Ahead of his June 5 return from injury at Dominion, New Japan Pro-Wrestling posted a great interview with “The Ace” Hiroshi Tanahashi. He discussed his current health, his opponent, and much more.
Check out highlights below:
On facing Jay White:
He’s a different person than the one I wrestled in his return match in 2018 [at Wrestle Kingdom 12]. He has had experience on the biggest stage, he’s wrestled a lot of different opponents. He’s been in the main event at Madison Square Garden. That will do wonders for your self confidence.
To tell you the truth, he’s a high hurdle to clear. To that kid who came back from his excursion to face me, I was a big hurdle to him at the time. Now I’m coming back and he’s the hurdle. It’s almost a role reversal in that regard.
His health:
I’m not rushing [back]. The last few years its been kind of a routine for me, to be hurt and come back this time of year. For me it’s always a thing of listening to my body before deciding when to come back. From here, I’ll be working to be in top condition.
Even if I were to take more time off, I can’t be in any better than peak condition. Even if you ordered me to take time off, I wouldn’t. I’d always get the prize for perfect attendance at school, you know.
His role in the new era:
Hm, I am the Ace of Heisei! But I think even in the new era, my role of Ace isn’t going to change any. It’s just a perception thing. I spent Heisei telling every body that I was the Ace. Now in Reiwa, I think it’ll be the people around me going ‘ah, yeah, he’s still the Ace’
I think it’s fantastic that we’re entering new markets overseas, but there are a lot of things that we still need to do in Japan. I’ll give you an example; I was in Sendai recently to throw out the opening pitch at the (Rakuten Eagles) baseball game. While I was there, I wanted to stop in at Sunplaza Hall for the Best of the Super Junior card, you know? I was in the convenience store nearby and this kid and their parents called out to me. I talked to them, and they asked me ‘what are you doing here?’
I told them I was there for the opening pitch. But these people had no idea that New Japan was running in Sunplaza. Had they known that there was an NJPW event around the corner, they would probably have been going. So it told me that there is a lot we still need to do when it comes to promotion.
RELATED: Juice Robinson Comments On His Relationship With Jon Moxley, Says He’s Not ‘CJ Parker’ Anymore
