Manabu Nakanishi reveals he’s under contract to NJPW

Photo Courtesy: New Japan Pro-Wrestling

Contracts for retired talents were put in place after Liger finished up. 

Coming out of NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 in 2020, Manabu Nakanishi’s retirement tour was set up and on February 22nd, he had his last match. He teamed with Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima and Yuji Nagata and they fell in defeat to Hirooki Goto, Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi. 

A feature about Nakanishi and what his post-in-ring career has been like was published by Nikkan SPA!. He revealed that he’s under contract to New Japan. He shared that contracts for retired wrestlers were put in place after Jushin Thunder Liger retired at Wrestle Kingdom 14

I have a talent contract with them (NJPW), from which I receive income. After Jushin Thunder Liger’s retirement, a new contract like this was made. We have become more generous to retired wrestlers. I didn’t think that I would get a contract…

Nakanishi is 56 years of age. He expressed that he would like to make a return to the ring, even if it is just for one night. 

The pro-wrestling world is finally getting over the Coronavirus pandemic. When my current life calms down a bit, I would like to come back to wrestling, even if it is just for one night, and go on a rampage in the ring. I would like to get back in shape. I want to retrain my body and I would like to have a match that would entertain the audience.

Next up on the docket for New Japan is their Power Struggle event on November 4th. To get a look at the updated match card, head over to this link.

About Andrew Thompson 8289 Articles
A Washington D.C. native and graduate of Norfolk State University, Andrew Thompson has been covering wrestling since 2017.