The Next New Japan Wrestlers Likely To Retire In The Next Few Years

The Next New Japan Wrestlers Likely To Retire In The Next Few Years
August 30, 2026
By Ryan Porzl

The past decade or so has been an interesting one for New Japan Pro Wrestling. Japan's top promotion saw a rebirth for most of the 2010s before being forced into a rebuilding phase in recent years for various reasons including departures and age. As part of the rebuilding, future young lions continue to graduate the New Japan Dojo and hopefully begin what will be careers that will carry the torch in the years to come while others are coming into their own and taking the spotlight. Among these, New Japan has also seen many beloved legends close the book on their careers. Since 2018, New Japan and it's fans have said goodbye to Super Strong Machine, Takashi Iizuka, Manabu Nakanishi, Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, and the ace himself Hiroshi Tanahashi all the while Tomoaki Honma has announced his intentions to follow. In this article, we'll take a look at New Japan names who will likely ride off in the sunset by the end of the decade.

Note: I don't own any pictures. Credit to New Japan.

Yuji Nagata

Age (as of writing): 58

Debut: 1992

We'll start with the man who's one of the first you think of with this list. Few have flown the New Japan flag more proudly than Yuji Nagata. Nagata has been New Japan through and through from training at their dojo to playing an important roles. Nagata mostly shined in the 2000s first being one of several names to help carry New Japan during the dark ages of the early 2000s to playing a big role in the company's rebirth in the late 2000s/early 2010s. However, Nagata's days are clearly winding down and you can probably make a good bet he'll hang the boots up within the next two years. Nagata is not only one of the oldest guys on this list but probably one of the least active members. As of writing, Nagata has only wrestled eleven matches in 2026 with three being in New Japan and two of those being on shows he produced. In recent years, Nagata has clearly slowed down in the ring and he mostly spends his time competing outside New Japan. He hasn't competed in a New Japan tournament in three years and while he did get shots at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship and NEVER Openweight Championship last year, they felt like last hurrah type matches. Meanwhile, he's also begun transitioning into becoming a trainer as he's helped train many of New Japan's current up and comers. Finally, Nagata has two milestones coming that would seem to be perfect to close his career as 2027 will mark his 35th Anniversary while 2028 will mark his 60th Birthday. Overall, competing less and less, having a trainer role, and with two milestones coming up, all signs point to Blue Justice getting ready to pass the New Japan banner to the next generation soon.

Satoshi Kojima

Age (as of writing): 55

Debut: 1991

Kojima is an interesting one as he's one of the oldest on this list and has a lot of mileage but he'll probably last longer than Nagata. Unlike Nagata, Kojima doesn't appear to be slowing down too much as he's already competed far more than Nagata has this year. He's also not entirely done as he competed in New Japan's World Tag League in late 2025 and the New Japan Cup this year. Meanwhile, while New Japan doesn't have too much for him, he has found a small career revival in other promotions in recent years like Pro Wrestling NOAH and the American based MLW winning titles in both. Because of this, I don't see Kojima retiring too soon. In fact, I could see Kojima being the last of his generation to hang up the boots in New Japan as most have already retired and I see him outlasting Nagata. That said, Kojima will be 56 years old in September and has been competing for 35 years. It's possible he might make it to 2030 but with New Japan focusing on newer talent and many of his generation having already retired, it wouldn't be surprising if New Japan management might urge him to consider retiring soon. There's also the possibility with his age and mileage, just one major injury can make him decide to end things. As mentioned, Kojima's partner Hiroyoshi Tenzan just retired which means Kojima will be without his partner and it's unknown if he'll want to keep going with his partner done.

Togi Makabe

Age (as of writing): 54

Debut: 1997

Makabe is the late bloomer of this list. Originally debuting in 1997 under his real name "Shinya Makabe", Makabe spent the first decade floundering before rebranding himself as "Togi Makabe" and becoming a Japanese Bruiser Brody where he emerged as a top name in the late 2000s/early 2010s even reaching the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. However, that time is clearly over. Makabe is another that's slowed down in recent years as he's wrestled less in recent years. He's also no longer competes for titles outside the occasional Six Man Tag Title shot. At the same time, he's also dabbled in commentary which could be a sign he's getting ready for life after the ring. He has recently got the band back together with Yano for a potential IWGP Tag Title shot but it feels like a "one more for the road" than a big comeback. 2027 seems like the best year for The Unchained Gorilla to hang up the boots. He'll be 55, it'll be his 30th Anniversary, and 2027 will mark the year his other partner Tomoaki Honma retires. 

