Hiroshi Tanahashi Making Shocking Change After NJPW Retirement

Hiroshi Tanahashi has vowed to make a change following the final match of his legendary career.

Hiroshi Tanahashi gave fans plenty of warning that he was bringing his legendary career to a close at Wrestle Kingdom 20. In the run-up to that match, plenty of fans had fantasy booked Tanahashi squaring off with his old rival and current WWE star Shinsuke Nakamura.

WWE has allowed Nakamura to work dates in Japan, but not for NJPW, which has a strong working relationship with AEW. It was then revealed that Tanahashi would face off with a man with whom he had headlined the Tokyo Dome plenty of times before, Kazuchika Okada.

Hiroshi Tanahashi Getting Ready For Next Chapter

At Wrestle Kingdom 20, Okada defeated Tanahashi, sending him off into retirement. AEW stars Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, and Jay White were on hand to share the ring with Tanahashi after his final bout, giving the legend his flowers in the ring. While plenty of WWE stars also shared their tributes to NJPW’s Ace.

Following his retirement, the NJPW President spoke at the Tokyo Sports Awards, Tanahashi revealed it’s time to say goodbye to his iconic hairdo:

I have a little time off next week, so, I’m going to get a haircut over the weekend. I’m going to cut the back of my hair completely off. I’ll just become the cool older guy.

Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.