Hiroshi Tanahashi Wants To Be IWGP World Heavyweight Champion By 2024

While Hiroshi Tanahashi is already an eight-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, The Ace wants one more run at the top of New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

Speaking with Sports Illustrated ahead of Wrestle Kingdom 17, Tanahashi outlined his plans to be IWGP World Heavyweight Champion by 2024.

"By 2024, the whole world will be all the way back from the struggles we went through during the pandemic. By then, I'd love to be champion and promote professional wrestling," Tanahashi said.

The 46-year-old hasn't been at the top of New Japan since he lost the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to Jay White at 2019's New Beginning in Osaka. Tanahashi has challenged for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title but he failed to defeat Shingo Takagi inside the Tokyo Dome in July of 2021.

Tanahashi was in action at Wrestle Kingdom 17 today, winning a Six-Man Tag Team Match with Keiji Muto and Shota Umino against Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, and BUSHI.