Best Babyface: Hiroshi Tanahashi
2018 was truly the comeback year for Hiroshi Tanahashi. For nearly four years, the 42-year-old seven-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion has been unable to win the top title, focusing more on making the Intercontinental Championship division exciting to watch. Tanashi has not been champion since losing to AJ Styles on February 11, 2015. However, this year was the year to come back to the forefront.
Defeating Kota Ibushi in the G1 Climax finals, Tanashi once again cemented himself as the number one contender for the Heavyweight title. Tanahashi won the G1 Climax two other times: 2007 and 2015. The following Wrestle Kingdom events, though, Tanahashi lost both of them. In 2018, Tanahashi has shown himself to be the biggest fan favorite once again in NJPW.
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