Kazuchika Okada Comments On Retiring Hiroshi Tanahashi At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom, Selling Out Tokyo Dome

Kazuchika Okada credits Hiroshi Tanahashi for the Tokyo Dome being sold out for their match at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20, as he said in post-match comments. Okada defeated Tanahashi in the latter’s retirement match at Sunday’s PPV.

The show was a sell-out of the Tokyo Dome, and Okada put the credit for that on his opponents after the show. NJPW posted post-match comments from Okada, as you can see below:

On Nearly Turning the Match Down:

“Thank you very much. Well, well, well, I initially turned down the offer for this retirement match, but I’m glad I did it. Well, I couldn’t afford to have any trouble with someone who was retiring, and I was there as the champion of this (AEW) International belt, representing AEW, so I think I was able to really show how strong Kazuchika Okada is right now.”

On the Match Itself:

“Well, that’s true, it was good to be able to step into the ring of New Japan Pro-Wrestling after a long time, and I was reminded once again that Tanahashi Hiroshi is truly one of a kind. So, if I were to retire, I’d doubt I’d be able to sell out the Tokyo Dome, but I think the fact that the Tokyo Dome was so full this time was possible only because of Tanahashi’s 26 years, so I think it’s impressive and impressive.”