 A couple of months later, Iizuka suffered a broken left ankle, which sidelined him until August.After 33 years with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, on January 7, 2019, NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi announced Iizuka would retire from professional wrestling the following month, with his retirement match taking place on February 21.In the weeks leading up to his retirement match, Iizuka's former partner Hiroyoshi Tenzan, whom Iizuka turned on in 2008, began attempting to get the "old" Iizuka back, wearing a Friendship Tag t-shirt and constantly reminding Iizuka of their past together.