Tanahashi set for final Gifu homecoming with two world-title bouts

Hiroshi Tanahashi will return to his home prefecture of Gifu on Sunday, November 2, for a final homecoming show that will feature three confirmed matches, including a title challenge for the main event. Tanahashi is set to face Yota Tsuji for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship at the Gifu Memorial Center, a match announced after Tsuji captured the belt on Monday at King of Pro Wrestling. The card will also feature Konosuke Takeshita’s first defense of the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Hirooki Goto, and the finals of the Super Junior Tag League.

Takeshita won the IWGP World Heavyweight title earlier at King of Pro Wrestling from Zack Sabre Jr., and Goto confronted him the same night. Goto is returning from an injury absence of nearly three and a half months; he had been sidelined since losing the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in June. The Super Junior Tag League begins October 23 at Korakuen Hall and will include 12 teams divided into two groups, with the victors advancing to the November 2 finals in Gifu.

The Gifu show is being promoted as Tanahashi’s last appearance in his home prefecture ahead of his scheduled retirement at Wrestle Kingdom 20 in...