Ex-WWE World Champion Makes Surprise Pitch To Face Hiroshi Tanahashi

Hiroshi Tanahashi is a man in demand.

Back in October, Hiroshi Tanahashi announced that he’ll officially retire from in-ring action following Wrestle Kingdom on January 4, 2026.

The Ace trained at the famous NJPW dojo before making his debut in October 1999 and going on to become a permanent fixture in the main event, winning championship gold at every turn.

More recently, Tanahashi has served as the company president, leading the promotion into a new era as many of the stars from the previous decade have retired or moved on.

Could Hiroshi Tanahashi Face WWE Star?

In October, WWE will return to Japan for two live events as the company’s global expansion continues. In a new interview with Tokyo Sports, Finn Balor discussed the upcoming dates while reflecting on his own lengthy history in the country.

This included heaping praise on Tanahashi for the way he helped him earlier in his career.

“I respect him outside the ring, too. When I was a Young Lion and rode the New Japan bus for the first time, he was sitting across from me. I was nervous. I thought it was a dream that my favorite wrestler would become my colleague.

I want to fight him one more time before he retires.”

When asked whether he’d like to be Tanahashi’s final opponent, Balor said that while he’d love it, he’s not that lucky. Instead, he took the chance to thank Tanahashi and several other NJPW legends for helping him find his way in Japan.

“That would be great, but I’m not that lucky. But I want to take this opportunity to say a few words to Tanahashi. You’ve had an incredible career. Thank you for being so kind to the foreign wrestlers in New Japan. Mr. Iizuka, Mr. Liger, Mr. Nagata—everyone was so kind.

Having teammates like family supporting me helped me adapt quickly to the ring’s harshness. It’s scary to live in a faraway country where you don’t even speak the language, but New Japan welcomed me so warmly. I’m forever grateful.”

Balor last shared the ring with Tanahashi back on Day 7 of the 2014 NJPW New Japan Cup while wrestling as Prince Devitt as part of the Bullet Club. Just one month after that match in March, it was announced that Balor would be leaving NJPW, and he signed with WWE in May.

Finn Balor currently holds the World Tag Team Championship alongside JD McDonagh. The pair won the gold on Raw back in June, but they’ve defended the titles only once.