Hiroshi Tanahashi

Hiroshi Tanahashi

Acting

1976-11-13Ōgaki, Gifu, Japan

Hiroshi Tanahashi, widely known as the “Ace,” is a Japanese sports executive and retired professional wrestler signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he serves as president and representative director. He debuted in 1999 after graduating from the NJPW Dojo as a Young Lion and later went on excursion to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in the United States. He had his final match on January 4, 2026, against longtime rival Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 20. Across his NJPW career, Tanahashi became an eight-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, two-time IWGP Intercontinental Champion, three-time IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion, one-time NEVER Openweight Champion, one-time NJPW World Television Champion, two-time IWGP U-30 Openweight Champion, and six-time NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champion. In tournament competition, he won the G1 Climax three times in 2007, 2015, and 2018 and the New Japan Cup twice in 2005 and 2008. He is recognized as the fourth wrestler to complete NJPW’s Triple Crown and the second to achieve its Grand Slam. Outside NJPW, Tanahashi is a one-time RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Champion, a one-time GHC Tag Team Champion with Yuji Nagata, a one-time CMLL World Tag Team Champion with Jushin Thunder Liger, a one-time CMLL World Trios Champion with Okumura and Taichi as La Ola Amarilla, and the winner of the Campeón Universal del CMLL 2013 Tournament. Fans, journalists, and fellow wrestlers often credit Tanahashi as a central figure in NJPW’s rebuilding period, pointing to his role in helping carry the promotion through the 2000s and early 2010s, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time for his consistency, drawing ability, and influence on the modern “ace” role. His legacy is further reinforced through major industry recognition. Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards include Feud of the Year (2012–2013) vs. Kazuchika Okada, Most Charismatic (2013), Most Outstanding Wrestler (2012–2013), Match of the Year (2012) vs. Minoru Suzuki on October 8, Match of the Year (2013) vs. Kazuchika Okada on April 7, Match of the Year (2016) vs. Kazuchika Okada on January 4, Wrestler of the Year (2011–2013), Wrestler of the Decade (2010s), Most Charismatic of the Decade (2010s), and induction into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2013). He was ranked No. 3 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI 500 in 2013. Tokyo Sports awards include Best Bout Award (2012) vs. Kazuchika Okada on June 16, Fighting Spirit Award (2003, 2006), MVP Award (2009, 2011, 2014, 2018), and Outstanding Performance Award (2007).

Known For

All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite
tv
8.0

2019

All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite

2019 · tv

All Elite Wrestling: Collision
tv
7.7

2023

All Elite Wrestling: Collision

2023 · tv

New Japan Pro Wrestling
tv
8.0

1972

New Japan Pro Wrestling

1972 · tv

Stardom on Stardom World
tv
9.5

2011

Stardom on Stardom World

2011 · tv

99.9 Criminal Lawyer
tv
6.7

2016

99.9 Criminal Lawyer

2016 · tv

Hey! (EW)
tv

2022

Hey! (EW)

2022 · tv

Kamen Rider Heisei Generations: Dr. Pac-Man vs. Ex-Aid & Ghost with Legend Riders
movie
7.6

2016

Kamen Rider Heisei Generations: Dr. Pac-Man vs. Ex-Aid & Ghost with Legend Riders

2016 · movie

NJPW Resurgence 2021
movie

2021

NJPW Resurgence 2021

2021 · movie

NJPW New Japan Cup
tv

2005

NJPW New Japan Cup

2005 · tv

NJPW Fighting Spirit Unleashed 2018
movie

2018

NJPW Fighting Spirit Unleashed 2018

2018 · movie

NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2022
movie
8.0

2022

NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2022

2022 · movie

My Dad Is a Heel Wrestler
movie
7.3

2018

My Dad Is a Heel Wrestler

2018 · movie

NJPW Invasion Attack 2015
movie

2015

NJPW Invasion Attack 2015

2015 · movie

ROH & NJPW: War of the Worlds - Night 3
movie

2016

ROH & NJPW: War of the Worlds - Night 3

2016 · movie

NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka 2016
movie
7.0

2016

NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka 2016

2016 · movie

AEW x NJPW Present Forbidden Door 2023
movie
7.9

2023

AEW x NJPW Present Forbidden Door 2023

2023 · movie

Chris Jericho's 30th Anniversary Celebration
movie
7.0

2020

Chris Jericho's 30th Anniversary Celebration

2020 · movie

NJPW Dominion 6.21
movie

2014

NJPW Dominion 6.21

2014 · movie

NJPW G1 Special in USA 2017 - Night 1
movie

2017

NJPW G1 Special in USA 2017 - Night 1

2017 · movie

NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka 2020
movie

2020

NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka 2020

2020 · movie

NJPW G1 Climax 33: Day 19 (Final)
movie

2023

NJPW G1 Climax 33: Day 19 (Final)

2023 · movie

NJPW New Year Dash !! 2018
movie
7.0

2018

NJPW New Year Dash !! 2018

2018 · movie

NJPW G1 Special In San Francisco
movie
8.0

2018

NJPW G1 Special In San Francisco

2018 · movie

Wrestlecon Supershow 2018
movie

2018

Wrestlecon Supershow 2018

2018 · movie

NJPW Destruction in Hiroshima 2017
movie

2017

NJPW Destruction in Hiroshima 2017

2017 · movie

NJPW The New Beginning in Niigata 2016
movie

2016

NJPW The New Beginning in Niigata 2016

2016 · movie

ROH & NJPW: Honor Rising Japan - Night 2
movie

2017

ROH & NJPW: Honor Rising Japan - Night 2

2017 · movie

NJPW G1 Climax 24: Day 5
movie

2014

NJPW G1 Climax 24: Day 5

2014 · movie

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 10
movie
7.0

2016

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 10

2016 · movie

NJPW Strong Style Evolved 2018
movie

2018

NJPW Strong Style Evolved 2018

2018 · movie