In September 2001, inside a New Japan Pro-Wrestling ring, Scott Hall forever changed the future of Hiroshi Tanahashi.
A wrestling legend and New Japan icon, Tanahashi is now one of the most decorated performers in the history of the industry. Yet that was far from the case 21 years ago, when Hall was one of wrestling’s most prominent stars and Tanahashi had yet to reach even a full two years in the business.
Their match in Chiba, Japan, didn’t even clock in at five minutes, but it included a finish with real significance. After getting beaten down and insulted by Hall, who reached a whole new level of stardom in the preceding years in the NWO, the match was suddenly won by Tanahashi when he showed a fierce fighting spirit and rolled up Hall for the shocking victory.
