NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING

RESULTS

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DESTRUCTION in HIROSHIMA

SAT. SEPTEMBER. 16. 2017 | BELL 18:00

Hiroshima

Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall

3-1-1, Shoko Center, Nishi-ku, Hiroshima

9TH MATCH 60 MINUTES LIMIT
IWGP INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE MATCH
16TH CHAMPION
CHALLENGER

VS

Match time: 30m13s

High fly flow → Pin

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MATCH MOVIE

WRESTLER COMMENT

-- Congratulations.

Tanahashi:
'Thank you!'

-- How was it, facing Zack?

Tanahashi:
'Well, Suzuki Gun is part of it, and you can't forget that. But for him to be known and traveling all over the world on the strength of his technical ability, honestly I envy him.'

-- Did you feel that you had to not let yourself be beaten by the submission game?

Tanahashi:
'Exactly. When you're a Young Lion, you don't have a big moveset, it's about using heart to make up for your limitations. As the years go on that stays with you, even as you get better. I felt the first ten minutes of this match I was really able to wrestle to my heart’s content.'

-- After this incredibly tough match, you then decided to call out Kota Ibushi. What was your reasoning for that?

Tanahashi:
'Right now, the IWGP title is of such a high status, it's hard to think of how to get (the Intercontinental title) to catch up. I think a lot of champions feel that way. For me, I think there's a chance to make the Intercontinental Championship something instantaneous and explosive. I like wrestling that makes you think ‘I want to see this!’ and I really understand frustration of ‘why not do this right now?’. I think bringing matches people want to see right away, that can give the Intercontinental title that explosivity.'

-- You're saying that instead of delaying gratification, putting a must see Match on right away is how you plan on giving value to the IC belt? That's why you called out Ibushi?

Tanahashi:
'Right. To look at it in a different way, I also think a string to the Intercontinental title’s bow is the ability to bring matches like today’s, that are very different to anything else.'

-- So all in all, why Ibushi specifically?

Tanahashi:
'However much we wrestle, he's always an interesting opponent. It isn't a case of ‘we already wrestled in the G1 so no need’. You change the place, change the day, change people a little and something new is born.'

-- Closing the show in Hiroshima meant something special to you. Can you speak to that?

Tanahashi:
'Yeah. It was a real feel that I'm back, and it was also a little bit of sympathy for the Carp fans. My team’s the (Chunichi) Dragons, but I was pulling for the Carps to take the season. Me defending my title and Carp winning theirs would have been amazing. Better luck next year!'

-- It's amazing so many people were here tonight, on the same night the home baseball team could have taken the title.

Tanahashi:
'It's great. The fans here really just saying ‘whatever’s going on, I just want to watch wrestling!’'

-- How was your first air guitar performance in a while?

Tanahashi:
'Well I did it in the G1 too, but I would say you can expect better performances as my arm heals up.'

-- How about your new song?

Tanahashi:
'I don't really have a clear vision in mind for that one, so I’ll leave it to the fans to lead the way!'


-- So it was the champion calling you out tonight.

Ibushi:
'Yes. Honestly, it took me by surprise. I won our G1 match, but to tell the truth, it doesn't really feel like I beat Tanahashi. I think this is the perfect timing for a title match. This time I really decisively want to beat him.'

-- To overcome Tanahashi? “Tanahashi-goye” perhaps?

Ibushi:
'Yeah. That's what I really want. “Tanahashi-goye”.'

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