Kazuchika Okada’s final match at Korakuen Hall before exiting New Japan Pro Wrestling included a tearful address to the audience.
In front of an electric crowd, Okada teamed with Hiroshi Tanahashi and Tomohiro Ishii and retained their championships against TMDK’s Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls & Kosei Fujita.
The 22-minute match saw the audience vociferously support the outgoing star and the dedicated focus placed on Fujita, who ate the fall after absorbing a top rope elbow and Rainmaker from Okada.
Okada shook hands with TMDK while Fujita lay on the mat selling the loss and was acknowledged by Okada.
The departing Okada thanked the crowd as he began to cry, thanking them for seventeen years and vacating his championship after this final defense.
Okada said this was the final match on his New Japan contract but would be wrestling three more matches in February including a 1-on-1 match with Tanahashi on February 11 in Osaka.
He will end his tenure with NJPW after the February 23 & 24 New Beginning cards in Sapporo.
