Who Is Hiroshi Tanahashi?

[IrishCanadian25]

1. Just hours ago, he became the 50th IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, defeating his mentor and long-time friend Keiji Muto for the belt. This current reign is his third.

2. He is a 2-time IWGP World Tag Team Champion, once with Yutaka Yoshie and once with Shinsuke Nakamura.

3. He is a 2-time New Japan Cup winner - 2005 and 2008.

4. In 2008, PWI ranked him #20 on their annual PWI 500.

See him HERE vs Yugi Nagata - he is the younger guy with the long, red-tipped hair.​

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5. He is a true Japanese Wrestling Icon.

6. He dated a local TV reporter named Hitomi Hara, who, following the end of their relationship, stabbed him in the back - literally. He was hospitalized, but would recover. The stabbing would capture the interest of Japanese fans and fuel his return.

7. He wrestled breifly in TNA, until his match with Mutoh was announced, at which time he cancelled his TNA dates.

I encourage everyone to research and learn more about the current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Please post thoughts.

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

While he may be the shining star of his generation, Tanahashi is extremely underwhelming in comparison to the wrestlers of the generation preceding his (e.g., the Great Muta, Jushin Liger, Yuji Nagata, Mitsuharu Misawa, and Kenta Kobashi). While I can't say I am all that familiar with his work in NJPW, I can say that I was very disappointed with the matches I saw him in in CMLL and TNA. Don't get me wrong, I think he is a solid and competent wrestler, but he, in my opinion, does not live up to his hype.

 

[Uncle Sam]

I dunno. Was I meant to be blown away? You write like I'm meant to be. The only function that video served was to remind me how Yuji Nagata is the only Japanese wrestler I've watched that hasn't served up crushing disappointment. Well, I suppose KENTA also counts. But yeah, Nagata was awesome.

I watch Japanese wrestling... well, I don't. If I did, it'd be for the athletic spectacle. This guy's got nothing new, and most wrestlers in TNA do more impressive things on a weekly basis. Don't get why they like him over there. It's either something about honour or because he's pretty.

 

[jmt225]

Hiroshi Tanahashi is by far my favorite wrestler in Japan. A lot of fans currently go ape shit for guys like KENTA and Naomichi Marufuji, and the old timers like Kobashi and Misawa, but to me, the fact of the matter is that there is no wrestler in Japan who has consistently put on great match after great match like Tanahashi has the past two or so years (you could make the argument for the VOODOO-MURDERS though, I must admit). The dude is just awesome.

But yeah... I was happy to read he finally got the IWGP Championship back, and I can't wait to watch his match against Keiji Muto.