Hiroshi Tanahashi admits he wanted one last match with Shinsuke Nakamura

Hiroshi Tanahashi has already marked the final point of his career as a professional wrestler. His definitive farewell will come at Wrestle Kingdom 20, with a high-voltage match against Kazuchika Okada in front of the Tokyo Dome audience. However, as that moment approaches, the Ace of New Japan has acknowledged that there was another matchup he dreamed of closing... and that never came to be.

In statements to the Japanese press via Tokyo Sports, Tanahashi revealed that there were real conversations to have one last match against Shinsuke Nakamura when he returned to Japan for an appearance related to WWE.

When Nakamura came to Japan, we talked about many things and we said we wanted to do it one last time, but well... there are many things happening.

Tanahashi did not go into details about those "issues," although the context is evident. Nakamura is under contract with WWE, which makes an appearance at Wrestle Kingdom extremely complicated. Still, the simple fact that they discussed it makes it clear that the desire was mutual.

Far from focusing on frustration, Tanahashi took the opportunity to reflect on what Nakamura has meant in his career. He defined him as a genuine rival, a key figure in his development and in the modern identity of New Japan Pro Wrestling.

In that same speech, Tanahashi expanded his view to his complete legacy, also mentioning Tetsuya Naito and the impact he had on those who shared the ring with him or grew up watching him.

Nakamura was always my rival, and Naito came to New Japan because he liked Tanahashi. I want them to think: 'I didn't make a mistake'. I want them to say: 'I'm glad I was Tanahashi's rival', 'I'm glad I admired Tanahashi', and for the fans to think: 'I'm glad I supported Tanahashi'. I want everything to have a happy ending.

Although that final chapter with Nakamura may not be written, at least for now, it is clear that Tanahashi saw that match as an emotionally important piece of his farewell. 

The rivalry between Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shinsuke Nakamura was one of the pillars on which the modern identity of NJPW was built in the late 2000s and early 2010s. It wasn't just about two great wrestlers competing for championships, but about a clash of visions. Tanahashi represented the classic Ace, the pure hero destined to save the company after years of crisis, while Nakamura embodied rebellion, unpredictable charisma, and a different way of understanding stardom inside the ring.

Their matches helped elevate the prestige of the IWGP championship and redefine what it meant to be a superstar in New Japan. Each match between them conveyed the feeling that the future of the company was at stake, whether for control of the main event or for the very soul of the promotion.