DEVELOPING: Another Longtime New Japan Icon To Retire In 2026

Hiroshi Tanahaahi isn’t the only face of New Japan retiring in 2026. It was revealed today via backstage comments from yesterday that Tiger Mask 4, the longest-lasting incarnation of the iconic masked wrestler, will retire in July 2026 after what will then be a 31-year career as one of the longtime anchors of New Japan’s Junior Heavyweight division. TM 4 followed Satoru Sayama, Mitsuharu Misawa & Koji Kanemoto as those who assumed the iconic comic book-themed persona, and there also was at least one more recent incarnation outside of New Japan.

More as it becomes available.