Kazuchika Okada Officially Selected As Hiroshi Tanahashi's Final Opponent

There has been a lot of talk over the last several months in the lead up to Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement from professional wrestling, with his final match scheduled for Wrestle Kingdom 20 on January 4 inside the Tokyo Dome, and we now know his opponent.

At the NJPW New Japan Road In Anjo event today, the NJPW President Tanahashi himself revealed to the world, after his main event victory over Yuto-Ice, who would be stepping up to do battle with him in his final ever match - ‘The Rainmaker’ Kazuchika Okada, who is currently the reigning Unified AEW Champion. 

Tanahashi and Okada are long-time rivals, sharing the ring many times over their respective careers in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Their previous singles match came in 2024 at Road To The New Beginning, which marked Okada’s final singles match in NJPW before leaving the company and signing with AEW. This will be Okada’s first official match in NJPW since departing. This will also mark the fourth time that Okada & Tanahashi have clashed at Wrestle Kingdom, having previously faced off at Wrestle Kingdoms 7, 9 and 10, all for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. 

Over the last week, there were reports of other names being in the mix for Tanahashi’s final opponent, including Kenny Omega.