NJPW legend Kazuchika Okada is set to face his rival Hiroshi Tanahashi in his farewell match.
‘The Rainmaker’ will soon end a 16-year run with the company after his contract expires on January 31. However, Okada will still work on February 11 in Osaka, and February 23 and 24 in Sapporo as part of the New Beginning tour.
NJPW has shuffled the upcoming The New Beginning tour lineup in the wake of Okada’s departure.
Kazuchika Okada will face Hiroshi Tanahashi in their last clash
Okada and Tanahashi will battle for one last time on February 11 at The New Beginning at the EDION Arena in Osaka. It was the same venue where Okada faced Tanahashi at The New Beginning in 2012. That night, Okada stunned the fans by defeating Tanahashi to capture the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
Kazuchika Okada’s last appearance under NJPW contract will take place on January 24 in Korakuen Hall. At the show, he will compete in the NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag team Championship match, previously scheduled for New Beginning in Osaka. Okada will join forces with Tomohiro Ishii and Hiroshi Tanahashi to face TMDK’s Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls and Kosei Fujita.
Okada will be making his final NJPW appearances in Sapporo on February 23 and 24.
Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada are certainly two of NJPW’s biggest superstars, and their storied rivalry which began in 2012 remains to be one of the greatest chapters in pro wrestling. They have put on legendary matches over the years and it is quite a way for Okada to bid adieu to NJPW fans.
