It looks like KENTA and Hiroshi Tanahashi’s roads don’t split up yet, as NJPW’s Ace will get his rematch for IWGP United States Heavyweight Title.
At today’s World Tag League and Best of the Super Junior finals event, Tanahashi took part in an eight-man tag team match with he, TenKoji, and Yuji Nagata defeating Bullet Club. After Tanahashi scored a roll-up pin victory over Chase Owens, KENTA appeared on a big screen with a video message for him.
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WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2021 ＆
BEST OF THE SUPER Jr.28🏆優勝決定戦🏆
＼第4試合終了後、IWGP USヘビー級王者KENTAから棚橋へメッセージ‼️
一体何を語るのか⁉️📲 #njpwworld で配信中📡
👀登録＆視聴⏩https://t.co/Tj7UBINMhP#njpw #njwtl #njbosj pic.twitter.com/WYvppe6Ukd
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) December 15, 2021
KENTA stated that he really doesn’t want to wrestle Tanahashi, but if he insists on it and allows him to set the conditions of the match he accepts the challenge – only if it will be contested under a No DQ rules. It will serve as KENTA’s revenge on Tanahashi for putting him through a table during their US Title match that took place at Power Struggle on November 6.
Tanahashi received a microphone and agreed to KENTA’s terms. The date of the match is yet to be set.
Tanahashi won the IWGP United States Title at NJPW Resurgence in August by defeating Lance Archer. Since then, he has successfully defended it against Kota Ibushi at Wregle Grand Slam in September and lost the belt to KENTA in November.
KENTA’s road to championship started in August 2020 with a New Japan Cup USA tournament. He defeated Karl Fredericks, Jeff Cobb, and David Finlay in succession to get a title shot. At last year’s Power Struggle he defended Right to Challenge against Tanahashi. Then he defended it again at Wrestle Kingdom 15 against Kojima. At New Beginning USA he unsuccessfully challenged then-champion Jon Moxley. Finally, he achieved his goal at this year’s Power Struggle by dethroning Tanahashi.
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