Kazuchika Okada Make Surprise Return Appearance at 11/8 NJPW New Japan Road in Anjo Event, Okada Revealed as Hiroshi Tanahashi’s Final Opponent for Wrestle Kingdom 20

Saturday’s NJPW New Japan Road in Anjo, Japan event featured Kazuchika Okada making a surprise return appearance.

Following Hiroshi Tanahashi’s victory over Yuto-Ice in the main event, Tanahashi grabbed a microphone and gave a speech to the crowd. Tanahashi then played some air guitar for the crowd to send them home happy. Before Tanahashi could leave, Okada’s music played and he came out to the ring alongside Gedo.

Okada confronted Tanahashi in the ring and challenged Tanahashi for Wrestle Kingdom 20. Gedo made it official announcing that Okada is the mystery opponent for Tanahashi’s retirement match at Wrestle Kingdom 20 on January 4, 2026 at the Tokyo Dome.

“RAINMAKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!”@rainmakerXokada

From the profile URL#njpw #njpwworld #njroad pic.twitter.com/H6ppZusknk

— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) November 8, 2025

🦁NEW JAPAN ROAD in ANJO🦁

「1月4日、よかったら僕がやりますよ」
AEWのオカダ・カズチカが安城大会に登場‼️#njpwworld で配信中📡

視聴＆登録⏩「NJPW WORLD」で検索#njpw #njpwworld #njroad pic.twitter.com/1yjEXbYrCT

— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) November 8, 2025

SPOILERS FOR NJPW'S ROAD IN ANJO SHOW

Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi in Tanahashi's final match is OFFICIAL#njroad pic.twitter.com/jOGc3uoWsy

— jarko (@KlNG0FDARKNESS_) November 8, 2025

This was Okada’s first appearance in New Japan since February of 2024