Hiroshi Tanahashi addresses Kenny Omega's criticism that his style is "outdated."
Appearing on the Highfly Star podcast (translation via NJPW's Chris Charlton), Tanahashi continued to discuss the stylistic differences between him and Omega.
"Kenny refers to my style as outdated, old, but I don’t think you can talk about pro wrestling in terms of new and old. Dynamite Kid just passed and his matches are just as fun to watch. It isn’t a back or forward thing, it’s a left or right thing."
Omega has been very critical of Tanahashi's wrestling style in the recent months, comparing the Ace to an outdated NES gaming system. He's also called Tanahashi's style "fucking boring" and says that Tanahashi "fights like a coward."
Tanahashi also discussed Omega claiming that his style is "NJPW style" to US fans.
"I want to bring New Japan as it is worldwide. Kenny is taking all this Elite stuff that he and those guys created abroad, bringing it to Japan, then taking it back west and saying 'this is NJPW.' It isn’t."
Tanahashi, and Kazuchika Okada, have both been critical of NJPW trying to change their style when running shows in America. Omega and Tanahashi will settle the score on Jan. 4 at Wrestle Kingdom 13.
