Tetsuya Naito Suggests Hiroshi Tanahashi Retire To Focus On Being NJPW President

Tetsuya Naito makes a suggestion. 

Heading into 2024, Hiroshi Tanahashi was named the new President of NJPW. Tanahashi remains active in the ring, and even won the NJPW World TV Title from Zack Sabre Jr. Tetsuya Niato, who won the IWGP World Heavyweight Title from SANADA at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18, suggests Tanahashi focus on his presidential duties. 

“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?” Naito told Tokyo Sports. 

Naito also mentioned the possibility of being Tanahashi’s final opponent, just as he was the final opponent fr Keiji Mutoh in 2023. 

“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,” he said.

Tanahashi’s next opponent will be Matt Riddle, who issued a challenge to Tanahashi at NJPW New Year Dash. 

Fans can find results from NJPW New Year Dash by clicking here.