Wrestlers With The Most World Titles (Across All Major Federations)

8 IWGP Heavyweight Championships

Hiroshi Tanahashi could be considered the Japanese equivalent of John Cena in many ways (imagine WWE promoting a match between the two: The Face vs. The Ace). Like John Cena with WWE, there is a pre- and a post-Tanahashi NJPW. Like John Cena with WWE, he is without question their biggest star over the last 20 years. Tanahashi won his first IWGP title in 2007, and that was the beginning of NJPW's journey back to the top of puroresu, an ascension for which he is more responsible than anyone else.

His accolades are head-spinning. He's a record eight-time IWGP champion, as well as a two time Intercontinental and three time tag team champion. He won the G1 Climax three times and the New Japan Cup twice. He main-evented Wrestle Kingdom *eight* times. He was named WON Wrestler of The Year from 2011 to 2013 and won the Tokyo Sports MVP Award four times (2009, 2011, 2014 and 2018).

Inside the ring, Tanahashi has mastered New Japan's style to perfection: extreme athleticism, dangerous moves and thorough storytelling, rich with detail and based on a true awareness and memory of what happens during the match. This has allowed him to have 12 matches Dave Meltzer rated as 5 stars or more. One of the differences between him and Cena.