The retirement tour of Hiroshi Tanahashi will kick off this coming January at Wrestle Kingdom 19, New Japan has announced.
At New Japan Pro Wrestling’s King Of Pro Wrestling event in October 2024, Tanahashi announced that he would end his career on January 4, 2026, after competing for the promotion since 1999. Now, New Japan has confirmed that exactly one year before he hangs up his boots for good, Tananashi will start his farewell tour at Wrestle Kingdom 19 against Evil
From NJPW:
Wrestle Kingdom 19 on January 4 in the Tokyo Dome has gained its first official matchup, as Hiroshi Tanahashi will be battling EVIL.
At King of Pro-Wrestling on October 14, Tanahashi made the earth shattering announcement that he would be retiring on January 4 2026. That drew the ire of EVIL, who barked that he would be putting an end to the Ace much earlier. The King of Darkness interrupted Tanahashi’s retirement press conference to issue a challenge that has now been accepted for the Tokyo Dome. Will the retirement road for one of the greatest of all time be put to an end before it properly begins, or will Tanahashi’s last year in pro-wrestling begin with a high?
At a press conference earlier this month, Evil vowed to retire Tananahshi when they face off one year earlier than when the Japanese legend plans to retire from in-ring competition. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement tour and plans and matches for Wrestle Kingdom 19.