Tony Khan responds to rumor regarding the speculation that Hiroshi Tanahashi requested Shinsuke Nakamura as his final wrestling opponent. The conversation comes as Tanahashi, a longtime NJPW veteran, prepares to headline his last bout at Wrestle Kingdom 20, where he will face Kazuchika Okada one last time.
Leading up to the announcement of Okada as Tanahashi’s farewell opponent, various reports had circulated suggesting that WWE star Shinsuke Nakamura was initially considered for this high-profile role. Further speculation claimed AEW President Tony Khan may have been involved in blocking this matchup due to Nakamura’s contract with WWE, preventing him from participating.
Khan Reflects on Tanahashi’s Legacy and Clarifies His Position
During an interview with Q101, Tony Khan shared his admiration for Hiroshi Tanahashi and their longstanding professional relationship. Khan highlighted AEW’s efforts to honor Tanahashi, referencing memorable moments such as the Lights Out Cage Match and Tanahashi’s involvement in the main event of AEW’s Forbidden Door collaboration.
Addressing the swirling reports, Khan firmly denied the claim that he was in any way opposed to Tanahashi facing Nakamura or that such an arrangement was ever formally requested. He expressed surprise at the detailed nature of some rumors, questioning the accuracy of the narratives being circulated:
“That is actually something I read about, and I was surprised to read that. I’m not sure where that all came from, I don’t really understand some of that story, and it was a very detailed story with a lot of, if I may, it seemed like they thought they could read minds with that story.”
— Tony Khan, AEW President
Khan went on to critique the narrative’s assumptions regarding the motivations and feelings of the people involved:
“Not only did they say ‘well this happened and this happened’, but they’re like ‘he felt this way about it, and he felt this way, and he was thinking’, and it’s like, are you telepathic? Like a lot of that never happened, and a lot of it was how would you know what that guy was thinking, or that guy? I thought that was an interesting story, I’ll put it that way.”
— Tony Khan, AEW President
Significance as Tanahashi Bids Farewell at Wrestle Kingdom 20
As Hiroshi Tanahashi prepares to conclude his legendary career against rival Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 20, Tony Khan’s comments bring clarity to ongoing rumors about the selection process for Tanahashi’s last opponent. The remarks from Khan reinforce AEW’s respect for Tanahashi and underline both organizations’ collaborative history. Attention now shifts to the highly anticipated event, as wrestling fans worldwide prepare to witness a major milestone in NJPW history amid speculation and backstage narratives involving prominent figures like Shinsuke Nakamura and Tony Khan.
