wrestling / News
PAC Appears in Video at NJPW Blue Justice, Shota Umino Accepts PAC’s Challenge for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door
Image Credit: AEW
As previously reported, AEW star and Death Riders member PAC challenged IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Shota Umino to a match at Forbidden Door. During today’s NJPW Blue Justice XVIII event, PAC’s earlier video aired after Shota Umino’s match with Ryusuke Taguchi, in which PAC once again challenged Umino for the title. Umino accepted the challenge, making the title bout official for Forbidden Door.
PAC said in the video, “Shota Umino. New Japan Pro Wrestling. I hope you got the message that Gabe sent to ya. You are not, and you will never be a Death Rider. You see, we are built different. We are a different caliber, and we have a different purpose, something I imagine is missing from an individual like you. Well, hey, Shota, I can understand how you feel. You’re struggling to understand, searching for meaning, and I bet you want revenge, dontcha? You want revenge for what Gabe [Kidd] did to you at Dominion.”
He continued, “Well, here I am, extending the Olive Branch because the way I see it, 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 fight for your honor? And while you’re at it, why don’t you bring your IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship for the ride, because I promise you, if you have the balls, I will stand toe to toe, and I will elaborate. I will help you understand who the Death Riders are. And I will help you comprehend why we do what you do.”
Umino later accepted PAC’s challenge, recalling their past match for the now-defunct AEW Atlantic Championship at RevPro Live In Sheffield in 2022, which PAC won. You can view that clip of PAC extending the challenge again and Shota’s response below:
Saturday Night #AEWCollision
8/7c TNT & HBO Max
Tomorrow, 6/20!@BASTARDPAC in Action!PAC made it clear he wants a shot at the IWGP Global Championship, held by @Shooter_us!
The Bastard PAC will be in action, TOMORROW NIGHT! pic.twitter.com/RJosSe1cbO
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 19, 2026
Saturday Night #AEWCollision
8/7c TNT & HBO Max
Tomorrow, 6/20!@BASTARDPAC in Action!PAC made it clear he wants a shot at the IWGP Global Championship, held by @Shooter_us!
The Bastard PAC will be in action, TOMORROW NIGHT! pic.twitter.com/RJosSe1cbO
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 19, 2026
🫡永田裕志 Produce Blue Justice XVIII ～青義進陸～🟦
第3試合終了後、ビジョンに映し出されたのはなんとAEWのPAC‼️
ForbiddenDoorで海野翔太の持つIWGPグローバルヘビー級ベルトへの挑戦を表明‼️「NJPW WORLD」で配信中📡
視聴＆登録⏩「NJPW WORLD」で検索#njpwworld #bluejusticexviii pic.twitter.com/9G0mILGaVm
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) June 20, 2026
海野「IWGP GLOBALだ。どこの国だろうが、どこの団体だろうが、新日本プロレスのIWGPが欲しいんであれば、俺は挑戦を受ける。PAC、4年前、当時の（AEW）アトランティック王座、現インターナショナル王座、レボプロで闘ったお前との試合、俺は忘れてねえからな」
全文https://t.co/Fh3g8trw2T pic.twitter.com/gOkCxbQFql
— 新日本プロレスリング株式会社 (@njpw1972) June 20, 2026
