NJPW Commentator Walker Stewart: For A Full Year, Hiroshi Tanahashi Thought My Name Was Worker Stewart

Stewart shares a story about ‘The Ace.’

Going into Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement match at Wrestle Kingdom 20, NJPW World Television Champion El Phantasmo and NJPW English broadcast commentators Walker Stewart and Chris Charlton recorded a new episode of the NJPW Official English Podcast.

Stewart recounted the story of how, for a full year, Tanahashi thought his name was ‘Worker Stewart’ and acknowledged him as that.

“Osaka, I got, ‘Hey brother,’ whatever it was. ‘What do I call you, brother?’ And I answer, I go, ‘Oh, my name is Walker’ and he goes on to call me ‘worker’ for another year of my life. I guess I am one of his workers now so that’s fallen true.”

After Tanahashi fell in defeat to Kazuchika Okada in his final match, there was a post-retirement celebration, and for the details on that, click here.

If the quote in this article is used, please credit the NJPW Official English Podcast with an H/T to Fightful for the transcription.