The “Ace’s” Rivals: looking at some of the greatest rivals of Hiroshi Tanahashi’s career

(This list is in no particular order)

1. Shinsuke Nakamura – The ACE vs the KING: Generational Rivals – It's a trope/element of practically every Japanese promotion (and all around the world) that has ever existed; 2 wrestlers that started around the same time, destined to fight it out over who will be the top dog, who will be THE guy. In past eras of NJPW, it was Fujinami/Choshu, Hashimoto/Mutoh; more recently, Okada/Naito was that "generational rivalry" that defined the promotion. Tanahashi/Nakamura was that defining rivalry of their time. Tana was the sempai, older than Nak (by about 3 years) and also debuted a little earlier (Tana debuted in '99 and Nak in '02) and there is a part of the culture (both in wrestling and in the country) that the senior will take a dominant position over the kohai (junior) but it wasn't that cut and dry when it came to Tana and Nak. Nakamura was favored early on in his career by NJPW management due to his martial arts background and due to being taller and overall more athletic than Tanahashi (Tana coming from a baseball background and while super fit and athletic, didn't quite have the same physical gifts that Nakamura had). Nakamura would win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship after a little over a year of experience and becoming the youngest IWGP Heavy Champ in history (at 23, a record that still stands). Tanahashi would admit to being severely jealous of Nakamura's success, a jealousy that drove him in the early part of his career. Tana would also lose to Nakamura in their first big match, at the Tokyo Dome in 2005; it was also around this time that Tana and Nak would become IWGP Tag Champs. Despite Nakamura attaining success quicker and being pushed as a top guy, Tanahashi would develop into the cocky "ACE of the Universe" shortly after winning his first IWGP Championship in 2006, although he would fail to defeat Nakamura for the IWGP Title in their second Dome match at WK 2. It would also be that Nakamura was the one to end Tana's third IWGP title reign, via fracturing Tana's eye in the semi-finals of 2009 G1 (Tana would fail to regain the title from the newly crowned Nakamura when he returned). Around 2009-10, Nakamura would be the one to develop an edge, calling himself the "King of Strong Style" and forming the faction CHAOS. Tanahashi was a fully beloved babyface at this point, fully earning the title of "Ace" with his fifth IWGP Title Reign, at 404 days with 11 successful title defenses; 2 of those defenses would be against Nakamura, as Tana had all but "conquered" his rival at that point. Nakamura would never hold the IWGP Heavy again, although he would stay a main-eventer and star with the IWGP IC Championship. At this point, Tana had to face the rising storm that was the "Rainmaker", Kazuchika Okada, who had beaten Tana several times for the IWGP; at WK 8, Tana would make a desperate grab to maintain his position as "Ace", challenging Nakamura for the IC Title, with it eventually being made the main-event via the infamous "Fan Vote". Tana would further demonstrate his superiority over Nakamura by beating him and taking the IC Title from him at WK 8; the rivalry with Nakamura was far from over, however, as Nak would regain the belt from Tana later in 2014. By the end of 2015, the final chapter in their storied rivalry was to be written, as both men were the finalists for that years' G1 Climax. In front of a hot and split crowd in Sumo Hall, Tana would vanquish Nakamura with a pair of HFF's, winning the G1 Climax for the 2nd time. Afterwards, Nakamura would extend his hand, which was taken by Tanahashi as the two rivals showed respect. Upon the announcement of Nakamura's exit from the company, Tanahashi would declare that he'd win the IC Title to retain the legacy of Nakamura elevating the title, although Tana would fail to win the belt on several attempts, with a bulk of his rivalry with Tetsuya Naito stemming from Naito's disdain for the belt.
2. Yuji Nagata – The ACE vs BLUE JUSTICE: Proving Ground – In order to truly be seen as a "big deal" and "main-event talent", you need to prove yourself by wrestling and eventually overcoming an already proven main-eventer. In Tana's case, the man he had to overcome to prove himself was none other than Blue Justice himself, Yuji Nagata. Tana had been tied to Nagata early on in his career, facing the older man several times as a youngster, each time getting slapped and kicked down. Tanahashi would also team with Nagata, winning the GHC Tag Teams Titles of NOAH. Tanahashi would eventually become very cocky and dismissive when it came to Nagata, making it known that he saw Nagata as a steppingstone to becoming the top guy in NJPW. Nagata, in kind, would usually beat several shades of crap out of young Tana. Tana's first win over Nagata would come via DQ in the 2005 NJC, where Nagata would refuse to stop beating on Tanahashi after being taunted one too many times. Nagata would be the one to end Tana's first IWGP Title Reign in 2007, although Tana would avenge this loss by beating Nagata in the Finals of the '07 G1 Climax, for his first G1 win. When Tana became the "Ace" in his 404-day IWGP Title reign, one of his most important defenses was against Nagata in Korakuen Hall. Tana would remain an on/off rival and partner of Nagata through the years.
