New Japan Pro Wrestling has officially announced the farewell matches of Kazuchika Okada, who will be wrapping up his years-long tenure with the organization, reportedly to sign with AEW, in the coming weeks.
NJPW has announced full cards for their upcoming New Beginning in Sapporo on February 23rd and 24th.
Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, and YOH will take on Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan, Aaron Henare, Francesco Akira, and Callum Newman on February 23rd, and on February 24th, Okada will team with Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ishii, Goto, and YOSHI-HASHI against Matt Riddle, Cobb, Great-O-Khan, Henare, and Akira.
Additionally, Tama Tonga will have his final NMJPW match on February 24th.
Okada has been linked to WWE as well.
Full Card for NJPW The New Beginning in Sapporo, Friday, February 23rd:
- IWGP Global Champion David Finlay defends against Nic Nemeth
- NJPW World TV Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi defends against Matt Riddle
- NEVER Openweight Champion EVIL defends against Shota Umino
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado defends against SHO
- IWGP Women’s Champion Mayu Iwatani vs. Mina Shirakawa
- Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi, Yota Tsuji, and BUSHI vs. SANADA, Taka Michinoku, Yuya Uemura, DOUKI, and Taka Michinoku
- Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, and YOH vs. Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan, Henare, Francesco Akira, and Callum Newman
- Ryusuke Taguchi, Togi Makabe, and Boltin Oleg vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Yujiro Takahashi, and Ren Narita
- Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Yuji Nagata
- Toru Yano & Tomoya vs. Tomoaki Honma & Katsuya Murashima
Full Card for NJPW The New Beginning in Sapporo, Saturday, February 24th —
- IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Tetsuya Naito defends against SANADA
- Hair vs. hair: Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura
- Shingo Takagi vs. Taichi
- Hiromu Takahashi vs. DOUKI
- BUSHI vs. TAKA Michinoku
- Nic Nemeth & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. David Finlay & Gedo
- Guerillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) vs. Guerillas of Destiny (El Phantasmo and Hikuleo)
- Kazuchika Okada’s NJPW farewell match: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto, and YOSHI-HASHI vs. Matt Riddle, Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan, Henare, and Francesco Akira
- Shota Umino, El Desperado, Togi Makabe, YOH, and Boltin Oleg vs. EVIL, SHO, Ren Narita, Dick Togo, and Yujiro Takahashi
- Toru Yano & Tomoya vs. Tomoaki Honma & Katsuya Murashima
