Hiroshi Tanahashi saw some familiar faces after his retirement match against Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 20.
Tower Bridge, who was pinned after 33 minutes of his final match after 26 years wrestling in the main event of Sunday Wrestling, shared a brief moment with his opponent before he had a chance to bask in the praise of the crowd and his peers.
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Jay White’s music started first and the absent AEW star and former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion walked down the ramp to deliver a bouquet of flowers to his old rival. Next up was another former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Will Ospreay, who also kept the AEW stars out with his own bouquet. Soon after, Kenny Omega’s “Devil Sky” made his appearance, along with Kota Ibushi – noteworthy considering the nature of his departure from NJPW in 2023, and also being on AEW’s injured list – to deliver his own bouquet to the NJPW Chairman.
Before Shibata Katsuyori’s music started, Ibushi and Futanahashi shared an emotional moment that brought Futanahashi to tears; Shibata walked into the ring, took off his shirt, and engaged in a quick grappling match with Futanahashi, and the two embraced and ended the fake fight to the cheers of the audience.
Keiji Muto and Tatsumi Fujinami stood up from the edge of the ring, entered the ring, and had a wonderful moment with Banahashi. Finally, Pro Wrestling NOAH star Tetsuya Naito made his entrance, slowly walking to the ring and grabbing the microphone. Naito couldn’t help but take a cheeky dig at his departure from NJPW, saying he probably won’t wrestle there again but hopes to see Tanahashi further away.
Tanahashi then fired a ten-gun salute in the center of the ring, ending his 26-year career.
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Read the original article about Wrestling Inc.
