Wrestling Legend Reveals Final Wish Before Retiring At 49

The professional wrestling world has been hit with plenty of retirements this year, and it doesn’t look like next year will offer any respite to wrestling fans, with a couple of retirements already lined up for 2026.

Following the retirement of WWE legend John Cena this past week, another wrestling legend is set to hang up his boots in a few weeks, as NJPW stalwart Hiroshi Tanahashi will call time on his in-ring career next month.

The 49-year-old has been on a retirement tour of his own this year, and will wrestle his biggest career rival, Kazuchika Okada, in his final match at Wrestle Kingdom 20 on January 4, 2026.

Hiroshi Tanahashi wants to end his wrestling career with his head held high

The NJPW legend was speaking at the promotion’s public training session recently where he was asked what he wants the fans to witness from his final match. He said that he doesn’t his performance to justify his decision to retire.

“I don’t want them to justify my retirement. I don’t want them to see me look older or slower, but to see a Tanahashi who can still go, and that everybody else is chasing right to the end,” Tanahashi said. [H/T: Fightful]

Tanahashi has also appeared on AEW programming in the past and while he is set to retire next year, he made his final AEW appearance earlier this year at Forbidden Door 2025.

Make TJR Wrestling your choice for news by clicking here.