Alex Shelley Explains What He’s Learned From Hiroshi Tanahashi, ‘He Leads By Example’

At IMPACT x NJPW Multiverse United 2, Alex Shelley defended the IMPACT World Title against NJPW legend Hiroshi Tanahashi. 

Shelley and Tanahashi first shared the ring in 2008 when Shelley teamed with Chris Sabin to battle Tanahashi & Volador in TNA. Over the years, Shelley and Tanahashi worked together in NJPW, often teaming in multi-man matches. 

Speaking to Jeremy Lambert & Joel Pearl on In The Weeds, Shelley discussed his experience with Tanahashi. 

“I was in TNA when he showed up and wrestled AJ [AJ Styles]. He came back a little later, and he was preparing for his big match at the Tokyo Dome with Mutoh [Keiji Mutoh]. I was there at the Dome when he beat Mutoh. Mutoh had the IWGP World Title for a year and beat everyone. Three years after that, I ended up leaving TNA and coming to New Japan and was grateful to do so. He was champion and the company was starting to grow again. You had global economic issues in 2008, and going forward, and I’m able to witness Tana on virtually every level as a champion. I teamed with him multiple times, I was on the bus with him, we both sat in the back. I was in the gym with him, I was at the dojo when he’d come and train. I saw how he prepared for his big matches. I saw how he handled media and his appearances. I saw how he tried to balance all of it, and I never forget that. I never forgot his kindness, how he took care of everybody, helping the younger wrestlers. That set an example. You hear people leading by example. Tana led by example. I don’t think a lot of people would be able to share that experience with you. I saw him over the years work his ass off. He’s 46 years old and he’s been going at that rate since he won the title when he was about 30. He’s so special. To actually step in the ring with him, that will be one of these things where I’m going to say, ‘I got to wrestle Tanahashi, how cool is that?’ It’s going to be spoken in wind whispers. I wasn’t able to just wrestle him, I actually beat him, which is a huge honor of itself. To have that comprehensive experience of basically living on the road with the guy was truly the special part about it. I wouldn’t be the same person I am in wrestling if I hadn’t had him as somebody who led by example,” he said. 

Shelley will meet Tanahashi again at NJPW Destruction in Ryogoku as he teams with Chris Sabin & Josh Alexander to challenge Tanahashi, Kazuchika Okada, & Tomohiro Ishii for the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Titles. 

IMPACT will celebrate its 1000th episode of September 14. Elsewhere during the interview, Shelley commented on TNA original matches. You can find his full comments by clicking here. 

Watch the full interview with Shelley in the video above.