As two journeys continued to the semi-finals one ended at the G1 semi-finals event today.
Hiroyoshi Tenzan wrestled in the final match of his career against longtime rival and friend Satoshi Kojima.
It was Tenzan’s 3,316th match.
Legendary NJPW announcer Yoshinari Tsuji called the match as Masahiro Chono joined the announce team.
As Tenzan came down to the ring for the final time the crowd got to their feet and clapped. When he got to the ring, Tenzan refused to wrestle to a designated five minute time limit. He wants to fight until there is a winner.
Tenzan! Tenzan!
Tenzan demanded that Kojima charge off the ropes at him. His shoulder tackles couldn’t knock him down. The two men exchanged chops in the middle of the ring.
Tenzan fired back with Mongolian Chops knocking him down to the mat and followed up with a running clothesline, suplex. Kojima kicked out.
Tenzan locked on the Anaconda Vice, a hold he invented. Kojima pulled Tenzan down as he climbed the ropes. It was time for Kojima’s machine gun chops in a corner.
Kojima hit his flying elbow smash for a two count. Kojima bounced off the ropes for his clothesline but Tenzan dropped to the canvass right in front of him.
Kojima yelled at Tenzan to get up. Tenzan caught Kojima coming off the ropes with more of his Mongolian Chops. Tenzan couldn’t lift up Kojima for a Tombstone Piledriver but dropped him with a German Suplex for two.
Tenzan locked the Vice on again before Kojima escaped. Both men traded chops again. Kojima crushed Tenzan with the Koji Cutter and his Lariat.
Tenzan kicked out!
Tenzan! Tenzan!
Tenzan blocked another Lariat. More Mongolian Chops and a clothesline. Kojima would land yet another Lariat. Tenzan would kick out again. The third one would pin him though.
Kojima would help Tenzan up, hug him and shake his hand.
Tenzan! Tenzan!
“Who says the good guys cannot finish first?” asked commentator Chris Charlton.
Takashi Iizuka came through the audience and attacked Tenzan in the ring. Kojima quickly rushed back out to stop Iizuka from hitting Tenzan with the Iron Glove with a Koji Cutter.
Tenzan wouldn’t put Iizuka away with Kojima though, He pleaded with him to come to his senses.
“Let’s put this to bed with a handshake. Shake my hand,” asked Tenzan.
Iizuka hesitated at first but then he shook his hand and they hugged.
Iizuka wasn’t done though, He approached his perpetual target, commentator Shinpei Nogami, with a handshake but pulled him over the railing and ripped his shirt off.
The locker room honored Tenzan. He received a tribute, video message from Koji Kanemoto. A host of other luminaries also joined the celebration including The Great Muta, Riki Choshu and a tribute from Masahiro Chono.
Tenzan then addressed the crowd.
Tenzan! Tenzan!
“My active ring career is over and I have officially retired,” he confirmed thanking everyone who helped him get to where he is today.
“I have given my all to this lion mark and I thank you for every moment of it,” said Tenzan standing over the NJPW symbol in the middle of the ring fighting back the tears.
“For the last 35 years, thank you for all of your support,” he said.
NJPW then gave Tenzan the traditional 10 bell salute and the wrestlers tossed him into the air.
Tenzan has spent the last 31 years wrestling for NJPW.
In NJPW he won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship four times, the IWGP Tag Team Championship 12 times with partners Masahiro Chono, Satoshi Kojima and Osamu Nishimura. He won the G1 Climax three times, World Tag League three times.
