Overview
- On Jan. 4 at Wrestle Kingdom 20, Hiroshi Tanahashi ended his career by losing to a returning Kazuchika Okada in the main event.
- A Yahoo Sports column lauds the sendoff for honoring Tanahashi while clearly steering New Japan toward its next wave of talent.
- Jeff Jarrett acknowledged concerns that Okada is not signed to NJPW but argued the in-ring story outweighed contract status.
- Jarrett described Okada as contracted to a "friendly ally" in AEW and called the arrangement a "gray area" given the promotions' working relationship.
- He contrasted Tanahashi's farewell with John Cena's, pointing to cultural differences and noting Tanahashi lost by pin rather than a tap.