Kazuchika Okada Explains How He’s Approaching Hiroshi Tanahashi’s Final Match: “I Don’t Mean This In A Weird Way… It Is A Normal Match… Same As Tag Match On Local House Show”

Okada opens up about his NJPW comeback.

Five-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada made his return to New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He will be Hiroshi Tanahashi’s final opponent, and their bout is locked in for Wrestle Kingdom 20 on January 4th, 2026.

NJPW1972.com rolled out an extensive interview with Okada ahead of the match. He spoke about his surprise appearance at the November 8th NJPW event to reveal himself as Tanahashi’s final opponent.

“Well, when I heard from Gedo about Tanahashi’s retirement, I thought back to all the times we had wrestled, and how Gedo was in my corner for so many of those matches, so (I) thought Gedo should be with me. It just so happened that NJPW had a card in Anjo, in my hometown, on my birthday. I didn’t have any AEW commitment that day, so when Gedo suggested making that the day everything happened, I was more than happy to.”

Okada was asked how it feels to be Tanahashi’s final opponent and stated that he does not know yet. He’s been all over with AEW and has been focused on that.

He thinks once 2026 starts, he’ll be able to get a good sense of how he feels about it. Okada said ‘The Rainmaker’ started with Tanahashi, so it only makes sense for him to end Tanahashi’s career.

“Hmm, I’m not really sure I have an answer to that. It doesn’t quite feel like he’s retiring. I think I won’t know for sure until the day itself. If I was in NJPW all this time, perhaps I might get a sense that retirement was looming, but I’ve been over in America; I never really gave it thought. I think it’ll be at the end of the year, when I’m finished with the AEW schedule, and next is the Tokyo Dome, that’s when I’ll be able to give it more thought.

But everything about The Rainmaker started with Tanahashi, so it makes sense to end Tanahashi’s career… Talking about it that way sounds a little self-centered (laughs), but in the end, I feel this is a repayment in a way.”

He would go on to discuss how he’s approaching the upcoming match. He does not mean it in a ‘weird way,’ but views it as a normal match, just like a tag match on a local house show. He said any match only exists in itself and is never to be repeated.

Okada was also asked if he’s thinking about what the end of the road could look like for him in wrestling.

“Yes, it’s a retirement match, but — and I don’t mean this in a weird way — in the end, it is a normal match. It’s the same as it would be a tag match on a local house show. Any match only exists in itself and never to be repeated, so I don’t think that retirement matches in themselves should be different in that sense. I’m just thinking how best can I really hit him where it hurts. 

My retirement? I mean, I’ve been around to be in NJPW and see people come and go, and then for me to leave as well, it says how much of a career I’ve had already. I don’t think I’m anywhere near retiring yet, but I am aware that day will come sometime. Maybe I should ask Tanahashi to be my final opponent? Oh wait, he’s finishing up. (laughs)”

AEW President Tony Khan opened up about the conversations that led to Okada being Tanahashi’s final opponent. He said this has been talked about since May 2025.