3. Katsuyori Shibata – The ACE vs the WRESTLER: Hate becomes Love – In another universe, Tanahashi and Shibata are the "Generational Rivals" that Tana and Nak were. Tana and Shibata were a part of the same Dojo class of '99, with Shibata even beating Tana in their first encounter as YL's. Tanahashi, although the older man, would refer to Shibata as his sempai, due to Shibata's father being one of the first members of the NJPW roster in 1972 and also due to the fact that Tana had to take a break from Dojo training to graduate college, whereas Shibata was full-time. You could feel this dynamic in their early matches and interactions, as Shibata would often take the position of a bullying older brother to Tanahashi, kicking and slapping him whenever he got the chance (even when tagging together!). Shibata, alongside Tanahashi & Nakamura, would be named as the "New Three Musketeers", heralded as the youngsters who would take the reins of the promotion. Shibata would eventually reject this push and leave NJPW in 2005, going freelance. It was shortly after this that Shibata and Tanahashi would have their first high-profile match, in the Tokyo Dome in 2006, where the freelancer Shibata would dominate and beat Tanahashi. Shibata would leave pro-wrestling all together and try his hand at MMA, before returning to NJPW in 2012, to much criticism from the current roster, Tanahashi being the most vocal among them. Tana would resent Shibata leaving the company in a time of need and choosing to return when the promotion was becoming profitable. All of Tana and Shibata's matches would be very heated affairs, as Tanahashi would work in an uncharacteristically stiff manner against Shibata, who would gladly return the stiff strikes. This tension would culminate in a singles match at Destruction In Kobe 2014, where Tana would defeat Shibata; the real story was after the match, where the two would embrace, affirming a friendship and putting the past behind them. The two would go on to team together at several points. Memorably, after Shibata's surgery and first retirement from wrestling, Shibata would corner Tanahashi in the 2018 G1 Final, urging the ACE on and carrying Tana on his shoulders after he defeated Kota Ibushi. The two would meet in singles action again, this time in the Tokyo Dome at Wrestle Dynasty, with a future clash being teased afterwards.
4. Keiji Mutoh – The ACE vs the GENIUS: Overcoming the Past to become the Present – All wrestlers have a mentor, a wrestler that trains them as they come into the business and someone they emulate to some degree or another. For Tanahashi, he had two mentors; the first was Tatsumi Fujinami, who would pass onto Tana his technical acumen and his Dragon Screw legwhip; the second was Keiji Mutoh, who would pass onto Tana the skill of carrying himself as a star and the importance of presentation. It was Mutoh that Tanahashi would be connected to the most, especially at the beginning of his career. Mutoh was of course, one of the biggest stars of NJPW in the 90's (and one of the biggest in the company's history), both as himself and as the Great Muta. Tanahashi was assigned to Mutoh as a YL, doing Mutoh's laundry and working out with him. Tanahashi would so greatly emulate Mutoh in the early part of his career that he even was called "Baby Mutoh" (more derisively than anything, it would seem). Mutoh's mentorship of Tana would come to an end in 2002, as Mutoh would choose to join AJPW, though not before offering Tanahashi the opportunity to come over with him; Tana would decline, deciding that he'd become a main-eventer in the same promotion that his mentor had been a star. Despite Mutoh leaving for AJPW, he would still appear in NJPW sporadically through the years, teaming with Tana on several occasions. Tana would face Mutoh in a singles match for the first time on a AJPW show in '05, where he would fall to his mentor despite a valiant effort. The second time they would meet in a singles match would also be in AJPW, in the 2008 CC, although this was a much cockier and more accomplished Tanahashi; Tana would take Mutoh to a draw, showing that he was at least on the level of his legendary mentor. The third, and final, singles encounter between the two would be in 2009, this time in the main-event of WK 3 in the Tokyo Dome. By this time, Mutoh had become both the Triple Crown and IWGP Heavyweight Champion, as he had defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in '08; the stage was set for Tana to truly stake his place as a top star in NJPW, which he did, by defeating Mutoh at the Dome, winning his 3rd IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Beating Mutoh is what truly affirmed Tana as a top star in the eyes of fans and in the business as a whole.
