Seven-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi is considered one of the greatest pro wrestlers of all time and an ambassador for the industry. With an in-ring style that combines the athleticism of Shawn Michaels, the fighting spirit of Mitsuharu Misawa and Kenta Kobashi, and the charisma of Sting, it's no wonder that he's skyrocketed to the top of New Japan Pro Wrestling. Despite all his talent, though, his ascent was sped up by a very unusual incident. In October of 2002, then 25-year-old Tanahashi appeared as a special guest on Japanese television show "Strong Style," and soon he and star Hitomi Hara were an item. Their relationship was brief, though - in November, Tanahashi began dating another woman and attempted to break up with Hara. In response, a distraught Hara stabbed him in the back twice. The attack received coverage in mainstream media outlets, including The New York Times. Hara, who was sentenced to four years of probation in 2003, confessed to attempting to kill Tanahashi, saying she planned to commit suicide afterward. The rising New Japan star only suffered slight wounds and, as he had become a nationwide name in the interim, fans clamored to see his return. He stepped back in the ring in February of 2003 before a sold-out crowd and since then, he's been a superstar.
Scott Fried is a Slammy Award-winning* writer living and working in New York City. He has been following/writing about professional wrestling for many years and is a graduate of Lance Storm's Storm Wrestling Academy. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/scottfried.
*Best Crowd of the Year, 2013
