Alex Shelley is the current IMPACT World Champion, and has been since defeating Steve Maclin at Against All Odds on June 9th of this year.
Shelley recently defended the title against one of his all time icons, a guy that he admires greatly, and a Legend in the Japanese wrestling scene, Hiroshi Tanahashi.
Speaking to Jeremy Lambert & Joel Pearl on In The Weeds, Shelley discussed his experience with Tanahashi.
“I was in TNA when he showed up and wrestled AJ [AJ Styles]. He came back a little later, and he was preparing for his big match at the Tokyo Dome with Mutoh [Keiji Mutoh]. I was there at the Dome when he beat Mutoh. Mutoh had the IWGP World Title for a year and beat everyone. Three years after that, I ended up leaving TNA and coming to New Japan and was grateful to do so. He was champion and the company was starting to grow again. You had global economic issues in 2008, and going forward, and I’m able to witness Tana on virtually every level as a champion. I teamed with him multiple times, I was on the bus with him, we both sat in the back. I was in the gym with him, I was at the dojo when he’d come and train.
I saw how he prepared for his big matches. I saw how he handled media and his appearances. I saw how he tried to balance all of it, and I never forget that. I never forgot his kindness, how he took care of everybody, helping the younger wrestlers. That set an example. You hear people leading by example.
Tana led by example. I don’t think a lot of people would be able to share that experience with you. I saw him over the years work his ass off. He’s 46 years old and he’s been going at that rate since he won the title when he was about 30. He’s so special. To actually step in the ring with him, that will be one of these things where I’m going to say, ‘I got to wrestle Tanahashi, how cool is that?’ It’s going to be spoken in wind whispers. I wasn’t able to just wrestle him, I actually beat him, which is a huge honor of itself. To have that comprehensive experience of basically living on the road with the guy was truly the special part about it. I wouldn’t be the same person I am in wrestling if I hadn’t had him as somebody who led by example,” he said.
H/T Jeremy Lambert & Joel Pearl from Fightful.
Full interview:
The two clashed at the co-branded IMPACTxNJPW Multiverse United show back on August 20th. Tanahashi took on and defeated Mike Bailey at the first Multiverse United show back in March of this year.
Alex Shelley has defeated other opponents on this title run, such as Steve Maclin, Nick Aldis, and Brian Myers. Josh Alexander returned at Slammiversary and confronted Shelley, letting him know that he’s coming for the title he relinquished – but never lost – due to injury.
Shelley and Tanahashi will see each other again real soon. Shelley, along with Chris Sabin and Josh Alexander, are scheduled to compete for the NJPW Never Openweight 6 Man Titles against Tanahashi, Okada, and Ishii at the Ryogoku, Japan event in October.
Will the outcome remain the same as Shelley and team conquer some of the top New Japan Pro Wrestling stars on their own turf, or will they take a loss to the current champions? We’ll have to tune in to find out.
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