[VIDEO] Hiroshi Tanahashi breaks down in tears as the wrestling icon who suffered a career-threatening injury returns

Hiroshi Tanahashi finally retired after two and a half decades of serving Japanese wrestling and raising the profile of NJPW. He broke down in tears when the wrestling icon who suffered a career-threatening injury returned and paid tribute.

At Wrestle Kingdom 20, Hiroshi Tanahashi’s legendary career came to an end, as he lost to Kazuchika Okada, his successor, in their eighteenth match together. Tanahashi is widely considered one of the most successful wrestlers of the 21st century, and it’s hard to argue with that when looking at the accolades he has received and how he helped NJPW through the dark times.

After his retirement match, Tanahashi met the returning Katsuyori Shibata, who only years ago suffered what many believed to be a career-ending injury. You can see the emotional reunion below:

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Katsuyori Shibata, and Shinsuke Nakamura formed a trio that changed the industry in the 2000s

Hiroshi Tanahashi got his start in NJPW on the cusp of the new millennium, and by 2003, he was part of the trio known as the “New Three Horsemen”, which he, Katsuyori Shibata, and Shinsuke Nakamura were a part of. Interestingly, it was Shinsuke Nakamura who was billed as the promotion’s future top prospect, becoming the youngest ever IWGP Heavyweight Champion in 2003, while Tanahashi won his first world title just a few years later.

For some context, the original Three Horsemen in NJPW were Keiji Mutoh, Masahiro Chono, and the late, great Shinya Hashimoto.

Tanahashi’s story has some similarities to John Cena and Randy Orton, as Orton was initially positioned as a potential successor to The Rock, only for John Cena to step up and take that spot.

Regardless, Tanahashi proved to be the perfect company man by sticking by NJPW through difficult times and taking it to new heights in the late 2000s and early 2000s, with Shinsuke Nakamura being a crucial supporting member while Katsuyori Shibata sacrificed his life for the promotion, even nearly suffering a career-ending injury to do so.

This is one of those unofficial trio that history will look back on fondly, and when Shibata and Nakamura follow Tanahashi into retirement, it will be a very sad day for Japanese wrestling.