AEW star Will Ospreay has posted an emotional statement honouring Hiroshi Tanahashi ahead of The Ace’s final match at New Japan Wrestle Kingdom 20 on January 4.
New Japan President Tanahashi will compete one last time at the company’s biggest show of the year, and AEW star and one of Tanahashi’s greatest rivals, Kazuchika Okada, has he honour of facing The Ace in his last match.
Ahead of the occasion, former rivals such as Jeff Cobb, Shinsuke Nakamura and Kenta have all paid tribute to the wrestling legend. Taking to social media, Ospreay thanked Tanahashi for everything he had done throughout his career, along with the valuable life lessons he had been taught by The Ace:
Tanahashi San, I wish I could put into words how much just being around you as a young man meant to me. You showed so many of us how important it is to be kind & respectful to every person you came into contact with. Getting to travel japan with you was one of the most rewarding things I ever experienced as it showed me exactly who I want to be as a wrestler & human being. You set the bar for all of us. So honoured to get to witness your last ride in a sold out Tokyo dome. Thank you for everything and congratulations on an amazing career.
Ospreay teamed with Tanahashi at AEW Forbidden Door 2025, which took place in London, England and was also Tanahashi’s final match in the UK. Ospreay was written off TV after the match as he needed to undergo neck surgery. Ospreay’s surgery was successful and the British wrestler is currently recovering.
How Many Times Has Will Ospreay Wrestled Hiroshi Tanahashi?
Even though Ospreay and Tanahashi have been in the ring together a total of 49 times throughout their respective careers, they only faced each other one on one twice. Back in 2019, Ospreay defeated Tanahashi as part of the G1 Climax tournament. In 2023, Ospreay defeated Tanahashi a second time in 2023 as part of a tournament to crown a new number one contender to the IWGP US Championship.
Featured image: AEW
