Hiroshi Tanahashi

Acting

Born Nov 13, 1976

From Ōgaki, Gifu, Japan

Hiroshi Tanahashi, widely known as the “Ace,” is a Japanese retired professional wrestler, sports executive, and podcaster who is 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 Campeon Universal Del CMLL 2013 Tournament. Fans, journalists, and fellow wrestlers often credit Tanahashi as the emotional backbone of NJPW during its rebuilding era, citing his role in stabilizing the promotion during the 2000s and early 2010s, and he is frequently discussed as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time for combining elite in-ring consistency, long-term drawing power, and a defining influence on the modern concept of the Japanese ace.

Hiroshi Tanahashi

Known For

NJPW Dominion 6.15 In Osaka-Jo Hall

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

My Dad Is a Heel Wrestler

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 8

Chris Jericho's 30th Anniversary Celebration

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12

AEW x NJPW Presents Forbidden Door 2022

TNA Turning Point 2008

NJPW Destruction in Kobe 2014

GARO: Ashura

Filmography — Acting

NJPW Dominion 6.15 In Osaka-Jo Hall

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

My Dad Is a Heel Wrestler

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 8

Chris Jericho's 30th Anniversary Celebration

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12

AEW x NJPW Presents Forbidden Door 2022

TNA Turning Point 2008

NJPW Destruction in Kobe 2014

GARO: Ashura

ROH: Supercard of Honor XII

NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 4

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 1

NJPW Destruction In Ryogoku 2023

NJPW Invasion Attack 2015

NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling 2013

NJPW The New Beginning In Sapporo 2018 - Day 1

NJPW Sakura Genesis 2021

NJPW Sakura Genesis 2023

NJPW Dominion 6.9 In Osaka-Jo Hall ~ Best of the Super Junior 31 Final ~

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 2

NJPW Dominion 6.16

NJPW Power Struggle 2017

NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam In Tokyo Dome

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 3

AEW x NJPW Present Forbidden Door 2023

NJPW New Year Dash !! 2016

NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 9

NJPW Power Struggle 2018 ~ Super Junior Tag League 2018 Final

NJPW Destruction In Okayama

NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 19 (Final)

NJPW G1 Climax 26: Day 19 (Final)

NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 6

NJPW New Japan Cup 2017 - Day 2

NJPW G1 Climax 30: Day 19 (Final)

NJPW Dominion 6.11 in Osaka-jo Hall

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14: Night 2

NJPW New Year Dash !! 2023

NJPW New Year Dash !! 2021

ROH & NJPW: G1 Supercard

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19

NJPW New Year Dash !! 2020

NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling 2018

NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 7

NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2018 - Night 1

NJPW Resurgence 2021

NJPW The New Beginning in Niigata 2016

NJPW New Year Dash !! 2018

NJPW G1 Climax 28: Day 3

IMPACT Wrestling x NJPW: Multiverse United 2: For Whom The Bell Tolls

NJPW G1 Special In San Francisco

NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling 2015

NJPW G1 Climax 25: Day 6

ROH: Supercard of Honor 2023

NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 13

NJPW x STARDOM: Historic X-Over

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 6

NJPW Destruction in Kobe 2017

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18

NJPW Fighting Spirit Unleashed 2018

NJPW G1 Climax 29: Day 3

NJPW Dominion 6.21

NJPW Hiroshi Tanahashi ~ Final Homecoming

NJPW Destruction in Kobe 2015

AEW x NJPW Present Forbidden Door 2024

NJPW G1 Climax 31: Day 4

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17: Night 2 in Yokohama Arena