5. Minoru Suzuki – The ACE vs the DEVIL: Love vs Pain– Very few wrestlers are as good as playing the villain as Minoru Suzuki. His devilish grin, his burning eyes, his gleeful sadism. He's the perfect opponent for a top babyface like Tanahashi. Tana's rivalry with Suzuki would begin in late 2011 into 2012, as Tana was in his defining 404-day IWGP Title reign, where he was confronted by Minoru Suzuki, newly arrived into NJPW (which he had originally started training as a wrestler in 1988, before leaving to join the UWF "shoot-style" crew and later starting one of the first MMA promotions in Pancrase), would challenge Tanahashi, saying that he (Suzuki) represented the "true NJPW', due to being trained by the liked of Antonio Inoki, Yoshiaki Fujiwara & Karl Gotch; Tana would respond by saying he (Tana) represented the NJPW of now. A year after he beat Satoshi Kojima for the IWGP at WK 5, Tana would vanquish Suzuki at WK 6, affirming himself as the "Ace". However, it was shortly after that Tanahashi would lose the IWGP in the "Rainmaker Shock" to the young Kazuchika Okada. Tana would quickly regain the title, and another showdown with Suzuki was set for King of Pro-Wrestling 2012; although a smaller stage than their match at WK, their match at KOPW '12 would prove to be a far greater and impactful match, as Suzuki and Tanahashi would target each other's limbs, neither going for a pinfall till the end of the match, where Tana would put down Suzuki with a HFF. After this phenomenal match, these two wouldn't truly renew their rivalry until 2018, where then IC Champ Tanahashi had to once again defend his belt against the sadistic Suzuki. Unlike WK 6 or KOPW 2012, Suzuki would not be denied, as he tore the ACE apart, stretching his limbs to uncomfortable angles, using a heel hook to put Tana away. Suzuki looked more monstrous than ever before, as he stood over the prone Tanahashi in Sapporo, claiming that the "ACE"'s time was at an end. Tana would respond defiantly in their meeting in the 2018 G1, this time overcoming Suzuki's limb-targeting to destroy the "King's" legs with Dragon Screws, avenging his own legs' dismantling by Suzuki. Fittingly, it was this G1 that Tanahashi would win, disproving Suzuki's claim that his time was truly over.
6. Kazuchika Okada – The ACE vs the RAINMAKER: Losing the Crown – There comes a time when every "Ace" must relinquish their crown in favor of a newer one. Jumbo Tsuruta gave way to Mitsuharu Misawa in AJPW; HARASHIMA gave way to Konosuke Takeshita in DDT Pro; in NJPW, it was one Kazuchika Okada that Tanahashi would relinquish his "throne" to, although not without great resistance. After WK 6, the cocky "Rainmaker" re-debuted in NJPW, having a lackluster match against Yoshi-Hashi before challenging Tanahashi at the end of the night, condescendingly thanking the "Ace" for his service but saying that it was Okada's time to "make it rain". Tanahashi would brush the young challenger off, saying he was far from being "IWGP ready". Nevertheless, Okada would challenge Tanahashi for IWGP at the New Beginning show, where everything would change for both men; Okada would defeat Tanahashi, committing the "Rainmaker Shock" and ending Tana's lengthy reign with the IWGP at 404 days. Tanahashi, stunned and bleeding from the mouth, would stare at the lights on this night, something that would ultimately be a reoccurrence in their lengthy feud. Despite that early shock victory, Tanahashi would regain the IWGP shortly, making it seem as though Okads's victory was a "fluke"; Tana would double down on this by beating Okada in the Dome at WK 7, making it clear that the "Ace" wasnt ready to give up the crown. However, Okada would return in force in a couple months, defeating Tanahashi at Invasion Attack 2013, then following it up by successfully defending against Tana at King of Pro-Wrestling later in the year (both these matches were phenomenal and perhaps the peak of their rivalry, as far as both men being in their primes). Tanahashi would, for a time, accept that Okada had his number at this point, and would go after Nakamura and the IC Title. AJ Styles would arrive in NJPW as a member of BC and would beat Okada for the IWGP; Tana would be the one to take the title from the villainous Styles, while Okada would win the 2014 G1 Climax, seeting the stage for another showdown between the two at WK 9. While Okada had bested Tanahashi several times, this night would prove to be his most humiliating defeat, as Tanahashi would use the fervor of the crowd to beat Okada once again at the Dome, leaving Okada in tears at the end of the night. Tanahashi would quickly lose the IWGP back to AJ Styles, who in turn lost it to Okada. Tanahashi