time and was touted as America's answer to Jushin Liger. Yet he was so sour and condescending. I didn't understand it. He hasn't changed much. X-Pac is starved for attention and has the negative attitude to match."

LOOKING BACK, THE INTERVIEWEE SAYS: "I told everybody in 1992 that I was going to be the greatest light heavyweight ever. I lived up to my word. I've proven that, pound-for-pound, I'm the best wrestler on the planet. I've dogged all the big-name heavyweights in this business. Can the Nation of Domination or LOD 2000 keep up with me? No way. They ain't got enough swank."

Credit: Winter 1998 PWI Interview Special. © 1998, London Publishing Company.

The origination of these articles