Hiroshi Tananashi vs. EVIL Set for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19

New Japan Pro Wrestling announced the first official match for the card of their Wrestle Kingdom 19 event on January 4, 2025 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.

This new match announced was a singles match of Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. EVIL.

Official press release:

Hiroshi Tanahashi to face EVIL at Wrestle Kingdom 19!

First match set for January 4 2024

Wrestle Kingdom 19 on January 4 in the Tokyo Dome has gained its first official matchup, as Hiroshi Tanahashi will be battling EVIL.

At King of Pro-Wrestling on October 14, Tanahashi made the earth shattering announcement that he would be retiring on January 4 2026. That drew the ire of EVIL, who barked that he would be putting an end to the Ace much earlier. The King of Darkness interrupted Tanahashi’s retirement press conference to issue a challenge that has now been accepted for the Tokyo Dome. Will the retirement road for one of the greatest of all time be put to an end before it properly begins, or will Tanahashi’s last year in pro-wrestling begin with a high?

Current card for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19

• Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. EVIL