Hiroshi Tanahashi Loses Retirement Match To Kazuchika Okada At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20

Hiroshi Tanahashi battled in his final match at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20, losing to Kazuchika Okada in the main event of the show. Okada defeated Tanahashi in a 33 minute match at Sunday morning’s show.

The match saw Tanahashi show his resilience as Okada worked him over, including a Tombstone Piledriver on the entrance ramp. The NJPW President battled back but ultimately fell to the Rainmaker in the end. After the match, Okada got on the mic and said that Tanahashi must be tired, but he wanted to say one thing: thank you. Okada bowed to Tanahashi and shook his hand before exiting the ring so Tanahashi could have his moment.

After the match, Tanahashi’s retirement ceremony took place. Jay White, Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, and Katsuyori Shibata all appeared, with Keiji Mutoh and Tatsumi Fujinami standing at ringside and coming into the ring. Finally, Tetsuya Naito appeared, coming down to the ring and showing his respect before Tanahashi received a ten-bell salute. 

Tanahashi’s career ends after 26 years. His list of accolades includes eight reigns with the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, two with the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, three with the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, and three with the IWGP Tag Team Championship, among other titles. He won three G1 Climaxes, most recently in 2018, and two New Japan Cups. You can see highlights from the match and aftermath below:

.@tanahashi1_100 "Thank you Ace"

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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026

.@rainmakerXokada "Dropkick"

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.@tanahashi1_100 🆚 @rainmakerXokada "Hiroshi Tanahashi's Retirement Match"

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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026

.@tanahashi1_100 "I'll be back → Dragon Screw"

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.@tanahashi1_100 "High Fly Attack"

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.@rainmakerXokada "Diving Elbow Drop → Rainmaker🖕"

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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026

.@rainmakerXokada "Tombstone Piledriver"

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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026

.@tanahashi1_100 "PK → Bomaye → High Fly Flow"

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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026

.@rainmakerXokada "Dropkick"

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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026

.@rainmakerXokada "Rainmaker"

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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026

🏟️WRESTLE KINGDOM 20 in 東京ドーム 棚橋弘至引退🏟️

棚橋弘至引退試合
何度も激闘を繰り広げたオカダとの最後の一騎打ち‼️

🆚 @tanahashi1_100 × @rainmakerXokada
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.@tanahashi1_100 💐 @WillOspreay

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.@tanahashi1_100 💐 @JayWhiteNZ

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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026

.@tanahashi1_100 💐 @ibushi_kota & @KennyOmegamanX

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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026

.@tanahashi1_100 🤝 @K_Shibata2022

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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026

Stardust⁉︎👁‍🗨

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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026

🏟️WRESTLE KINGDOM 20 in 東京ドーム 棚橋弘至引退🏟️

内藤哲也から棚橋弘至へ

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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026

🏟️WRESTLE KINGDOM 20 in 東京ドーム 棚橋弘至引退🏟️

たくさんの愛をありがとう

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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026

🏟️WRESTLE KINGDOM 20 in 東京ドーム 棚橋弘至引退🏟️

闘い続け、守り抜いた、照らし続け、愛し続けた26年間。
本当にお疲れ様でした、
そしてありがとうございました。

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— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026