Hiroshi Tanahashi captured the IWGP United States Title from Lance Archer at NJPW Resurgence and he is excited to get back to America to defend the belt.
It is unknown when Tanahashi will return to the United States, but if it's up to him, he would be in the States more often than the schedule currently allows.
“I think the IWGP U.S. heavyweight championship is truly meaningful when it is defended in the U.S.,” Tanahashi told Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated. “I have a desire to go to the U.S. once a month. Sometimes, I’d even like it to be once a week. This was the first time in a year and a half that I was able to wrestle in front of a vocal crowd. It was a really exhilarating feeling, and it gave me a ton of extra strength. I was incredibly fired up. It was a fantastic environment to wrestle in.”
Tanahashi's name has been mentioned as a "forbidden door" opponent as Jon Moxley has called him out for a potential match.
Tanahashi has expressed his desire to wrestle for AEW, but says, “I don’t feel a desire to ‘show the world’ or prove myself, but there are a few wrestlers in AEW that I have faced before. And I definitely don’t want to lose to them.”
It is unknown if Tanahashi will compete in an AEW ring.
He is set to defend the IWGP United States Championship against Kota Ibushi at Wrestle Grand Slam on September 4.