A top NJPW champion not only wants Hiroshi Tanahashi to retire, he’d love to be part of the legend’s final match.
On December 23rd, New Japan Pro Wrestling issued a press release announcing that Hiroshi Tanahashi had been appointed President and Representative Director of NJPW effective immediately, taking over for Takami Ohbari, who’s held the position since October 2020 following the resignation of Harold Meji.
Speaking in a new interview with Tokyo Sports, current IWGP Heavyweight Champion Tetsuya Naito addressed Tanahashi’s new role, calling for the legendary star to retire from in-ring competition in order to focus on his executive role.
“I think it would be better to concentrate on one or the other. As a wrestler, I’m in a difficult situation right now. I don’t know if I became president because I gave that up, but I don’t know if I can do the job with such a light heart. If you want to make a comeback in the ring, you don’t have to be the president. If you want to be president as hard as you can, why don’t you give up the ring?”
In recent news, Hiroshi Tanahashi has opened up about his new role as NJPW President.
Tetsuya Naito Would Love To Be Part Of Hiroshi Tanahashi’s Retirement Match
In February of 2023, Naito served as the final opponent for Keiji Muto, otherwise known as The Great Muta. Continuing in his interview, Naito said he’d love to do the same for Tanahashi as he’s always admired the star.
“I started watching wrestling because I admired Keiji Muto, and I became a New Japan Pro-Wrestling wrestler because I admired Hiroshi Tanahashi. If I were to be the opponent for the retirement match of two wrestlers I admired, I think it would be a great destino.”
Tanahashi isn’t set to be done in the ring just yet, and at New Year’s Dash, Matt Riddle issued a challenge to the legend.
h/t Fightful