愛してます! (I Love You ACE!)
Match: 棚橋弘至 (Hiroshi Tanahashi) vs. オカダ・カズチカ (Kazuchika Okada) (33:03)
Company: New Japan Pro-Wrestling
Year: 2026
Event: NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20
Ramble Time + Today’s Article
Retirement matches in professional wrestling are always going to be emotional in many ways. Pro Wrestling is known for delivering on emotion, but a retirement match Sure it depends on how much knowledge you have about said wrestler that it can be overwhelming or not. For example, I remember watching NOAH’s Tokyo Dome show which was the retirement show for Keiji Muto (or The Great Muta). Another wrestler who retired that night was NOSAWA Rongai when he teamed with MAZADA in a losing effort against BULLET CLUB’s Taiji Ishimori and Gedo. Since I didn’t know much about him, I couldn’t feel a big amount of emotion especially with how the bout played out. So not every retirement can catch you in the feelings, but they can be helped by video packages or the commentary telling you about the background of each match. This particular retirement is seeing one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time have his final.
ACE OF THE CENTURY:
Hiroshi Tanahashi is really a pro wrestler that is considered as a modern day Japanese Wrestling Legend. He has had a whirlwind of a career that has featured so many great matches with the likes of Shinsuke Nakamura, Katsuyori Shibata, Kazuchika Okada, Kota Ibushi, Minoru Suzuki, AJ Styles, Kenny Omega, Will Ospreay, etc. He also saved New Japan Pro-Wrestling from when the company was in a dark time in the late 2000s - early 2010s. There are many outlets about The Ace that you should read about. I am here to do my usual breakdowns and my focus is on the retirement match.
Why was the opponent Kazuchika Okada?
I am mainly using this as an excuse to talk about Kazuchika Okada and his legendary feud with The Ace, albeit in my usual weird ways.
This all started after Okada returned from his excursion which was in TNA and he was handled terribly. He defeated YOSHI-HASHI at Wrestle Kingdom VI which from what I’ve heard, was not good and sometimes, very shit at all. After Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Minoru Suzuki in the main event, Okada would make a challenge to The Ace. Since this challenge happened after what happened with YOSHI-HASHI, Tanahashi didn’t think he was tough and didn’t take him seriously. This eventually led to their infamous bout at that year’s The New Beginning In Osaka on a night dubbed, the Rainmaker Shock.
This is where Kazuchika Okada shocked Hiroshi Tanahashi and the world and captured the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. This night was the night where Kazuchika Okada became THE guy for New Japan. This is where I have to explain the background. Okada had a bad match with YOSHI-HASHI on purpose so Tanahashi would lower his guard and catch him in his trap. That was a brilliant idea. And the rest was history between these two with many great matches. So Okada being Tanahashi’s Final Opponent is very poetic due to their rivalry and the 14 years of history.
The Ace’s Final Match
So… with that being said, from the Tokyo Dome in front of 46,913 fans. In the main event of the show, it’s “The Ace” and “One In A Century” Hiroshi Tanahashi steps in the ring for the Final Time against AEW International Champion “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada. Let’s roll with it.
The entrances are fun to watch as both men are able to get the hang of each. Okada’s one is funny because when he came out to his C.U.R.I.O.S.I.T.Y. theme song, the crowd was silent. I like this theme, but The Rainmaker theme song should’ve been here especially since they were turning back the clock with Gedo accompanying him. I think this was also the first time in a long time that we had in-ring introductions at Wrestle Kingdom which gives it more grandeur. Also on the topic of this, there is a clip from Toru Yano’s YouTube Channel just hours ago at the time of writing this. If Tanahashi wasn’t retiring, Okada would’ve never come back.
The bell rings as the crowd are fully behind the Ace as both men circle around. They lock up as Tanahashi goes for the waist lock. As Okada escapes by going for the wristlock, Tanahashi quickly reverses into his own wristlock. Okada tried the same trick again, but Tanahashi was quick to reverse. So as Okada did a forward roll, he swept Tanahashi by the legs to go for the knee, but Tanahashi countered by applying a Juji-Gatame. Okada tried reversing into a pin, but the shoulders weren’t fully on the mat. Tanahashi got the advantage as he grabbed his head in a low front facelock. As they were up to a vertical base, Tanahashi grabbed the arm to do a takedown into a Vice Grip of some kind. Okada trapped his head with his legs to get him down and Tanahashi kipped up out of it.
Crowd: “GO ACE! GO ACE! GO ACE! GO ACE!”
As they both locked up again, Okada pushed him to the ropes. He did his whole chop into a friendly pat to the chest thing before kicking him in the gut. He dragged him back to the centre for the headlock. Tanahashi pushed him back into the ropes so he could push him across to the ropes. Okada came back with a shoulder tackle and raised his one arm in a half Rainmaker pose, which is what he did in NJPW. Okada started targeting the neck and placed him in the corner. He Irish whipped him across, but Tanahashi blocked the charge before hitting his trademark Crossbody from the corner. Tana followed up with an elbow drop and a flip senton for a two count. Tanahashi continued with a bodyslam in the corner and he scaled up to the second rope to do his trademark Flip Senton, but Okada got up to put a stop to that. Okada dropkicked Tanahashi off the top turnbuckle to the outside. Okada didn’t let him rest as he Irish whipped him into Barry Barricade and big booted over the barricade. Okada followed up with a Draping DDT off the barricade and drilled Tanahashi’s head to the floor.
