Rumor Killer On AEW Blocking Shinsuke Nakamura From Facing Hiroshi Tanahashi

A new report is shutting down a rumor that Tony Khan and AEW prevented Shinsuke Nakamura from being Hiroshi Tanahashi’s final opponent. As announced last weekend, Tanahashi will face Kazuchika Okada at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20 in his retirement match. There had been speculation that Nakamura may be in line for the spot. Nakamura’s name was floated in NJPW as a potential opponent for Tanahashi.

Following the Okada announcement, rumors began floating around that Tony Khan and AEW blocked NJPW from selecting Nakamura as a opponent. Fightful Select reports that this is not the case. Several sources in NJPW confirmed that AEW did not shut down such a match.

The site adds that no one from WWE heard of such a thing being broached. NJPW always knew that getting Nakamura would be a “pipe dream.” A rep explicitly stated that no situation like that ever happened.

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20 takes place on January 4th, 2026 from the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.