TIES THAT BIND:
TANAHASHI VS KENTA
By Jasmine Olan
The arrival of former Pro Wrestling NOAH star, KENTA in New Japan Pro Wrestling has definitely been making waves in the international wrestling world lately. At this year’s DOMINION, it was announced that he had signed with NJPW and he declared his interest in entering G1 CLIMAX 29. The former GHC champion would come out of the gate strong when the tournament began. KENTA’s G1 debut would see him defeat both of last year’s tournament finalists, Kota Ibushi and Hiroshi Tanahashi. As block competition continues, he is currently tied for the lead for A block with reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kazuchika Okada.
The eyes of wrestling fans and critics alike were particularly focused on his block match against Tanahashi due to the complex history between NJPW and Pro Wrestling NOAH. A rivalry has existed between the two promotions for years. Because of that, it was believed that a match between KENTA and Tanahashi would most likely never happen. Each of them is painted so strongly with the colors of their home promotion. The biggest challenge for KENTA at the moment appears to be getting NJPW fans behind him.
So far KENTA’s journey in this year’s G1 has been very much about proving himself to a new audience. After a disheartening five year run in WWE that saw him deal with bad injuries and several false starts, he returned to his homeland of Japan in search of redemption. On the second night of block competition, the former face of Pro Wrestling NOAH found himself on a collision course with the Ace Of The Universe when they met in a tag team preview match. In that match, KENTA was paired with LA young lions, Clark Connors and Karl Fredricks. Meanwhile Tanahashi was paired with two of the Tokyo dojo’s best young lions, Shota Umino and Ren Narita. Tensions ran high all the way through in that match as well as in their block match.
For his part in all of this, Hiroshi Tanahashi has been a staple of New Japan Pro Wrestling for the past twenty years. Since his debut in 1999, the Ace has truly embodied everything the New Japan Lion’s Mark stands for. Those twenty years have seen Tanahashi be the one to carry the company through the darkest of times. He became one of NJPW’s most beloved stars as well as a highly respected locker room leader. While KENTA was the face of NOAH during a big part of the long standing rivalry between the two companies, Tanahashi was the proud and very loyal face of New Japan. However the two are bound by more than a feud between two promotions.
They are bound by a mutual friendship. Both men have been very close friends with LA dojo head coach, Katsuyori Shibata. When Shibata left NJPW back in 2005, he and KENTA became a tag team called the Takeover. His departure lead to a huge falling out between Shibata and Tanahashi who was a long time friend. After his 2012 return to NJPW, Shibata began a long road to redemption where he found himself embroiled in a heated rivalry with the Ace. They would later mend their strained friendship, and all remains very well between this two thirds of the New Three Musketeers Of Fighting Spirit.
When Tanahashi was on the comeback trail during last year’s G1, it was Shibata who helped him prepare and was in his corner when he won the prestigious tournament. KENTA would take a similar route heading into G1 29. Looking to prove himself to NJPW fans, he turned to his former tag team partner for help. When KENTA surprised the wrestling world with his appearance at DOMINION, it was Shibata who announced his signing with New Japan.
When it came time for their block match, the atmosphere was positively electric. A highly anticipated battle most thought would probably never happen was about to take place. The match turned out to be everything fans were hoping for and more. The two went to war in a hard hitting and faced bout that saw KENTA get the win and continue what has been a fabulous tournament debut so far.
That match was a great set up for a potential first NJPW rivalry for KENTA. Every element involved makes perfect sense from the tenuous history between New Japan and Pro Wrestling NOAH to the strong ties both men have to Katsuyori Shibata. It may be a while before they have to face each other again, but that next encounter will no doubt be an epic one. KENTA and Tanahashi have both made invaluable contributions to the wrestling world and are sure to remain icons of the industry for years to come. However their complicated relationship ultimately pans out, it will always be one that very much comes down to ties that bind.
