Posted on 11/08/125 by Bob Magee
For the first time since New Beginning 2023, Kazuchika Okada
stepped into an NJPW ring on November 8, stunning his home
town of Anjo to confront Hiroshi Tanahashi.
Tanahashi had defeated Yuto-Ice in a hotly competitive main
event with the High Fly Flow, and was sending the fans home
happy with his customary air guitar performances. Just as he
was about to leave with a final call of 'aishitemasu!' in
Anjo, a shocked crowd heard a coin drop, and saw Okada
emerge from the curtain, complete with Gedo, who had donned
his old Rainmaker bandana.
Taking to the ring, Okada greeted Tanahashi, paraphrasing
the words he had delivered to the Ace when he first came
back from excursion in 2012. 'Congratulations on your
retirement,' he said 'and thanks for your hard work.' Okada
went on to challenge Tanahashi for January 4, 2026, adding
'don't get too tired before then'.
Gedo followed up with a nostalgic appeal, saying that 'Okada
vs Tanahashi will make for the best retirement, because
Okada is on a whole other level!'. Gedo said that 'the rain
will fall on Wrestle Kingdom 20' as Tanahashi's final match
appears set.