New Japan Pro Wrestling’s President Hiroshi Tanahashi stunned fans this week by making an appearance and competing on the May 25, episode of AEW Collision.
Tanahashi was revealed as the mystery partner of Claudio Castagnoli and Daniel Garcia in a trios match that saw them face Lance Archer and The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch.) The match ended with Tanahashi hitting Vincent with his signature Sling Blade, followed by the High Fly Flow, to get the win for his team.
The forbidden door has been opened as Hiroshi Tanahashi joins Castagnoli & Garcia.
Watch #AEWCollision LIVE on TBS!@LanceHoyt | @DEATHxWALKS | @NoNamexVincent | @ClaudioCSRO | @GarciaWrestling | @tanahashi1_100 pic.twitter.com/CSVdHqDr9m
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 26, 2024
This marked Tanahashi’s first match in AEW since his appearance at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2023. At that event, Tanahashi unsuccessfully challenged then-AEW World Champion MJF. The Trios match was also Tanahashi’s second match on AEW Collision. His last bout on the show saw him defeat Swerve Strickland on the June 24, 2023 episode.
What’s to Come?
Tanahashi’s involvement with the show won’t be the last time fans see names from New Japan Pro Wrestling on AEW programming. On June 30, 2024, the two promotions will team up to hold the third annual Forbidden Door crossover event. The show will take place in Elmont, New York from the UBS Arena.
So far, the only match confirmed will see the AEW World Championship defended against the winner of the Casino Battle Royale match that will take place on the May 29, edition of AEW Dynamite. Participants for that match have yet to be confirmed.
