Durante o Wrestle Kingdom 20 deste domingo, Hiroshi Tanahashi colocou um ponto final numa das carreiras mais marcantes da história do wrestling japonês, num momento carregado de emoção no Tokyo Dome.
No main event da noite, Hiroshi Tanahashi foi derrotado por Kazuchika Okada, ao sofrer mais um Rainmaker do seu rival histórico.
Já depois do combate, Kazuchika Okada pegou no microfone para agradecer a Hiroshi Tanahashi antes de sair do ringue.
Seguiu-se a cerimónia de despedida, com nomes como Will Ospreay, Jay White, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi e Katsuyori Shibata a entrarem no ringue para lhe entregar flores.
O momento final ficou marcado pela surpreendente aparição de Tetsuya Naito, que deixou fortes palavras para Hiroshi Tanahashi.
.@tanahashi1_100 💐 @WillOspreay
Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CcdQ1X9P52#NJPW #njpwworld #njwk20 #棚橋引退 pic.twitter.com/tcxoVuuPI7
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026
.@tanahashi1_100 💐 @JayWhiteNZ
Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CcdQ1XamUA#NJPW #njpwworld #njwk20 #棚橋引退 pic.twitter.com/jombbphOhL
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026
.@tanahashi1_100 💐 @ibushi_kota & @KennyOmegamanX
Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CcdQ1X9P52#NJPW #njpwworld #njwk20 #棚橋引退 pic.twitter.com/6yylY0oY2v
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026
.@tanahashi1_100 🤝 @K_Shibata2022
Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CcdQ1X9P52#NJPW #njpwworld #njwk20 #棚橋引退 pic.twitter.com/EyGV3HVBwL
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026
Stardust⁉︎👁🗨
Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CcdQ1X9P52#NJPW #njpwworld #njwk20 #棚橋引退 pic.twitter.com/9sDBxyQ9LU
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026
🏟️WRESTLE KINGDOM 20 in 東京ドーム 棚橋弘至引退🏟️
内藤哲也から棚橋弘至へ
登録&視聴 ⏩ https://t.co/CcdQ1X9P52#NJPW #njpwworld #njwk20 #棚橋引退 pic.twitter.com/jPHPC6nTya
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2026
No seu discurso final, Hiroshi Tanahashi agradeceu aos fãs e deixou uma frase que ecoou pelo Tokyo Dome:
Estou tão, tão feliz por me ter apaixonado pelo wrestling profissional.
Depois de tocar guitarra imaginária, liderar a wave e despedir-se do público, Hiroshi Tanahashi disse o seu “aishitemasu” pela última vez e desapareceu entre o fumo, ao som de “High Energy”.
Nas redes sociais, o “Ace” recebeu ainda pequenas homenagens de muitas outras estrelas do mundo do Wrestling, incluindo Shinsuke Nakamura, IYO SKY, Ivar, Bronson Reed, JC Mateo (Jeff Cobb), Will Ospreay, KENTA, Karl Anderson e Luke Gallows.
ありがとう。 pic.twitter.com/BWQVTpU4Sg
— 棚橋 弘至 (@tanahashi1_100) January 4, 2026
2026年1月4日
たっっっっくさんのプロレスラーに素晴らしい影響を与えてくださりました
私もそのうちのひとり11年前の対談で逸材に授けていただいた“逸女“(イツジョ)の肩書きは私の一生の宝物!#棚橋引退 アメリカから応援しています
GO!! ACE!!!!!✨✨✨✨ pic.twitter.com/wz78HLKk4L
— IYO SKY (@Iyo_SkyWWE) January 4, 2026
Go Ace! pic.twitter.com/o1AqEs05Oi
— BIG BRONSON REED (@BRONSONISHERE) January 4, 2026
Go ace! pic.twitter.com/0lSjgy9H5Z
— Ivar (@Ivar_WWE) January 4, 2026
Wish I could be there to celebrate of the of best to do it ever @tanahashi1_100 thank you for all you did for wrestling as well as for me! Congratulations and enjoy the rest! Never Tired, Never mind, Never Give Up! pic.twitter.com/nz1ZTjY0V8
— Jeff Cobb (@RealJeffCobb) January 4, 2026
Tanahashi San,
I wish I could put into words how much just being around you as a young man meant to me.
You showed so many of us how important it is to be kind & respectful to every person you came into contact with.
Getting to travel japan with you was one of the most… pic.twitter.com/9yfq6FEJv4
— Will Ospreay • ウィル・オスプレイ (@WillOspreay) January 4, 2026
Good luck and Have fun
Thank you ACE.
1.4.2026 pic.twitter.com/kZChZ9AFbp— KENTA aka Lil’K (@KENTAG2S) January 3, 2026
Was fortunate enough to have some big fights with @tanahashi1_100
Respect. pic.twitter.com/aZDiru8GAy
— Karl Anderson (@MachineGunKA) January 4, 2026
Congratulations to THE ACE on a job well done. A generational performer, who connected with audiences worldwide. Unmatched toughness, loyalty, & perspective #thankyouACE 1.4.2026 @tanahashi1_100 pic.twitter.com/xc60isDPap
— “The Big LG” Doc Gallows (@The_BigLG) January 4, 2026
O que achaste destas homenagens de várias estrelas a Hiroshi Tanahashi?
1 Comentário
Simplesmente lindo o momento, o Ace se aposenta, mas é clara sua importância para o pro-wrestling, só ver por todas as homenagens, mais do que merecidas, muito obrigado grande Hiroshi Tanahashi!