New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) continues the Ace’s High series with current one-half IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, former 2x IWGP Intercontinental Champion, and 8x IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi, an in-depth look at Tanahashi’s life leading up to his NJPW debut on October 10, 1999.
“Not so great (laughs). I didn’t get the grades I needed even in freshman year, so it was pretty touch and go right up to graduation,” Tanahashi said when asked how well he did as a student when in college.
The conversation quickly turned to Tanahashi’s dating life, “Ahh, that too (laughs). I did tennis once a week. To be honest, I only chose the tennis club for the chance to hit on girls, but it didn’t really happen. Not the best choice,” he said when asked about his dating life.
When reminiscing about his high school girlfriend Tanahashi shared how they eventually drifted apart. “Right. In the end, though, we broke up my second year. Snowboarding was really fashionable at the time and she kept wanting to go, but I was too busy going to wrestling matches,” he began explaining.
Tanahashi’s love of wrestling led to a divide between the two. “Yeah. She wound up getting a winter job at a ski lodge and then started dating some snowboarder. It was my fault really, I guess.”
The 19-year-old Tanahashi didn’t stay single long after he met at 27-year-old at driving class. However, his desire for fitness which led to his eventual joining of the NJPW Noge Dojo was seen on full display while he was working a part-time job in college.
“Right. She called another attendant and I got caught doing my pushups. I should have done squats I guess! So my boss said ‘either you quit doing pushups, or you quit this job, which is it?’. I quit the job! (laughs)”
The next Ace’s High entry sees Tanahashi discuss his NJPW Dojo tryout.