Welcome! The Characters of NJPW is back for its second installment. I would like to quickly thank all of you who read the first article, the responses were truly inspiring. The goal is to give you guys, if schedule permits, the rundown on all of NJPW’s biggest characters ahead of their biggest show, Wrestle Kingdom 12. Now, before I start the proper article, a quick reminder of what this is all about.
This series will try to give newcomers to New Japan a feel as for how each of their wrestlers operate, what their motivations are, how their story drives them to be who they are, and how their actions inside and outside of the squared circle further their personas. Although this will contain historical data and a brief description of each wrestler’s past, its main goal is not meant to be a comprehensive guide to a performer’s history and achievements. Rather, we intend focus on two main topics: Character and in-ring work, to see how each wrestler on NJPW sets themselves apart from the rest of the roster, and what makes them truly unique and worth investing. If you want to read our first one, about Kazuchika Okada, you can absolutely do so! All you have to do is click here. No really. Click it. Just click it. Now, on to the task at hand today.
At any point in a wrestling fan’s life, he may decide that the big game in the industry is either not suited to his tastes, or that he wants to see more, see what’s out there. My relationship with wrestling beyond the norm started in 2008, with Keiji Mutoh vs Shinsuke Nakamura for the IWGP Heavyweight title. That time-stamp is important, because 2008 is one of the most pivotal years in NJPW. They had recently started their resurgence, after a dark period that would put them on the brink of extinction. Today, we focus on the biggest responsible for putting NJPW back on track and giving them the prominence they currently enjoy. His influence will span generations to come, and it is his blueprints that are splattered across Wrestling as a whole. He is The Ace of The Universe, Hiroshi Tanahashi.
Hiroshi Tanahashi
aged 40
181 cm
103 kg
Current IWGP Intercontinental Champion, since June 11, 2017 (second reign)
Introduction: He goes by many nicknames. The Ace of The Universe. The Once in a Generation Talent. The High Flying Star. Here’s another suggestion: New Japan’s Savior Angel. Tanahashi and The King of Sports' stories simply cannot be told one without another. After mass defections and unfortunate decisions, he was the one that believed they could get back on track, and would personally see to it himself. After even Shinsuke Nakamura’s initial reign at the top failed to restore prestige to NJPW, he put the weight of the promotion on his shoulders.
His success provided not only relief to a desperate company, but also a new direction to its wrestlers. Gone would be the attempts to poorly mimic MMA’s popularity. In was an emphasis on exciting, diverse and charismatic competitors who could also fight. Tanahashi’s development relied on his combination of talent and passion, a deep understanding and loyalty for his fanbase, and a flashy but scholarly approach to performance. As the years went by, though, he showed an egotistical streak that can make him quite the vicious, overzealous fellow. Allow me to tell you the tale of a man who loves something so much he is willing to put everything on the line for it, except his stake on the very thing he loves.
Character: Hiroshi Tanahashi is never tired. That’s what the man himself will tell you. His will to be the best at his chosen profession is nigh impeccable. It’s what drove him as a young lion to go from an undersized, mediocre worker into a exciting and diverse performer. That is the difference that made him improve so much, and when he finally stepped up to the top, people would notice it and appreciate it. Passion and will are the core values of Hiroshi Tanahashi’s being. They made him conquer everything he has, and they make him delusionally overprotective of all the things he achieved.
And he achieved quite a lot. Record breaking title reigns, show attendance spikes, celebrity status, critical acclaim, you name it. His work ethic and flashy showmanship made New Japan cool again. He would realize his potential as a student and forward thinker, taking things from the past and combining them with his own ideas and modern sensibilities. A seven-time IWGP Champion, he bested über-charismatic rival Shinsuke Nakamura for top dog status, and still holds the record for combined days with the title. He also has an acute perception of his duties. This is someone who won’t stop doing his air guitar routine, which he admits to be quite exhausted of performing, because fans love it so much. The thing about Tanahashi is that he always had this innate desire to be recognized for his accomplishments. He gives out so much love, but he needs it back, too. If that ever goes away, his ego makes him either nasty or downright delusional.
When Katsuyori Shibata came back after abandoning NJPW in its dark years, Tanahashi took it as a personal offence and was downright vicious in their rivalry. After Kazuchika Okada finally took his spot, he couldn’t accept the fact he was no longer that undisputed top man. Impossible! No one could ever be ace but him! He even changed his iconic theme song “High Energy”, to a new one that features a single, persistent chorus: “GO ACE!”, as if sheer repetition of a sentence will convince everyone otherwise, including himself. Afterwards, Tetsuya Naito’s mistreatment of the Intercontinental title lit his fire up, because he wasn’t about to let that dipshit demean the company he worked so hard to put back on top. Tanahashi can’t help himself. He loves all of this so much, he will do everything to keep his life’s work intact, including abandoning his morals. He can’t let it go, because if he’s not “the ace”, what is he? His fear of that answer is the source of his insecurities.
In-ring work: Tanahashi’s approach to wrestling portrays this dichotomy very well. His reign on top came with an exciting, showman-style of wrestling that displays his prowess in the ring and makes up for a relative lack of size, and a technical acumen that allows him to analyze and counter his opponents strengths, implementing game plans and coming up with strategies on the fly. Although Tanahashi’s tactic of choice is usually to attack his opponent legs with vicious variations of the Dragon Screw, adopted after his mentor Keiji Mutoh, he is versatile enough to keep opponents guessing, with more than enough moves in the bag to counter any wrestler’s bag of tricks.
Along with the aforementioned Dragon Screw, his High Fly Flow finisher, Sling Blade and Twist and Shout neckbreakers and running Leaping Elbow Smash are all examples of moves that can serve him in almost any situation. They are the backbones of his moveset. He also has many suplex variations that he can gracefully perform, like Dragon and German types, flashy manuevers designed to wow the crowd like his Rolling Senton, and a Cloverleaf submission to capitalize on all the damage done on an opponents legs, back and neck. The high energy of such an arsenal displays his passion, but he also has a knack to recognize or strategize around his opponents making mistakes, capitalizing at the right moments with short bursts and combos, and the will to stay in tough fights, absorbing big punishment just so he can dish his own with lethal precision. This makes him especially successful in big matches, where his star simply rises to the occasion, as dramatic as the situation can get.
Tanahashi can let his ego get the better of him, though, especially in adverse crowd situations. If he feels like things aren’t going his way, he has no problems working a more deliberate pace just to spite his opponent and the fans. Also, the fact time is passing him by influences just as much of his in-ring actions as it does outside. As such, he might just hold on to that submission for a little longer than he’s allowed to, or strike with a forbidden closed fist punch. His tirelessness took a toll on his ailing body, and he’s no longer in his top form. That makes him not as dominant, yes, but it also makes him more inclined to let go of his morals to get that win. Tanahashi is still one of the best in the world, willing to put his body on the line and able to get the job done against most. If it goes downhill, though, expect him to get aggressive. Even if deep down he knows he’s not THE best, he will do everything in his power to keep that perception going. He is forever the ace, if only to himself.
Thank you so much for your continued support to this series! If you’d like, I set up a Patreon Page if you want to donate and help me continue to produce better content. The articles will continue to stay free, of course. This is just an easy avenue if you have the willingness and means to contribute with any amount you can, so I can keep doing these more and more. As always, any feedback and suggestions are appreciated. See you next time!
