Okada Advocates for Tanahashi Match too Headline NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20
Kazuchika Okada, the reigning AEW Unified Champion, firmly believes his upcoming match against Hiroshi Tanahashi should headline NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20 in January 2026. The bout, set to be tanahashi’s final professional wrestling match, carries immense weight as a generational clash and a final chapter in a storied rivalry.
Okada’s insistence on the main event slot isn’t about championship prestige-it’s about honoring Tanahashi’s legacy. The match represents the culmination of a career for a new Japan Pro-Wrestling icon and Okada feels it deserves the highest placement on the card, potentially even at the expense of IWGP title matches. This decision impacts not only Okada and Tanahashi, but also the future stars of NJPW, offering them a learning experience regarding the dynamics of Wrestle Kingdom’s card placement.
In an interview with tokyo Sports, okada stated plainly, “Well, the main event, of course. I’ve always said the IWGP should be the main event, but this is different. If it’s me, it’s gotta be the main event, right?” He further explained his reasoning, suggesting Tanahashi’s veteran status warrants the respect of closing the show.
Okada also considered the developmental prospect for younger talent like takeshita and Tsuji,stating,”Mr.Tanahashi is also a veteran of New Japan, and I feel it would be unfair for othre wrestlers to compete after him. Experiencing a main event where you don’t get much reaction afterward, or experiencing an IWGP title match not being the main event-both are valuable experiences.” He even alluded to a potential fan vote, referencing the controversial Wrestle Kingdom 8 decision where Tanahashi’s Intercontinental Championship match was elevated to the main event over okada and Tetsuya Naito’s IWGP Heavyweight Championship contest-a decision that has resonated with both wrestlers ever as.
