The final chapter for Hiroshi Tanahashi is taking shape, as the NJPW president has teased a historic, “full circle” opponent for his retirement match at Wrestle Kingdom 20. The announcement, made during a press conference on Tuesday, sets the stage for the end of an era, while another major shift occurred in Japanese wrestling with Go Shiozaki’s official departure from Pro Wrestling NOAH.
During the media event for the January 4, 2026 show, Tanahashi directly addressed the intense speculation surrounding his final opponent. While withholding a name, he offered a cryptic clue regarding the significance of his choice.
“I know everyone is waiting for my opponent announcement… please wait just a little longer! I can’t say who it is just yet, but on the rest of this Final Road… it’s been special to get in touch with those memories and connect something to their future,” Tanahashi stated. “I want there to be a connection. I want to come full circle in a sense…. that’s all I’ll say!”
Tanahashi also confirmed the career-ending bout will be a one-on-one singles match and definitively ruled out at least one potential challenger: Aaron Wolf. Wolf, a judo gold medalist at the 2020 Olympics, is one of NJPW’s most significant recent signings and is scheduled to make his own in-ring debut at the Tokyo Dome event.