Toru Yano

Age (as of writing): 48

Debut: 2002

New Japan's resident spoiler is an interesting case. Yano has nearly 25 years in wrestling and 48 years old but despite that and despite him moving down the ladder, he's someone who might stick it out for awhile longer. Unlike most of New Japan wrestlers, Yano isn't known for his hard hitting style and epic wars but rather, comedy type matches and matches that can be on the short side. As a result, his body shouldn't be as banged up and shot as most of his generation so there probably isn't an urge for him to call it a career like the others. While he has gone down the ladder in recent times, Yano also still remains busy and actually still maintains a full time schedule by usually working with the young lions so I don't think he plans on retiring any time soon. If anything, he's the guy with the best chance of making it to 2030. 

Jado

Age (as of writing): 57

Debut: 1989

Originally, I figured I put Jado and Gedo together but they've been separate in recent years. I'm not sure what Jado's backstage status is but he does fit the bill in winding down. As mentioned, he's 57 with nearly 40 years in the ring. On top of that, Jado has clearly slowed down as he's only competed in six matches this year, he hasn't challenged for a championship in forever, and he's only done four tournaments in the last ten years. It is possible with his 40th Anniversary being in 2029, he might try to hold on but it's also possible New Japan might try to convince him to call it a day especially if he works backstage.

Gedo

Age (as of writing): 57

Debut: 1989

Gedo is a weird case. In some cases, you think he would've retired by now seeing he's been New Japan's booker for the past fifteen years and he's mostly been a manager in that time period for guys like Kazuchika Okada and David Finlay in the past. Honestly, I'm not sure why Gedo is still around in the ring as he has his stuff outside the ring that I mentioned and he's no longer a title contender, he barely does tournaments anymore, and feels like he just takes a spot. Once again, Gedo is near 60 and long past his prime. Gedo is someone I can't predict other than 2029 as that would mark his 60th Birthday and 40 years in the business so maybe he'll stick it out till then. Aside from that, I'm not sure when Gedo will call it a day since it feels like he probably should've by now but given his age, mileage, and other commitments backstage. That said, the clock is still ticking.

Hirooki Goto

Age (as of writing): 47

Debut: 2003

Goto is another in an interesting position. While Goto is getting up there in age and in mileage, he hasn't slowed down like the others as he's not only still high on the food chain but he was finally able to become IWGP World Champion last year. Goto also still works a full time schedule and actively still pursues championships and tournaments as he was just in this year's G1 Climax. Unlike some on this list, I don't think Goto will retire in the foreseeable future. Like Yano and Kojima, he could realistically make it to the next decade barring major injuries. He's also got a ways to go before he starts slowing down as he still has shown he's got something to offer. That said, Goto is getting older so he could start to move down the ladder within the next year especially with New Japan's next generation currently on the rise. With the likes of Yota Tsuji, Ryohei Oiwa, Yuya Uemura, Shota Umino, and Ren Narita beginning to rise, that likely means there won't be much space for Goto in the main event. Finally, with a lot of his older peers retiring, Goto will eventually be in their current position at some point being the elder statesman.

Tomohiro Ishii

Age (as of writing): 50

Debut: 1996

Ishii has perhaps the more inspirational story on this article. The Stone Pitbull turned pro in 1996 and spent a decade as a journeyman before signing with New Japan in 2006. After then spending seven years with little direction but having a strong cult following, he finally took the next step in 2013. Ishii has been a popular fixture in New Japan's midcard and tag division specifically the NEVER Openweight Championship. However, Ishii might be nearing the end due to his style. Ishii is known for his hard hitting matches and wars which you would think will catch up to him, if it hasn't already. As mentioned, Ishii is not only in his 50s and 30 years in the ring, his style does break down a wrestler's body. Worse, he's clearly gotten slower and he's currently out with a neck injury which will further see his skills decline. Given all these things, it wouldn't be surprising if Ishii retires within the next two years especially if his performances really nosedive once he returns from the neck injury. I can see him going down the Manabu Nakanishi path of trying to return only to eventually realize he can't go the way he wants or used to anymore and decides to call it a day.