NJPW’s Ace and President Hiroshi Tanahashi will face one of Japan’s best pro-wrestlers ever, Yuji Nagata, for the last time. The match is set for September 7, at Nagata’s homecoming show called Blue Justice XVI at Togane City in Chiba.
The ending of Tanahashi’s in-ring career is getting closer, and since Wrestle Kingdom 19 last January, he has set out on a mission to wrestle as many members of the NJPW roster as he can in singles matches. His next one will be one of the biggest during this retirement run, as it will close the chapter on one of his greatest rivalries.
Their match this weekend will be their 18th singles match against each other, with The Ace having the edge over Blue Justice, winning 10 of their previous 17 encounters. Their last singles match happened eight years ago in the G1 Climax, which also happens to be Nagata’s final time participating in the tournament.
Here’s a short look back at some of their previous matches before their last dance on Sunday:
First Contact: January 24, 2002
Their first singles match happened on the first day of NJPW’s Extreme 2 Days at Korakuen Hall in 2002. Then, 25-year-old Tanahashi is going into his third year as a pro-wrestler, facing his mentor Nagata. The veteran Nagata got the upper hand in nine minutes, marking the start of what would be their rich history.
Four months after this bout, Nagata won the IWGP Heavyweight title for the first time in his career.
Tanahashi’s First Victory: April 19, 2005
After losing their next two singles bouts in 2003 and 2004, Tanahashi finally got a win over his mentor in the inaugural New Japan Cup in 2005. Unfortunately, it came via disqualification, when an enraged Nagata would not let go of a cross armbreaker he applied during the match.
When the referee pulled him off to break the hold, Nagata kicked him and threw him out of the ring, resulting in the decision. The loss also eliminated him from the tournament in just the first round.
This match happened during the time when Nagata was experiencing a drought, even as one of NJPW’s top guys. He had previously lost the IWGP Heavyweight title two years prior, and has not gotten it back since then.
Nagata’s 2nd Reign As IWGP Heavyweight Champ: April 13, 2007
Five years after his first reign, Nagata became IWGP Heavyweight champion again in 2007 at Tanahashi’s expense. He ended Tanahashi’s maiden run with the title in the main event of Circuit 2007 New Japan Brave, which would not go unanswered, as they faced each other two more times that year.
Nagata earned the opportunity to challenge for the title after winning that year’s New Japan Cup in March, becoming the first wrestler to win a New Japan Cup and a G1 Climax.
Tanahashi’s First G1 Climax Triumph: August 12, 2007
Tanahashi’s first of three G1 Climax wins came at Nagata’s expense in the tournament’s 17th edition in 2007. This was the first part of his revenge after Nagata ended his first title reign as IWGP Heavyweight champion. Nagata also eliminated him in the semifinals of the New Japan Cup a year before, making the G1 win even sweeter.
Hiroshi Tanahashi wins his first G1 Climax. (2007) 🌟 #G1CLIMAX34 pic.twitter.com/5yXVMLfZZG
— Vintage Puroresu プロレス (@vintagepuro) July 19, 2024
Tanahashi Becomes IWGP Heavyweight Champ for the 2nd Time: October 8, 2007
Tanahashi defeated Nagata in the main event of NJPW Explosion ‘07 to become the IWGP Heavyweight champion once again, completing his quest for vengeance after losing the title to him in April. This also marked Tanahashi’s 2nd title reign, beating his mentor in a singles match for a second straight time in a year.
This was one of Tanahashi’s most important wins, as it happened during the first years of his ascendancy as NJPW’s top guy. This match would be their last one in a long while, as their next singles bout came in 2011.
These two crucial figures in NJPW’s history battle one last time in a main event match this Sunday. The show will be streamed live on NJPW World with English commentary at 4 p.m. JST/3 a.m. ET, and you can find its full card here.
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