Tributes are flowing in for Hiroshi Tanahashi who retired at Wrestle Kingdom today after a 26-year career.
Here are what some of today’s talent had to say about The Ace and NJPW President.
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
“Tanahashi-san, thank you for your hard work. Let’s meet again, everyone in Japan.”
I raise a glass to @tanahashi1_100 One of the very best. What an incredible career. It was an honor to share the ring with such a talented and well rounded ambassador to our industry. NJPW is in great hands.
— 👑 Frankie Kazarian 👑 (@FrankieKazarian) 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
You did great things, Ace. I got it from here. 👑 pic.twitter.com/m1SJnAYINE
— Lightskin Kingpin (@KingRicochet) January 4, 2026
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
“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 thought watching the monitor. Before I knew it, everyone around me had left. Tana, Ibushi, and I made the final walk. I joked that all 3 of us had to take the stairs slowly one by one – something I’m usually self conscious about (it doesn’t look cool), but today was different. We owned it proudly.
In the car ride back to the dressing rooms we shared one last conversation. I could easily type what was said, but to explain the real meaning of it was probably different for all 3 of us.
Broken down rivals now turned comrades. It’s really a beautiful thing, isn’t it?
Thanks to all that tuned in to celebrate the retirement of one of the greatest to ever do it.”
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
As his legendary career enters its final week, this week’s classic photo gallery features @tanahashi1_100‘s appearances through the years in TNA!
FULL GALLERY: https://t.co/DjQGyXWKjkpic.twitter.com/yRKzcbLhg1
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) December 29, 2025
As his legendary career enters its final week, this week’s classic photo gallery features @tanahashi1_100‘s appearances through the years in TNA!
FULL GALLERY: https://t.co/DjQGyXWKjkpic.twitter.com/yRKzcbLhg1
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) December 29, 2025