would eventually win the 2015 G1 Climax, going on to challenge Okada for the IWGP at WK 10, setting the stage for their final match in the Dome; despite much resilience from the "Ace", Okada would not be denied on this night, maintaining wrist-control and putting Tanahashi down with a series of Rainmakers. While WK 10 proved with a shadow of a doubt that it was Okada's era, the rivalry between the "Ace" and "Rainmaker" was far from over. After defeating Tanahashi at WK 10, Okada would go on to have a record-breaking run with the IWGP, dispatching challenger after challenger in classic matches. Tanahashi had the record all-time defenses with the IWGP at 11, something that Okada was on the verge of breaking, so Tanahashi would make a desperate grab to stop Okada from surpassing his accomplishment and challenge him at Wrestling Dontaku 2018; this would proof to be very much a humbling of Tanahashi, as although he put up a trademark valiant effort, Okada would put him down with a single Rainmaker, where it would take multiple to get the job done on Tana before. However, despite this humbling, these rivals would find their fortunes reveres come the late summer of 2018, as Okada would have his record-breaking 720-day run with the IWGP ended by Kenny Omega and Hiroshi Tanahashi would find renewed spirit, winning that years G1 Climax. Okada, despite being listless without the IWGP, would challenge Tanahashi for the right to challenge for the IWGP at Destruction In Kobe; here, Tanahashi would not be denied, as his fire and intensity far outmatched Okada's at this stage, and he would successfully defeat Okada and go on to beat Kenny Omega in the main-event of WK 13 to win the IWGP for the last time. However, Kobe would be the last time Tana would best Okada, as their next 4 singles meetings would all end in Okada victories, their last being Okada's final match in NJPW.
7. Tetsuya Naito – The ACE vs EL INGOBERNABLE: Looking at your own reflection – It was pretty clear early on that Tetsuya Naito was seen as being a potential successor to Tanahashi, both to NJPW management and to Tanahashi himself. Naito would openly be inspired by Keiji Mutoh, Tana's mentor, so it seemed almost destiny (or Destino, if you will) that the "Ace" and then "Stardust Genius" would be tied together. A telltale sign that Naito was poised for big things was his victory over Tana in their first big singles match in 2010, a win in that years NJC; Naito would then take Tanahashi to a draw in their meeting in the G1 of the same year. After that, Tanahashi would win their next couple singles encounters, until Naito defeated Tana in the 2011 G1 to advance to the finals of that year's tournament, losing to Shinsuke Nakamura. Naito would score a key victory over Tana in the Finals of the 2013 G1 Climax, which would be his first win of that tournament; however, Tana would criticize Naito's post-match speech to the crowd, lamenting that Naito didn't display the confidence of someone who had won the biggest tournament in the business. Tana's critique would seem prophetic, as Naito would slowly lose the crowd's support leading into WK 8, where Naito's challenge against the IWGP Champion, Kazuchika Okada, would be voted out of the main-event in favor of Tanahashi vs Nakamura for the IC Title and Naito would fall to Okada. The next time Tana would meet Naito in a singles, he would be facing a very different man to the one he had encountered previous; Naito had taken a trip to Mexico and had come back "Ingobernable", with a disdainful attitude. Naito would use his attitude change to defeat Tanahashi in the 2015 G1, debuting the "Destino" in the process. Their next big encounter would be at WK 11, with Tanahashi challenging Naito for the IC Title; Naito had shown a pronounced disdain for the IC Belt, tied into the fact that Nakamura & Tanahashi's clash for said belt had taken the main-event from him years prior. On this night, Naito would make a statement, defeating the "ACE" at the Dome, signaling that he, like Okada previous, had seemingly surpassed Tanahashi. However, Tana would show Naito, just as he had showed Okada, that he still had fire left in him, defeating Naito for the IC Title at Dominion 2017, with a shout-out to his generational rival Nakamura. Their rivalry in 2017 would end in the G1, in the main-event of Night 17 in Ryogoku; on this night, the chants for "Naito!" would drown out the chants for "Tanahashi!", showing that Naito had truly become the favored of the people and the support of the NJPW faithful would fuel Naito to defeat Tana and eventually win the 2017 G1 Climax. After this, Tana would lose to Naito several times, only coming out with a win in G1 32.