Hiroshi Tanahashi comments on Kazuchika Okada leaving NJPW.
On Thursday night, New Japan Pro-Wrestling announced that Kazuchika Okada would be leaving the company when his contract expires at the end of January. Okada will work three matches in February as his final bouts.
Speaking to Tokyo Sports, NJPW President and long-time Okada rival and friend Hiroshi Tanahashi commented on Okada's upcoming departure.
"I can only express my gratitude in the sense that I have contributed to New Japan for the past 12 years. Speaking personally, I would have liked to have seen more matches with the new generation (Shota Umino, Ren Narita, Yota Tsuji, and Yuya Uemura).... However, if I feel for Okada, I know that he has done enough in New Japan. I hope he will spread his wings to the world. If he is going overseas with what he has achieved at the top in New Japan, I hope that he will show (them) Kazuchika Okada. It's the same feeling I had with Nakamura. I am very proud of him.
"I think things will get interesting from now on. We have an abundance of talent right now, and there are a lot of young fighters in the dojo. When the rain stops, there will be a rainbow. Who will light up the future of New Japan when the rain of money stops falling?"
Okada and Tanahashi are set to have one more match on February 11. The two men are still NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions along with Tomohiro Ishii.
Fans can learn more about Okada's final NJPW matches by clicking here.
