New Japan Pro Wrestling’s premier annual event, Wrestle Kingdom 20, is set to take place at the iconic Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2026. There has been much anticipation and debate about which match will headline the show.
There are two major matches on the slate: a Winner Takes All double title bout between IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita and IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji, and Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement match against his longtime rival and current AEW Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada. New Japan Pro Wrestling has now confirmed the order of matches, with Tanahashi’s farewell match against Okada designated as the main event to close the evening.
Takeshita vs. Tsuji for the double championship will be the second-to-last match, marking the first time since Wrestle Kingdom VIII in 2014 that the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship won’t be featured in the main event on January 4. Following a contentious fan vote in the past, main events have typically centered around the IWGP title, but this year, Okada’s final showdown with Tanahashi will take center stage, fulfilling Okada’s wish to headline. This bout will witness Tanahashi’s last performance as he shares the ring with the New Japan Pro Wrestling president in front of what is expected to be a record crowd.
Additionally, Tanahashi’s retirement match marks the first time since the inaugural Wrestle Kingdom in 2007 that the main event on January 4 will feature no title defense. Back then, the main event was a tag team match involving wrestling legends Keiji Muto and Masahiro Chono against Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima.
Fan Take: This confirmation is huge for AEW fans because it spotlights Kazuchika Okada, AEW’s Unified Champion, in a monumental retirement match that could bridge wrestling audiences globally. It also signifies a respectful passing of the torch within pro wrestling, potentially influencing future cross-promotional storylines and boosting the sport’s international appeal.
