In a recent interview with Proresu Today, Hiroshi Tanahashi discussed his appointment as the new President of NJPW, his retirement plans, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the interview below:
On if he was surprised by his new job: “In terms of timing… it’s 50/50. I was also surprised. As a wrestler, I challenged the IWGP world heavyweight title once, but lost and never won the title. As a wrestler, I aim to be the best. I think when it’s gone, it’s time to retire. When I asked myself, “Do I want to wear that belt?”, I thought, “I want to wear it,” so I think it’s still a long time before I retire.”
On his approach to any job: “My motto is to do my best, so I want to do my best as a wrestler and as president. My pride as a wrestler and ace is to feed all the other wrestlers, employees, and their families. That’s what I thought, but I thought that’s the natural thing to do as a company president. Furthermore, I didn’t just have to do my best in professional wrestling. In an extreme case, I just graduated from university and started a new company. Now that I’ve joined Japan Pro Wrestling, I feel like I’m a first-year member of society. Well, I don’t know if I’m a first-year student or not.”
On his goals for NJPW wrestlers working with other companies: “When I go to a promotion, the local wrestling fans are so supportive. I want them to experience the same success I have had. I hope it’s not just me, but three or four people. If we can do both at the same time, I have a feeling that professional wrestling will continue to spread at an accelerated pace.”
Hiroshi Tanahashi Discusses New Role as President of NJPW and Retirement Plans
In a recent interview with Proresu Today, Hiroshi Tanahashi, a renowned professional wrestler, opened up about his surprise appointment as the new President of New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), his retirement plans, and his goals for the promotion’s wrestlers working with other companies.
Tanahashi expressed his surprise at being chosen for the role, stating that the timing was unexpected. As a wrestler, he had challenged for the IWGP world heavyweight title but had never won it. Despite this, Tanahashi still aims to be the best and believes that retirement will only come when he no longer desires to wear that coveted belt. He sees himself continuing in the wrestling industry for a long time to come.
When asked about his approach to his new position, Tanahashi emphasized his motto of doing his best. He wants to excel both as a wrestler and as the president of NJPW. He feels a sense of responsibility to support not only the wrestlers but also the employees and their families. Tanahashi believes that this is a natural extension of his role as the company’s ace, as he has always strived to uplift those around him. He likened his transition to becoming the president of NJPW to starting a new job after graduating from university, feeling like a first-year member of society.
One of Tanahashi’s goals as president is to promote collaboration between NJPW and other wrestling companies. He believes that when NJPW wrestlers compete in other promotions, they should experience the same level of support from local fans that he has enjoyed throughout his career. Tanahashi hopes that multiple wrestlers from NJPW can achieve success simultaneously in different companies. By achieving this, he envisions professional wrestling spreading at an accelerated pace, benefiting both NJPW and the entire industry.
Tanahashi’s appointment as the new President of NJPW marks a significant milestone in his career. As a highly respected and accomplished wrestler, he brings a wealth of experience and passion to his new role. With his determination to do his best and support those around him, Tanahashi is poised to lead NJPW to new heights while continuing to make a lasting impact on the world of professional wrestling.