John Cena and Hiroshi Tanahashi have retired from skilled wrestling inside two months. The Cenation Chief retired final December, finishing his retirement tour and shedding his closing bout towards Gunther at Saturday Night time’s Predominant Occasion XLII.
Now, in January 2026, NJPW legend Hiroshi Tanahashi has formally ended his professional wrestling profession after competing in his closing match at Wrestle Kingdom 20 towards Kazuchika Okada.
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Each Cena and Tanahashi paid tribute to their best rivals of all time throughout matches earlier than hanging up their boots. The Chain Gang Soldier, in his bout towards AJ Types, gave tribute to his all-time best rivals, together with Randy Orton, Edge, Chris Jericho, and extra, through the use of their finishers in his match. In the meantime, Hiroshi gave tribute to Shinsuke Nakamura’s finisher at Wrestle Kingdom 20.
A former NJPW famous person and UFC fighter, Tom Lawlor, reacted to it and posted two clips of Cena placing Types out with an RKO and Tanahashi connecting a Kinshasa on his official X (fka Twitter) account with laughing emojis. Take a look at his publish beneath:
A serious WWE Celebrity breaks character to ship a heartfelt message to a retiring Hiroshi Tanahashi
The inaugural Common Champion and Judgment Day member Finn Balor took to his official X (fka Twitter) account to interrupt his heel character, which he not often breaks even off-television, to react to Hiroshi Tanahashi’s pro-wrestling retirement.
Balor revealed in his publish how star-struck he was sitting in the identical bus with Hiroshi Tanahashi again throughout his time competing at NJPW and the way the legend greeted him with a smile. Furthermore, Finn thanked the icon for his contribution and congratulated him on having a historic profession.
” I’ll always remember being star struck as a ‘younger boy’ sitting subsequent to @tanahashi1_100 on the Njpw bus , solely to be greeted by a mild welcoming smile. A real chief, main by instance with unequalled professionalism. You impressed me, guided me, and pushed me to be higher. Thanks Senpai and Congratulations on an unbelievable profession, Otsukaresama deshita,” he wrote.
It stays to be seen which pro-wrestling legend retires subsequent this 12 months.
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Edited by Sanchari Bhattacharya
