NJPW: Hiroshi Tananashi Announces Final Career Match for Wrestle Kingdom 20 in 2026, YOH & Master Wato Returns from Injuries, Battle In The Valley 2025 Date Announced

Hiroshi Tananashi Announces Final Career Match for Wrestle Kingdom 20 in 2026

Monday’s King of Pro Wrestling 2024 event for New Japan Pro Wrestling at the Ryogoku Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan featured Hiroshi Tanahashi officially announcing his retirement tour for his wrestling career.

Following Tanahashi, Shota Umino, & El Phantasmo’s victory over House of Torture in a Six-Man Tag Team match, Tanahashi gave a post-match speech to the crowd and revealed that his wrestling career is nearing its end. Tanahashi stated that the final match of his career will be taking place at Wrestle Kingdom 2026 on January 4, 2026.

「棚橋のゴールを決めました…2026年1月4日…」

なんと棚橋弘至選手が、2026年1.4での“レスラー引退”を決意…！

視聴＆登録⏩https://t.co/9iZJzPgCfN#NJPW #njpwworld #njkopw pic.twitter.com/wGlqDPlRib

— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) October 14, 2024

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YOH & Master Wato Make Surprise Returns from Injuries at NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 2024

Monday’s NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 2024 event in Tokyo also featured YOH and Master Wato making their surprise returns from injuries.

Prior to the start of the event, YOH came out to the ring and announced that he has been medically cleared from his shoulder injury.

10.14両国大会の大会開始前、入場口にYOH選手がコスチューム姿で登場！

開場と同時に猛然とダッシュ、なんと無人のリング上で“復活”を宣言！

詳細記事https://t.co/OvYJ00sHwB#njkopw #njpw pic.twitter.com/j0D62vVb1K

— 新日本プロレスリング株式会社 (@njpw1972) October 14, 2024

Following DOUKI’s victory over SHO to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on the show, Yoshinobu Kanemaru ran out and attacked DOUKI leading to Wato making his surprise return and ran out to save DOUKI. Wato then grabbed the IWGP Jr. title and issued a challenge to DOUKI, which DOUKI accepted.

⚔️KING OF PRO-WRESTLING 2024⚔️

IWGPジュニアヘビー級選手権試合終了後、王者のピンチを救出した欠場中のワトが復帰宣言＆挑戦表明‼️

視聴＆登録⏩https://t.co/9iZJzPgCfN#NJPW #njpwworld #njkopw pic.twitter.com/OGRIo6B9W5

— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) October 14, 2024

Prior to their returns, YOH had been out of action since this past April due to a shoulder injury and Wato had been out of action since this past January due to a torn ACL injury.

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NJPW Announces Date & Location for Battle In The Valley 2025

New Japan Pro Wrestling announced that next year’s Battle In The Valley event will be taking place on January 11, 2025 at the San Jose Civic in San Jose, California.

It was also announced that tickets for this upcoming event will officially go on sale starting on October 18th.

We're kicking off 2025 in the US HUGE in San Jose!

Battle in the Valley 2025- JANUARY 11!

General on sale October 18!

ign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CcdQ1X9P52#NJPW #njpwworld #NJBITV #NJPWSTRONG pic.twitter.com/qrqMTCyDch

— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) October 14, 2024