Hiroshi Tanahashi appears following IWGP Global title match at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door
The conclusion of the IWGP Global title match at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door saw the return of Hiroshi Tanahashi.
In the fourth match of the night, Shota Umino successfully defended his IWGP Global Championship against Pac in a singles match.
In a closely fought battle with a few close falls, both men took each other to their limits. Midway through the match, Pac proceeded to throw Umino over the top rope through a table placed ringside. Both men also exchanged multiple strikes, jabs, and elbows.
However, Pac also used his massive arsenal and incorporated high-flying moves and submissions in an attempt to take down Umino. The Japanese wrestler outlasted them all and used the Northern Lights Bomb on Pac for the victory.
In the end, as Umino celebrated his win, the Death Riders appeared ringside to support the defeated Pac. While Marina Shafir expressed her support for Pac, Moxley entered the ring to possibly attack Umino. Moxley and Umino also share a storied past, where Moxley was his trainer.
However, Hiroshi Tanahashi made a surprising appearance without his iconic blonde hair and confronted Moxley, resulting in The Death Riders retreating. Tanahashi then proceeded to put the IWGP Global title belt on Umino’s waist before celebrating with him on the big stage.
Tanahashi’s last AEW match dates back to the 2025 Forbidden Door PPV, where his team defeated the Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli & Jon Moxley), Gabe Kidd & The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) in a Lights Out Steel cage match.
Shounak Chakrabarti is an experienced sports journalist with a lifelong passion for athletics and storytelling. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Journalism from the University of Leeds and joined F4WOnline in 2025.
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