Hiroshi Tanahashi Inserts Himself Into Shota Umino-Jon Moxley Rivalry at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door

Hiroshi Tanahashi made his presence felt at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door, stepping in to break up a heated confrontation between IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Shota Umino and Jon Moxley.

The night featured Umino defending his IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship against PAC, a match that came together after PAC issued a direct challenge to the reigning champion. Umino accepted, and the bout was set as one of the showcase matches for the joint event. Inside the ring, Umino showed why he’s established himself as a legitimate top-tier competitor, throwing hard-hitting offense at PAC throughout the contest.

Following the match, a confrontation broke out between Umino and Moxley — two figures whose paths have been on a collision course given the prestige of the IWGP Global Heavyweight title and Moxley’s long shadow over both AEW and his NJPW history. Before things could fully escalate, Tanahashi stepped in to interrupt, adding yet another layer to what is quickly becoming one of the more compelling storylines running through the crossover event.

Tanahashi’s involvement is significant given his standing in NJPW as a living legend and his own complex history with figures like Moxley. Whether he’s inserting himself as a peacekeeper, a challenger, or something else entirely remains to be seen — but his presence signals that the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship picture is far from settled. Forbidden Door continues to deliver the kind of cross-promotional intrigue that makes the annual event one of wrestling’s most unpredictable nights on the calendar.