Hiroyoshi Tenzan’s Retirement Match Set Against Satoshi Kojima

Hiroyoshi Tenzan’s legendary in-ring career will officially come to a close on August 15, and NJPW fans now know exactly who will stand across the ring from him for that final bout. During the July 18 G1 Climax event, Tenzan announced that his last opponent will be longtime partner and rival Satoshi Kojima.

The farewell match is set to take place as part of the G1 Climax semifinal show, giving Tenzan’s send-off a fitting stage on one of NJPW’s biggest cards of the year. Tenzan, a former IWGP Heavyweight Champion, has been a fixture of New Japan for decades, and his career has been intertwined with Kojima’s dating back to their time together as one half of the legendary tag team Tenkoji — a pairing that became one of the most decorated and beloved duos in New Japan history.

That shared history makes Kojima the natural choice to close out Tenzan’s in-ring story. The two have shared the ring countless times over the years, both as partners chasing tag titles and as opponents in singles competition, and their bond has remained a defining thread throughout both men’s careers. Fans have long associated the two as a unit, so seeing them meet one last time, with Tenzan’s career on the line, adds significant emotional weight to the August date.

No further details on the rest of the semifinal card or additional festivities surrounding Tenzan’s retirement have been announced. As August 15 approaches, more information regarding the tribute is expected to surface, but for now, New Japan faithful know the headline: one of the promotion’s most respected veterans will take his final bow against the man who has stood by his side for so much of his career.

Tenzan’s farewell closes out a chapter of NJPW history that stretches back to the promotion’s golden era, and his final match against Kojima promises to be an emotional moment for a roster and fanbase that have watched Tenkoji become one of wrestling’s most enduring partnerships.