IWGP Global champion responds to challenge for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door
The IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship looks to be on the line at Forbidden Door.
PAC’s video challenging champion Shota Umino for the June 28 pay-per-view was shown on Saturday at Yuji Nagata Produce Blue Justice XVIII, following Umino and Ryusuke Taguchi’s win over Zane Jay and Jake Lee.
After the video aired, Umino said:
“The IWGP Global title is just that- global! I am ready to fight anyone anywhere in the world. PAC, I’ll see you at Forbidden Door, and I will prove that NJPW is the best!”
PAC challenged Umino to a title match in a video posted to AEW’s social media on Thursday, saying:
“Next Sunday, June 28, is Forbidden Door. I’ll be there. Why don’t you be there? Why don’t you fly across the Pacific and come fight for your honor?
“And whilst you’re at it, why don’t you bring me the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship for the ride?”
The updated lineup for the show is below:
AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2026 Card
- Steel Cage Match: MJF, Kevin Knight & Kyle Fletcher, Jake Doyle & Andrade El Idolo vs. Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong, Orange Cassidy, Darby Allin & Konosuke Takeshita
- Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Finals: Mercedes Mone vs. Athena OR Maya World
- Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament Finals: Swerve Strickland vs. Will Ospreay
- AEW Women’s World Championship Match: Thekla vs. Starlight Kid
- AEW Continental Championship Match: Jon Moxley vs. Bandido
- AEW World Tag Team Championship Match: Adam Copeland & Christian Cage vs. The Dogs
- Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr
- IWGP Global Championship: Shota Umino vs. PAC
Ian Carey is a writer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, whose work has been featured in NOW Magazine, The Huffington Post, and more. A lifelong wrestling aficionado born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, he has covered the industry for a decade and a half. He joined the f4wonline.com team in 2019.