NJPW Ace Hiroshi Tanahashi Announces Retirement
NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi has made the surprise announcement that he is to hang up his boots as he sets the date for his retirement.
Hiroshi Tanahashi was made NJPW President as the company looks to rebuild after a tough few years for the promotion. As well as recovering from the COVID pandemic, NJPW has had to deal with losing major stars such as Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay to AEW.
At the start of 2024, Hiroshi Tanahashi indicated his in-ring career would continue as he sought to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship one more time – but now almost a year later, the end is in sight for the Ace.
At King of Pro Wrestling, Tanahashi has revealed that he will be retiring from the ring following Wrestle Kingdom on January 4th 2026.
「棚橋のゴールを決めました…2026年1月4日…」
なんと棚橋弘至選手が、2026年1.4での“レスラー引退”を決意…！
視聴＆登録⏩https://t.co/9iZJzPgCfN#NJPW#njpwworld#njkopwpic.twitter.com/wGlqDPlRib
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) October 14, 2024
Hiroshi Tanahashi Still NJPW Champion
Tanahashi is currently one-third of the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions but that pales into insignificance compared to his achievements in the wrestling business.
Hiroshi Tanahashi first won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in 2006 and over the next decade and a half Tanahashi would hold the biggest prize in NJPW a total of eight times.
Tanahashi will be challenging for the NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Championship with Tomohiro Ishii at the upcoming Royal Quest show in London on the 20th of October.