Hiroshi Tanahashi talks teaming with Kazuchika Okada, NJPW Capital Collision

  • Ian Carey
  • By 

Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada have a chance to win tag team gold this weekend. 

They will team up to face the Motor City Machine Guns and Aussie Open in a three way match at NJPW Capital Collision on Saturday. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin will be putting their Strong Openweight titles on the line in the match. 

During a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Tanahashi spoke about what it is like to team with his long time rival. 

“I can rely on Okada,” says Tanahashi. “He has that ability to turn the tables when the chips are down, and that fires everybody up, myself included.”

Okada and Tanahashi challenged for the IWGP Tag Team titles last month at NJPW’s 51st Anniversary Show as well. They were defeated by then-champions Bishamon, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI. Mark Davis and Kyle Fletcher later defeated Bishamon for the belts at Sakura Genesis. However, Aussie Open will not be putting their newly won titles on the line this Saturday.

“Okada is trying to make New Japan Pro-Wrestling more exciting, whether in Japan, the U.S., singles or tag team division,” Tanahashi continued. “He has the same desire as I do.”

The last time Tanahashi and Okada faced each other was at NJPW Battle in the Valley in February. Okada successfully retained the IWGP World title that night but has since dropped the belt to SANADA. 

Tanahashi spoke about his match with Okada in San Francisco that night:

“It had been a long time since I wrestled Okada, and I definitely felt a big gap between me and him,” says Tanahashi. “Okada wasn’t blown up at all during the match; I couldn’t drive him into the wall like I had been able to in the past. That’s what I remember the most from the match.”

NJPW Capital Collision takes place Saturday, April 15, 2023 from the Sports and Entertainment Arena in Washington, DC. The show will be broadcast live on FITE TV. 

“I am so thankful for everyone’s support,” says Tanahashi. “Please send your energy to Japan. I will do my best to make wrestling even more exciting in return.”

NJPW Capital Collision 4/15 lineup:

  • NJPW Strong Tag Team Champions Motor City Machine Guns defend against Okada & Tanahashi and Aussie Open
  • NJPW Strong Champion KENTA defends against Eddie Edwards
  • Hiromu Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & SANADA
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. El Desperado
  • NJPW World TV Champion Zack Sabre Jr. defends against Tom Lawlor
  • AR Fox vs. David Finlay
  • Fred Rosser vs. Juice Robinson
  • Rocky Romero, Chuck Taylor, Lio Rush, Clark Connors, & The DKC vs. Volador Jr, Mike Bailey, KUSHIDA, Kevin Knight, & Gabriel Kidd
  • Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito vs. Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson