I always tried to follow Japanese wrestling but when Tanahashi was on top once it became slightly more available for non Japanese people to watch.
Whether I hunted down a stream in Japanese or watched because someone loaded an event a few days after, I loved it and Tanahashi was on top and I was a stan! The second I could find a NJPW hoodie I got one, for the company and specifically for Tanahashi.
Amazing talent has come and gone from NJPW but the one constant was the Ace and even when we saw the Rise of the Rainmaker, G1s that would be so legendary, Bullet Club, NJPW Third Generation still being amazing any given event, the Young Bucks laying their foundation that would be a huge impact to the world of wrestling, AJ Styles coming in and solidly demonstrating that he was the best wrestler in the world, Naito reinventing himself, Cleaner to best bout machine, Daryl and Hiromu and so much came and went, and I still had the same fandom… but for whatever reason Tanahashi coming to a conclusion… hit me.
I have the same hoodie and I decided that after 12 years of faithful wearing it’s time to put it away with Tanahashi retiring… and that thought process after the initial lol made me think and here I am. A grown ass man, looking at the retirement of Tanahashi and being depressed.
by br0wnb0y