New Japan Pro Wrestling held a press conference in Tokyo on Sunday to make Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement match official.
Tanahashi will face AEW’s Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 20 on January 4, 2026.
The announcement follows Okada’s surprise return to an NJPW ring on Saturday in his hometown of Anjo. Okada confronted Tanahashi, the current NJPW President, after his main event victory.
The Wrestle Kingdom match is to be the final bout for Tanahashi, who is nearing the end of his in-ring retirement year.
At the press conference, Okada compared the upcoming match to his 2015 bout against Genichiro Tenryu.
When I retired Tenryu, I put a full stop to the Showa Era (pre 1989) of pro-wrestling. Tanahashi and I have wrestled a lot, but our Tokyo Dome matches were all in the Heisei (1990-2019) Era, so retiring him will put an end to Heisei pro-wrestling as well.
Tanahashi acknowledged his recent record against Okada but outlined his determination for the final match:
In the last few years I’ve lost a lot to Okada, I’ve lost our last four or five. There aren’t many who retire with a win, but with an opponent like Okada, I will give my absolute best. I plan on having people saying I can still go, not that I’m broken down.
Tanahashi also reminded the media of his 2–1 singles match record against Okada at the Tokyo Dome.
When asked how the match came together, Tanahashi said the choice was about history.
In the end, I wanted someone I had a deep connection to.
Okada stated that he felt it was his responsibility to accept the match:
When I heard, I knew it had to be me. There are a lot of people in NJPW and other companies that wanted to wrestle Tanahashi and won’t get the chance, so I’ll carry those hopes with me.
Okada directed further questions about the details to his manager, Gedo, saying, “If you want the full details, ask Gedo.”
Okada also clarified that his appearance with Gedo in Anjo, which featured his classic ‘Rainmaker’ presentation, was temporary.
[The nostalgia trip was] one night only. I won’t be the old Rainmaker from NJPW, I’ll be the AEW Rainmaker. In AEW I’m really doing whatever I want, so I might just hit Tanahashi low, roll him up and send everyone home crying.
Okada named their Wrestle Kingdom 10 match—which Okada won—as his favorite of their series.
At the Tokyo Dome, I want there to be a lot of tears, on a lot of levels.
Tanahashi concluded with his own hope for the January 4 main event.
I hope for that money rain to fall on January 4, but for the sun to come out at bell time.
Translated comments courtesy of NJPW1972.com.
