Kenny Omega, Kazuchika Okada, Tony Khan, KENTA, AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, John Cena, & Others Pays Tribute to Hiroshi Tanahashi After Tanahashi’s In-Ring Retirement at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20

As noted before, Kazuchika Okada defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi in Tanahashi’s retirement match at NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 20 event earlier today at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.

Following the match, Jay White, Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, Katsuyori Shibata, Keiji Mutoh, Tatsumi Fujinami, BUSHI, and Tetsuya Naito all came out to pay their respects during Tanahashi’s retirement ceremony.

Omega, Okada, AEW CEO Tony Khan, KENTA, AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, John Cena, and others within the wrestling world also paid tribute to Tanahashi’s legendary wrestling career on social media.

Tonight I had the incredible honor of participating in Tanahashi’s retirement ceremony. To stand with him in that ring, to see what he saw in those final moments…I felt the reality of it all, the weight of his decision.

Once I returned backstage I sat in stand-by lost in…

— Kenny Omega (@KennyOmegamanX) January 4, 2026

棚橋さんお疲れ様でした。
日本の皆さんまた会いましょう。

— Kazuchika Okada (@rainmakerXokada) January 4, 2026

Thank you all watching WrestleKingdom live!

Congratulations to NJPW + President @tanahashi1_100 for the massive success of this historic event, a marvelous spectacle befitting the once in a lifetime occasion:
Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement!
Thank you Ace!#njpwk20 on @njpwworld

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) January 4, 2026

Good luck and Have fun
Thank you ACE.
1.4.2026 pic.twitter.com/kZChZ9AFbp

— KENTA aka Lil’K (@KENTAG2S) January 3, 2026

Hoy despedimos a una leyenda del ring.
Hiroshi Tanahashi deja una huella imborrable en la historia de la Lucha Libre y en la del CMLL, donde en 2013 se consagró como Campeón Universal, demostrando su grandeza, respeto y amor por este deporte.#njwk20 #hiroshitanahashi pic.twitter.com/GQySFkczjO

— Lucha Libre CMLL (@CMLL_OFICIAL) January 4, 2026

Some of my favorite memories are in Japan. Some of my favorite matches were with this guy @tanahashi1_100 he is truly one of the best.

— AJ Styles (@AJStylesOrg) January 4, 2026

みてるぞ

— Shinsuke Nakamura (@ShinsukeN) January 4, 2026

藤波さん、ごめんなさい🙏
3SHOT自撮り失敗！！ pic.twitter.com/3ibD1JCpPO

— 武藤　敬司 (@muto_keiji) January 4, 2026

Congratulations to @tanahashi1_100 on his incredible career & amazing retirement! Thank you Ace! And may your presidency bring @njpw1972 unrivaled success in Japan in the coming years! 💐 💐 💐

— Christopher Daniels (@facdaniels) January 4, 2026

I had no business sharing a ring with you. But I’m so glad I did. It was an honor and a privilege. Forever grateful for your generosity. Enjoy retirement, Ace. pic.twitter.com/NgGvqLPbn9

— Mike Bennett (@RealMikeBennett) January 4, 2026

Tanahashi San,

It was an absolute honor to watch you compete and a career highlight to call some of your matches 🙏

My time broadcasting some of the matches for NJPW in the USA was a privilege. The professional wrestling business is better because of you.@tanahashi1_100 pic.twitter.com/grEPC7wfIL

— Matthew Rehwoldt – TNA's The Drama King (@DramaKingMatt) January 4, 2026

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