10 Greatest IWGP Heavyweight Champions

GO ACE!

The eight time IWGP Heavyweight champion and all-round living legend secures the top spot here for his tireless, backbreaking work bringing New Japan back into the limelight.

Debuting during the dark days of early noughties New Japan, Tanahashi was given the ball in 2006 after various failed attempts at new aces, including Shinsuke Nakamura, Katsuyori Shibata and Brock Lesnar. Quickly establishing an incredibly strong connection with the New Japan faithful, the promotion’s reliance on him for the next decade allowed the company as a whole to rebuild.

Growing so successful under Tanahashi’s main event leadership, New Japan began western expansion plans and started filling out large arenas once again. By the time Tanahashi relinquished the role of ace to Kazuchika Okada, New Japan had gone from near bankruptcy to being the number 2 promotion in the world.

This year’s Tokyo Dome victory over Kenny Omega was greeted with praise and acclaim on all fronts and in many ways felt like the final main event run we will see from Tanahashi.

Riddled with severe injuries as he slowly winds his career down, fan support for Tanahashi remains universal and presumably will for the rest of his career.