NJPW: 10 Greatest Wrestlers of All Time
By Tim Sherry
1. Hiroshi Tanahashi
There are a few people out there who might read this article and be angered by this choice. Because to be honest, when you’re the best of all time, your critics are always the harshest. And the fact of the matter is that Hiroshi Tanahashi is the best and most accomplished superstar in the history of NJPW. If Antonio Inoki is credited with why the company was successful out of the gates, the “Ace Of The Universe” is one of the biggest reasons it is what it is today, and why it may be on the precipice of taking over as the best wrestling promotion on the planet, if it hasn’t yet already.
Tanahashi began his career in 1999 as a fresh faced 22 year old and slowly but surely rose up the ranks the right way. With dedication and patience, the young man worked for 4 years before winning his first title, the IWGP Tag Team title in 2003. Over the next 3 years, he’d win another tag title and 2 U-30 Openweight championships. On July 17th of 2006, Tanahashi won his first IWGP Heavyweight Championship which touched a string of championships over the next 11 years totaling 13. The damage: 6 more IWGP Heavyweight titles (7 total which is a record to this day), 2 IWGP Intercontinental belts (he currently holds that title), 2 titles from Mexico’s CMLL who like to make some NJPW cameos, 3 NEVER Openweight six-man straps, and 2 G1 Climax trophies. Insane.
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But like the aforementioned Okada, he excels in the epic match forum and sure, there are a couple of other guys who can match him in the ring, but there is virtually nobody that can do that while also equaling his charisma and intensity. There is nobody on earth right now that has a better combination of athletic ability mixed with a superstar presence which captivates audiences all over the globe. He’s one of the most popular stars that has ever stepped into a NJPW ring and at just 40 years old, the journey is far from over.