During a press conference alongside New Japan President Hiroshi Tanahashi, veteran wrestler Hiroyoshi Tenzan officially announced his upcoming retirement from the ring. The 55-year-old veteran will step away after one final match on August 15, 2026, at Ryogoku Sumo Hall during the G1 Climax 36 semifinals. Trained in the NJPW dojo, he made his debut on January 11, 1991, at just 19 years old and quickly rose as one of the promotion’s most resilient competitors and will therefore be missed greatly by long-term fans.
“Thank you for coming today. It’s been 35 years for me in wrestling, but on August 15, I will officially retire. I don’t know whether it’s been a long 35 years or if it’s gone by in a flash, but I know that I’ve had so much support from so many people, and I’m so very thankful. I came into this business not knowing right from left, but to come as far as I did, and to have lived as a pro-wrestler is something that I’m truly grateful for. If there’s anything that I can do after I retire to help NJPW in any way, then I would appreciate the chance.” – Hiroyoshi Tenzan
Over his decorated 35-year journey, Tenzan captured the IWGP Heavyweight Championship four times, a record 12 IWGP Tag Team titles, and won the prestigious G1 Climax tournament on three occasions (2003, 2004, and 2006). A founding member of nWo Japan and later Great Bash Heel, he memorably formed iconic partnerships with Masahiro Chono and Satoshi Kojima. And while he never became a big star in the United States, he did wrestle sporadically for WCW in the 90s, sharing the ring with names such as Randy Savage, The British Bulldog, and Rick Steiner.
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