New Japan Pro Wrestling President and talent Hiroshi Tanahashi expressed confidence that NJPW will remain popular and vibrant even after his in-ring retirement at Wrestle Kingdom 20. He emphasized his role in connecting fans to the next generation of wrestlers, believing there are plenty of stars to keep audiences engaged. Tanahashi also shared his desire to spend more quality time with his family, acknowledging the sacrifices he made during his wrestling career.

Regarding Wrestle Kingdom 20, Tanahashi accepted that his retirement match against Kazuchika Okada would not be the main event, viewing it as a “bonus track” after the younger wrestlers’ matches. He praised Olympic gold medalist Aaron Wolf’s potential following a recent training session and anticipated strong competition between Wolf and Boltin Oleg, seeing it as a positive catalyst for NJPW’s future.