Crowd: “Tanahashi! Tanahashi! Tanahashi! Tanahashi! Tanahashi! Tanahashi! Tanahashi! Tanahashi! Tanahashi! Tanahashi! Tanahashi!”
Okada picked him up and pushed him back into the barricade before rolling him into the ring. Back in the ring, Okada strikes Tanahashi’s head before sending him to the corner to hit back elbows. When they were both in the centre, Tanahashi tried to fight back, but Okada stopped him in his tracks with a kick to the gut into a DDT. If you are wondering, it was a two count. Okada has him in a Chin Lock and as Tanahashi is rising to his feet, the Rainmaker strikes him in the back. Tanahashi got Irish whipped to the blue corner, however, he moved out of the way when Okada went for a running back elbow. As he bounced back to the centre, Tanahashi kept striking him. When he tried to Irish whip him to the ropes, Okada reversed it to send him to the ropes. Tanahashi came back and hit his trademark Running Forearm Strike. Tanahashi kept amping up the strikes as he got him to the red corner and bodyslammed him. Tanahashi got up to the second rope, and hit his Flip Senton on the International Champion for a two count. When Tanahashi went for the Sling Blade, Okada lured him by stepping backwards and threw him over the top rope. Tanahashi held on to the top rope, and did his trademark slingshot back inside the ring. Okada went for the kick, but Tanahashi caught it and gave him his trademark Dragon Screw. Okada crawled to the corner and tried to boot his charging opponent… and Tanahashi caught it again and hit another Dragon Screw.
In the centre (again), Tanahashi tried to get Okada in the Cloverleaf, but the AEW side of The Rainmaker came out as he gouged his eyes to escape. Okada went for the running nothing, and Tanahashi just dropkicked him in the knee. As Okada was on the outside, Tanahashi, who has shattered knees by the way, goes up to the top turnbuckle and dove on Okada with an Aces High (High Crossbody). This man is a lunatic and it even got a replay. As Okada was getting back in the ring, Tanahashi (who was already in the ring) caught one of his legs and screwed his leg with a… Dragon Screw. Okada. Mind your legs. Tanahashi went for the running Sling Blade, but Okada countered that into a Flapjack. When Tanahashi charged at Okada in the corner, Okada lifted him up in an Air Raid position into his Neck Crank (I know it’s a neckbreaker, but I like calling it a Neck Crank, so deal with it). Okada followed up with the wackiest top rope Elbow Drop and then for the first time, the Japanese audience witnessed the Middle Finger Rainmaker Pose.
Okada was setting up for the Rainmaker (Short-Arm Lariat), but Tanahashi got out with back elbows. Tanahashi continued as he hit his Twist and Shout (Snap Twisting Neckbreaker) three times on Okada. Tanahashi went for his running Sling Blade, but Okada countered that with a Tombstone. This bastard Okada just decided to just wait in the corner with the most dickhead smile on his face. He dropkicks him out of the ring. When Okada is out of the ring, he just drags Tanahashi up the ramp. He just dropped Tanahashi on his head with a Tombstone on the rampway and walked back like nothing happened. What a dick. This led to one of the best close count out calls as the crowd (including myself) are just cheering and rooting for the Ace. Now that the spirit of the Ace. Okada? He didn’t care about that shit, because he just Tombstoned him again and lifted his head off the mat when Red Shoes Unno counted 2. Okada lifts him up and pulls out a Spinning Rainmaker (Short-Arm Lariat with added Discuss in between). That was also a 2 and when he went for the Rainmaker, Tanahashi countered with his trademark Big Slap. No matter how many times Tanahashi slaps him, Okada just eats that like it’s completely nothing and keeps Lariat’ing him while maintaining the wrist.
Okada went for the Rainmaker, but Tanahashi countered that… into the Acemaker (Tanahashi’s version of the Rainmaker). When both are on a vertical base, Tanahashi went for the Sling Blade, Okada ducked underneath and went for the Rainmaker. Tanahashi ducked that and went for the Sling Blade, Okada ducked again and hit the Rainmaker for the 2 count. Okada pulled out a move that his senpai learned in the Dojo and that is the Boston Crab. Tanahashi valiantly was able to reach for the ropes.
Crowd: “Tanahashi ! Tanahashi! Tanahashi! Tanahashi! Tanahashi!”
