Hiroshi Tanahashi And El Phantasmo Will Enter NJPW's 2025 WORLD TAG LEAGUE

Hiroshi Tanahashi and El Phantasmo are now tag team partners. 

Hiroshi Tanahashi and El Phantasmo battled for the NJPW World Television Championship at New Japan’s King of Pro Wrestling pay-per-view. For 15 minutes, the two New Japan stars gave it their all to win the prestigious World Television title that El Phantasmo has held for 168 days so far. 

💥KING OF PRO-WRESTLING 2025💥両国大会‼️

NJPW WORLD認定TV選手権＆エル・ファンタズモ デビュー20周年記念試合＆棚橋弘至ファイナルロード〜継
初対決、果たして勝つのは…⁉️

🆚 @elpwrestling × @tanahashi1_100#njpwworld で配信中📡

視聴＆登録⏩「NJPW WORLD」で検索 #NJPW #njkopw pic.twitter.com/AoferWbP27

— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) October 13, 2025

There were some incredibly close near falls such as Tanahashi kicking out after Phantasmo nailed the CR2 (a modified Styles Clash) and Hiroshi only getting a two count following a perfectly timed sling blade. But the match ended in a time limit draw that ultimately resulted in Phantasmo retaining the NJPW World Television Championship.

.@elpwrestling "Texas Cloverhold"

From the profile URL #NJPW #njpwworld #njkopw pic.twitter.com/zvIZ4GvVjt

— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) October 13, 2025

But there was nothing but mutual respect for both men as they agreed to partner up in the 2025 NJPW World Tag League Tournament. Originally, Hiroshi Tanahashi and El Phantasmo were supposed to team up in 2024, but the NJPW World Television Champion was forced to step away from wrestling after a tumor was discovered. Thankfully, Phantasmo announced that he beat cancer a few months later. 

These aren’t the only two names that have been confirmed for the 2025 World Tag League.

デスペラードが、メキシコで活動する“KUUKAI”とジュニアタッグリーグに参戦表明！

DOUKIには「お前とSHOが持ってるもん、俺に試させてくれ。KUUKAI＆デスペラード組が挑戦をする。それがお前が！シングルで挑戦する為の…あと出しで正直申し訳ないけども、条件だ」https://t.co/6qXqPZ6kK2#njdest pic.twitter.com/4FzvClAVQB

— 新日本プロレスリング株式会社 (@njpw1972) September 28, 2025

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Desperado announced a few months ago that he would be entering the tournament with KUUKAI. The tournament started next month on November 20th. 

What is the World Tag League tournament? It’s essentially the G1 Climax for tag teams. At least the heavyweight division. The World Tag League division is held based on a points system and the two teams with the highest scoring points in Block A and Block B will meet in the finals. The winners will get a shot at the IWGP Tag Team Champions at Wrestle Kingdom. 

Currently, Yuto-Ice and Oskar are the IWGP Tag Team Champions. That can definitely change between now and November 20th, though if they made it up to the tournament then they will be competing in the annual event as well. Hiroshi Tanahashi is quite a busy man these days as he'll have his own homecoming special before the World Tag League tournament starts at he'll challenge Yota Tsuji for the IWGP Global Heavyweight title.