Hiroshi Tanahashi reflects on 26-year career: ‘How did it go by so fast?’
Hiroshi Tanahashi reflected on his 26 years in the wrestling industry following his final match at Korakuen Hall.
On Monday, Tanahashi wrestled for the final time at the famed Tokyo venue, defeating Kosei Fujita in the main event. Following the show, Tanahashi said in his backstage comments that he is truly grateful he was able to finish out 2025 with a packed crowd.
Tanahashi said (translated):
“Thanks to all of you for packing Korakuen today. When I think of Korakuen, I can’t help but think back to the 2000s. We were doing all that we could to try and fill this place. I clearly remember the first time it was packed and I’m truly grateful we could finish out 2025 in this way.”
“It went by so fast. 2025, 26 years after my debut. How did it go by so fast? I think it’s because I gave everything to it.”
“Today at Korakuen Hall and January 4 in the Tokyo Dome, this proves I was meant to be a pro wrestler. I’m giving it my all until the end.”
“In 2026, New Japan will present the best lineup. The wrestlers and staff will give it our all. Please stick with us. Thank you for all your support in 2025.”
Tanahashi will wrestle Kazuchika Okada in the Tokyo Dome on January 4 in what will be his final match. The lineup for the show is below.
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20 (Sunday, January 4, 2026 on NJPW World) —
- Hiroshi Tanahash’s retirement match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada
- Winner-take-all match: IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita vs. IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji
- NEVER Openweight Champion EVIL defends against Aaron Wolf
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight title number one contender’s match: El Desperado vs. SHO vs. Kosei Fujita vs. Taiji Ishiimori
- David Finlay, Shingo Takagi, Gabe Kidd, Drilla Moloney & Hiromu Takahashi vs. Great-O-Khan, Callum Newman, Henare, Andrade El Idolo & A Mystery Partner
- Winner-take-all match: IWGP Women’s Champion Syuri vs. NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Saya Kamitani
- NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions YOH, Master Wato & Toru Yano defend in a multi-team ranbo against Ryusuke Taguchi, Tiger Mask & Togi Makabe, Kaisei Takechi, Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura, Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) & Oleg Boltin, Team 100 (Satoshi Kojima & Taichi) & Tomohiro Ishii, House Of Torture (Ren Narita, SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru), TMDK (Hartley Jackson, Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr.), and Clark Connors & The Knockouts Brothers (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice)
- NJPW World TV Champion El Phantasmo defends against Chris Brookes
Ian Carey is a writer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, whose work has been featured in NOW Magazine, The Huffington Post, and more. A lifelong wrestling aficionado born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, he has covered the industry for a decade and a half. He joined the f4wonline.com team in 2019.