The crowd started booing when Okada started antagonising him, which made me chuckle now that I am rewatching to write this script. Okada Irish whipped him to the ropes and as Tanahashi came back, Okada hit his trademark Dropkick. Okada went for the Rainmaker, Tanahashi ducked underneath to run to the ropes, Okada blocked his charge with a big boot so he could run the ropes. As he comes back, Tanahashi hits the Sling Blade as both men are down. Tanahashi locked in a Sleeper Hold as both men were rising to their feet. Tanahashi got Okada in a seated position and if you are a long time New Japan fan or even an AEW or Ring Of Honor fan, you will know who does this. He followed up by hitting Katsuyori Shibata’s Penalty Kick and it was beautiful due to the history they have. What makes this even better? When Tanahashi started doing Shinsuke Nakamura’s Taunt, the crowd exploded. What makes this a bittersweet moment was that Shinsuke Nakamura wasn’t even allowed to appear at this event. Which show two things:
Fuck Wrestling Politics
I Hate Wrestling Politics
Anyway, back to live action. Tanahashi did Nakamura’s taunt in the corner and followed up by hitting a Boma Ye on Okada. This is insane. Tanahashi is still amped up as he climbed up to the top and hit a High Fly Flow (Frog Splash) on Okada for a crazy nearfall. My emotions were very high during this. Okada blocked off the Dragon Suplex attempt and tried going for the Tombstone (again). Tanahashi went for the strike and Okada ducked underneath to go for the Rainmaker. Tanahashi countered the Rainmaker into the Sling Blade. And he followed up by hitting the Dragon Suplex. Tanahashi climbed back up to the top and hit the High Fly Flow on Okada’s back. Tanahashi went for a High Fly Flow to the front, but Okada got his knees up. Both men entered into a strike exchange as the crowd were fully engaged in this. Okada ducked under a strike and tried to go for the German Suplex. Tanahashi got out with a Back Elbow and followed up with the Big Slap. Okada countered his upcoming Sling Blade with a Massive Dropkick and tried to pick him up for the Tombstone. Tanahashi prevented that and both men started tussling over to Tombstone. Tanahashi almost hit the Tombstone, but Okada countered that into Tetsuya Naito’s Destino.
Okada followed up with the Landslide (Over The Shoulder Sitout Scoop Slam) and if you have watched Okada in New Japan, you know what’s next. Okada followed up by hitting the Rainmaker successfully and honestly, at this point, I was like, “Just pin him already”. I was already emotional. Tanahashi kicked out to the delight of many.
Crowd: “TANAHASHI! TANAHASHI! TANAHASHI! TANAHASHI! TANAHASHI! TANAHASHI! TANAHASHI! TANAHASHI! TANAHASHI! TANAHASHI! TANAHASHI! TANAHASHI!”
When Tanahashi got back up to his feet, Okada bodyslammed him and hit a more serious version of his top rope Elbow Drop. He followed up with the… RAINMAKER POSE! to a huge pop. Much like the Rainmaker Shock that started Okada’s ascension, it’s fitting that it ends the same way.
Me watching this: RAIN!! MAKER!! 1! 2!! 3!!!!!!!
ZERO: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2
“Time to wake up, there’s a war inside
Bless the martyrs, kiss them all goodbye
We can stay walking on the dotted line
Or we can make our own
I’m not afraid, I’m ready for the other side
Will you have my back?”
C.U.R.I.O.S.I.T.Y. by One Ok Rock (Kazuchika Okada’s AEW Theme Song)
I thought these lyrics were very fitting for the fact that The Ace has had his final ever wrestling match. AEW International Champion “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada defeats “The Ace” Hiroshi Tanahashi in the Ace’s Last match. The retirement ceremony is what makes these last two hours so incredible. I would recommend watching the entire ceremony especially if you love the man. Post retirement, Hiroshi Tanahashi has cut his signature hairstyle and honestly, I like his haircut. The reason why I mentioned this is because it was that big of a deal even though Tanahashi himself said he was gonna do it anyway, but that is the impact of the One In A Century Talent.
Post Ramble
What a way to end your career in professional wrestling. Sure, it was a perfect retirement ceremony even though it was a bummer that Shinsuke Nakamura wasn’t allowed to appear. I’m also glad that everyone else was available to see the Ace’s retirement including Kota Ibushi which was a surprise given the controversial way he left NJPW after his injury in G1 CLIMAX 31. I don’t usually write about big stars all of the time if you have seen my catalog, because I don’t see as productive as I cover more smaller wrestlers on the independence wrestling scene around the world. This also shows that I need to stop making promises because this took way longer than intended.
So this has been a doozing and it seems like it will be the theme until 2027. Next month will be the 1 Year Anniversary of when I started with this journey and it is impressive that I managed to last almost 12 months. And it has really been a bunch of fun and shithousery. Look, I'm trying my best mentally okay. Anyway, if you want to read articles by other authors, go to The ClubHouse and don’t worry, we won’t bite. Seriously, we won’t bite. We are gentle as you can allow us to be and have some nice things. If you want to check more SickosClub content, you can subscribe to the official SickosClub YouTube Channel by searching YouTube.com/@Sickos-Club with many videos & shorts on there. And if you want some cool merch, you can go to the official Merch Store. Hope you have a happy day and I love you all like Mia and Me. I’ll see you whenever I pop up.