Hiroshi Tanahashi gives update on final NJPW match

At a press conference overnight, NJPW legend Hiroshi Tanahashi gave an update with his final match now just over three months away.

We still don’t know who Tanahashi will be facing in his final bout, which will take place at the Tokyo Dome when NJPW holds Wrestle Kingdom 20 on January 4, 2026. But Tanahashi did confirm that his last match will be a one-on-one bout.

“I like wrestling singles matches most of all, my debut was a singles match and I want my last to be a singles match,” he said. “Every January 4 I change my costume up, but this year January 4 will be my last… So it’ll be a new costume just for that one match.”

Tanahashi said he wants to come full-circle with his last opponent but stopped short of revealing their identity.

“I want there to be a connection,” he added. “I want to come full circle in a sense…. that’s all I’ll say!”

Tanahashi said his retirement tour has been a special experience, getting to face off against some past opponents while also looking ahead to the future. He wishes he could wrestle everyone, but there just isn’t enough time.

The press conference was to celebrate that Wrestle Kingdom 20 tickets go on sale worldwide this week. Along with Tanahashi, new NJPW signee Aaron Wolf — an Olympic gold medalist — spoke at the conference. Wolf is making his in-ring debut at Wrestle Kingdom 20, but it was said that he will not be Tanahashi’s retirement match opponent.

With eight World Championship reigns and countless classic matches, Tanahashi is among the greatest wrestlers in NJPW history. He serves as the company’s president behind the scenes and will be continuing in that role. Wolf said he looks forward to learning from Tanahashi in that capacity.