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Hiroshi Tanahashi (2018)

212 Pts.


The post-Wrestle Kingdom 10 Hiroshi Tanahashi tailspin was a story we’ve all seen before.

Middle-aged man, overcompensating after suddenly realizing he’s losing his hair because he’s past his prime, while the people around him don’t have the heart to tell him the Camaro comes off very desperate.

I’m still young! It’s not over! Just look at my cool new car!

Middle-aged wrestler, overcompensating after suddenly realizing he can’t beat Okada because he’s past his prime, while the people around him don’t have the heart to tell him “Go Ace!” comes off very desperate.

I am the Ace! I am guys! It’s not over! Just listen to my cool new song!

The Naito feud of 2017 seemed to snap him out of it. He climbed all the way back to Okada, but came up a little short. Then a draw with Okada in the G1, on the way to winning the whole damn thing. But he didn’t want the title shot unless he could prove he could beat Okada. Okada was having his own issues, so he may have caught him at the right time, but he’ll take it.

The Ace is back.

The timing of Tanahashi’s resurrection is perfectly placed, setting up (one last?) Wrestle Kingdom main event, his story bridging the gap nicely between Naito’s emotional failure, and what I believe will be his emotional win, on 1/4/20. He backed up the renewed push with some incredible matches.

vs Minoru Suzuki (1/27) ****½
vs Juice Robinson (3/16) ****¼
vs Zack Sabre Jr (3/21) ****½
w/KUSHIDA vs Okada/Ospreay (4/27) ****
vs Kazuchika Okada (5/4) ****½
vs Jay White (7/16) ****
vs YOSHI-HASHI (7/30) ****
vs Mike Elgin (8/5) ****¼
vs Kazuchika Okada (8/10) ****½
vs Kota Ibushi (8/12) ****½
vs Kazuchika Okada (9/30) ****¾
vs Jay White (10/8) ****
w/Ospreay vs Golden Lovers (12/15) ****½