Hiroshi Tanahashi: I Want To Wrestle CM Punk, It Would Be Big News Across The World

Hiroshi Tanahashi reiterates his desire to return to the United States as IWGP US Champion.

Hiroshi Tanahashi, for over a decade, has been The Ace of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. In recent years, his focus has shifted and he has grown a desire to help the company expand in the West.

A former IWGP United States Champion, Tanahashi sees that particular title belt as a gateway to his returning to the states, and, in a new Sports Illustrated interview, Tanahashi explained that there are still some major dream matches he has in mind that see him standing across big-time AEW wrestlers.

“Recapturing the U.S. heavyweight title before I return to the United States, that is what I need to do,” Tanahashi says. “I want to do that for my fans. The presence of fans is my number-one treasure. With them, the significance of being a professional wrestler is not the same. The desire to have them enjoy professional wrestling brings out the absolute best abilities of the wrestlers and pushes us beyond our limits.”

Much like Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi wants to wrestle CM Punk and Bryan Danielson. Tanahashi says he had only wrestled Danielson when he was early in his career but CM Punk, he has never wrestled and wants the opportunity to test himself against a big global wrestling star.

“I wrestled against Bryan once in my youth, and now I want to fight him again as a superstar,” Tanahashi says. “CM Punk is famous all over the world, so I would like to wrestle him in a situation that will be big news across the world.”

Regarding Tanahashi’s quest to reclaim IWGP United States Title, he will have the opportunity to do so later this year. At NJPW Hyper Battle, SANADA vacated the belt due to injury, suggesting that Tanahashi, as he was the last champion, reclaim the title. Will Ospreay took issue with this suggestion.

Ospreay believes he should be the champion since he put SANADA on the shelf and beat him in the New Japan Cup tournament. Tanahashi had the solution to everyone’s issues, challenging Ospreay to a bout for the vacant title at Wrestling Dontaku 2022 on May 1. Learn more here.

Recently, New Japan Pro Wrestling and AEW further extended their relationship with the announcement that AEW Dynamite and AEW Rampage will be available on the NJPW World Subscription Service. Learn more here.