Hiroshi Tanahashi wants to face the best in the world.
The nine-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion has previously expressed his interest in facing CM Punk, and he emphasized this desire during an interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated. He also made it clear that he wants to wrestle Bryan Danielson.
“I wrestled against Bryan once in my youth, and now I want to fight him again as a superstar,” Tanahashi said. “CM Punk is famous all over the world, so I would like to wrestle him in a situation that will be big news across the world.”
Dream matches aren’t the only thing on Tanahashi’s mind, the renowned star also intends to capture more gold, starting with the IWGP United States Championship, a title he’s held twice previously.
“Recapturing the U.S. heavyweight title before I return to the United States, that is what I need to do,” Tanahashi said. “I want to do that for my fans. The presence of fans is my number-one treasure. With them, the significance of being a professional wrestler is not the same. The desire to have them enjoy professional wrestling brings out the absolute best abilities of the wrestlers and pushes us beyond our limits.”
Likewise, the veteran is still chasing the world championship; he held the defunct IWGP Heavyweight Championship several times, but he has his sights set on his first reign with the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
“The world heavyweight belt is a symbol of the new era,” Tanahashi says. “Therefore, it is possible that there is no curtain for me. As long as you are an active player, it is natural to aim for No. 1. It will be a bridge that connects the times.”
Tanahashi will compete at a few stateside NJPW shows in the coming weeks, including the “Collision” event in Philadelphia in May.
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