Shinsuke Nakamura Confirms Failed Attempt To Appear At Wrestle Kingdom 20 For Hiroshi Tanahashi
In the world of professional wrestling, the “Forbidden Door” has been kicked open, unhinged, and turned into firewood over the last few years. We’ve seen AEW stars in the Tokyo Dome, NJPW icons on TNT, and TNA champions appearing on WWE television. But apparently, some corporate walls are still thick enough to stop destiny in its tracks.
Hiroshi Tanahashi, the man who single-handedly pulled New Japan Pro-Wrestling out of its dark ages and into the sunlight, wrestled his final match at Wrestle Kingdom 20 on Jan. 4. His opponent? The Rainmaker, Kazuchika Okada. It was a fitting end, sure. Okada is the prodigal son, the ace who took the baton. But for anyone who has followed the “King of Sports” for the last two decades, there was a glaring, violin-playing hole in the roster.
Shinsuke Nakamura wasn’t there. And it turns out, it wasn’t for a lack of trying.
The Politics Of Pro Wrestling Interfere With Destiny
According to a recent interview with Tokyo Sports, Nakamura confirmed what many of us suspected but hoped wasn’t true: there was a legitimate attempt to get him to the Tokyo Dome for one last dance with his greatest rival.
“I thought I did everything I could,... “But the fact that it didn’t come to fruition makes me think that there was a mission that was imposed upon me. That’s the only way to look at it. I think that’s dramatic in itself.”
Let’s cut through the poetic translation for a second. That is the sound of a man resigned to the cold, hard reality of contracts. With Nakamura under the WWE banner and NJPW currently holding hands with AEW (and CMLL), the political red tape was likely thicker than the mats they bump on. Instead of the King of Strong Style standing across the ring, we got Okada who was the perfect opponent for Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 20.
A floral tribute from a lifelong rival
Since he couldn’t deliver a Kinshasa to Tanahashi’s face in person, Nakamura did the next best thing: he sent flowers.
Ahead of the retirement bout, Tanahashi posted a photo of a massive red floral arrangement. The card attached was simple, classy, and enough to make a grown wrestling fan misty-eyed: “Thank you for your 26 years of hard work! Hiroshi Tanahashi. Shinsuke Nakamura.”
It’s a gesture that speaks volumes. Tanahashi and Nakamura came up together during a time when NJPW was on life support. They were the “Two Musketeers” (after Shibata went his own way) who carried the weight of a struggling heritage brand on their backs. They fought over the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, they fought over the Intercontinental Championship—elevating that white belt to main event status at Wrestle Kingdom 8—and they fought for the soul of the company.
To see Nakamura watching from the sidelines—likely waking up at the crack of dawn in the U.S. to catch the stream—is a bittersweet footnote to Tanahashi’s career.
Tanahashi honors Nakamura inside the ring
Even though the WWE Superstar couldn’t walk through the curtain, his spirit was very much inside the Tokyo Dome. During the main event clash with Okada, Tanahashi pulled out a move that popped the crowd and lit up social media. He hit the Bomaye.
For the uninitiated, that’s the knee strike Nakamura made famous before WWE rebranded it the “Kinshasa.” Tanahashi threw the knee and even mimicked Nakamura’s signature vibrating taunts. It was a beautiful, heartbreaking tribute. It wasn’t the greatest attempt at Nakamura’s move as Tanahashi’s knees are knackered, but it was touching.
Wrestle Kingdom 20 Was An Emotional Sendoff For Him
While it sucks Nakamura couldn’t be there, overall it was a very good send off for one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Hiroshi Tanahashi is on NJPW’s Mount Rushmore for a good reason. Its going to be very interesting seeing him as the President of the company and I wish him luck.
