Alex Shelley looks back on sharing the ring with Hiroshi Tanahashi.
Shelley defeated Tanahashi to retain the IMPACT World Championship at IMPACT x NJPW Multiverse United 2. Tanahashi is one of NJPW’s top stars, so the match marked a statement win for Shelley.
In an interview with ComicBook Nation host Matt Aguilar, Alex Shelley was asked to describe what the win meant to him in his quest to establish himself as a champion.
“I didn’t look at it in those terms. I looked at it as, ‘I’m getting to step in the ring with my mentor. I’m getting to wrestle a legend, and I’m getting to learn.’ That’s not really the case with every situation I’m in, at least not to that extent. I’ve learned something from every match, but at the same time, you don’t get Hiroshi Tanahashi against you in a singles match all that often.
“So to have that experience, to me, especially considering how much I respect him and how long I’ve known the guy and how much he’s influenced me as a person and a champion and a wrestler, it was really [remarkable]. So I look at it in those terms.”
Shelley will defend the title at IMPACT 1000. More information is available here.
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