Hiroshi Tanahashi

Hiroshi Tanahashi, dikenal luas sebagai "Ace," adalah seorang eksekutif olahraga Jepang dan pensiunan pegulat profesional yang menandatangani kontrak dengan New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), di mana ia menjabat sebagai presiden dan direktur perwakilan. Dia memulai debutnya pada tahun 1999 setelah lulus dari NJPW Dojo sebagai Singa Muda dan kemudian melanjutkan perjalanan ke Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) di Amerika Serikat. Dia menjalani pertandingan terakhirnya pada 4 Januari 2026, melawan rival lamanya Kazuchika Okada di Wrestle Kingdom 20. Sepanjang karir NJPW-nya, Tanahashi menjadi Juara Kelas Berat IWGP delapan kali, Juara Interkontinental IWGP dua kali, Juara Kelas Berat IWGP Amerika Serikat tiga kali, Juara Kelas Berat TIDAK PERNAH satu kali, Juara Televisi Dunia NJPW satu kali, Juara Kelas Terbuka IWGP U-30 dua kali, dan Juara Tim Tag Enam Orang NJPW Kelas Terbuka enam kali. Dalam kompetisi turnamen, ia memenangkan Klimaks G1 tiga kali pada tahun 2007, 2015, dan 2018 serta Piala Jepang Baru dua kali pada tahun 2005 dan 2008. Ia diakui sebagai pegulat keempat yang menyelesaikan Triple Crown NJPW dan yang kedua mencapai Grand Slamnya. Di luar NJPW, Tanahashi adalah satu kali Juara Kelas Berat Inggris Tak Terbantahkan RevPro, satu kali Juara Tim Tag GHC bersama Yuji Nagata, satu kali Juara Tim Tag Dunia CMLL bersama Jushin Thunder Liger, satu kali Juara Trio Dunia CMLL bersama Okumura dan Taichi sebagai La Ola Amarilla, dan pemenang Turnamen Campeón Universal del CMLL 2013. Penggemar, jurnalis, dan sesama pegulat sering memuji Tanahashi sebagai tokoh sentral dalam periode pembangunan kembali NJPW, menunjukkan perannya dalam membantu melaksanakan promosi selama tahun 2000-an dan awal 2010-an, dan ia secara luas dianggap sebagai salah satu pegulat profesional terhebat sepanjang masa karena konsistensinya, kemampuan menggambar, dan pengaruhnya terhadap peran “ace” modern. Warisannya semakin diperkuat melalui pengakuan industri besar. Penghargaan Buletin Pengamat Gulat termasuk Perseteruan Tahun Ini (2012–2013) vs. Kazuchika Okada, Paling Karismatik (2013), Pegulat Paling Berprestasi (2012–2013), Pertandingan Terbaik Tahun Ini (2012) vs. Minoru Suzuki pada 8 Oktober, Pertandingan Terbaik Tahun Ini (2013) vs. Kazuchika Okada pada tanggal 4 Januari, Pegulat Terbaik Tahun Ini (2011–2013), Pegulat Dekade Ini (2010-an), Paling Karismatik Dekade Ini (2010-an), dan dimasukkan ke dalam Hall of Fame Buletin Pengamat Gulat (Kelas 2013). Dia menduduki peringkat No. 3 dari 500 pegulat tunggal teratas di Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI 500 pada tahun 2013. Penghargaan Tokyo Sports antara lain Best Bout Award (2012) vs. Kazuchika Okada pada 16 Juni, Fighting Spirit Award (2003, 2006), MVP Award (2009, 2011, 2014, 2018), dan Outstanding Performance Award (2007).

Hiroshi Tanahashi, widely known as the “Ace,” is a Japanese sports executive and retired professional wrestler signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he serves as president and representative director. He debuted in 1999 after graduating from the NJPW Dojo as a Young Lion and later went on excursion to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in the United States. He had his final match on January 4, 2026, against longtime rival Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 20. Across his NJPW career, Tanahashi became an eight-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, two-time IWGP Intercontinental Champion, three-time IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion, one-time NEVER Openweight Champion, one-time NJPW World Television Champion, two-time IWGP U-30 Openweight Champion, and six-time NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champion. In tournament competition, he won the G1 Climax three times in 2007, 2015, and 2018 and the New Japan Cup twice in 2005 and 2008. He is recognized as the fourth wrestler to complete NJPW’s Triple Crown and the second to achieve its Grand Slam. Outside NJPW, Tanahashi is a one-time RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Champion, a one-time GHC Tag Team Champion with Yuji Nagata, a one-time CMLL World Tag Team Champion with Jushin Thunder Liger, a one-time CMLL World Trios Champion with Okumura and Taichi as La Ola Amarilla, and the winner of the Campeón Universal del CMLL 2013 Tournament. Fans, journalists, and fellow wrestlers often credit Tanahashi as a central figure in NJPW’s rebuilding period, pointing to his role in helping carry the promotion through the 2000s and early 2010s, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time for his consistency, drawing ability, and influence on the modern “ace” role. His legacy is further reinforced through major industry recognition. Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards include Feud of the Year (2012–2013) vs. Kazuchika Okada, Most Charismatic (2013), Most Outstanding Wrestler (2012–2013), Match of the Year (2012) vs. Minoru Suzuki on October 8, Match of the Year (2013) vs. Kazuchika Okada on April 7, Match of the Year (2016) vs. Kazuchika Okada on January 4, Wrestler of the Year (2011–2013), Wrestler of the Decade (2010s), Most Charismatic of the Decade (2010s), and induction into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2013). He was ranked No. 3 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI 500 in 2013. Tokyo Sports awards include Best Bout Award (2012) vs. Kazuchika Okada on June 16, Fighting Spirit Award (2003, 2006), MVP Award (2009, 2011, 2014, 2018), and Outstanding Performance Award (2007).