Photo Courtesy: WWE
Shinsuke Nakamura got the attention of the Japanese audience on Friday when he uttered the catchphrase of one of his former rivals in New Japan.
After teaming with Jey Uso against Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed at Ryogoku Kokugikan on Friday, Nakamura addressed the audience with Tokyo Sports reporting (English translation via Google Translate):
Nakamura took the microphone in the ring and said to the fans, “Tokyo! WWE is back at Ryogoku Kokugikan again this year. Are you having fun? Let’s have more fun than any other city in the world!” He then added, “We love you, Japan!” and concluded with Tanahashi’s signature line, “Yaaao!”
Hiroshi Tanahashi referred to the message on X, stating, “Huh? I thought I heard something…”
The two were cornerstones in New Japan Pro Wrestling during the company’s dark days through the 2000s and its resurgence in the 2010s before Nakamura left for WWE in early 2016.
The two have not had a 1-on-1 match in over a decade, when they last met at the G1 Climax in 2015. Nakamura’s final match in a New Japan ring occurred in January 2016, teaming with Kazuchika Okada and Tomohiro Ishii against Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Katsuyori Shibata.
Tanahashi will retire on January 4, 2026, at Wrestle Kingdom 20 in the Tokyo Dome. His opponent has not been announced, but Tanahashi stated it would be a 1-on-1 match.
AloJapan.com