The June 24th episode of AEW Collision was the final stop before the huge cross-promotional PPV Forbidden Door and seemingly announced just which match will open the highly-anticipated show.
The show opened with the surprise reveal of Tetsuya Naito as the partner for Sting and Darby Allin against Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevera and Minoru Suzuki, which was just the start of the PPV news.
In the first match of the night, Hiroshi Tanahashi took on Swerve Strickland in a first-time-ever outing. After a strong back-and-forth outing the Ace of NJPW picked up the win. Following the match, his PPV opponent MJF appeared on the screen to deliver to message to Tanahashi, which seemingly revealed their match will be opening the show.
Yo, Tanahashi up here. Yeah, you weren’t dumb enough to think I’d show up in personfor your ass right? Because that’s wild. Now, here’s the deal buddy at Forbidden Door, I’m going to embarrass you. I mean full on embarrass you and anybody in the world who thought you my level.
Now, I’ve spoken to Tony Khan and I’ve told him the only way I’m showing up for Forbidden Door is if we are match one. Why? I’ll tell you why.
One, I ain’t staying in a dump like Canada longer than I have to. And two, I’m the holder of the grandest prize of them all the AEW World Heayweiht Championship, the Triple B baby. You really think I wanna spend may time watching a bunch of indy jabrones from Japan wrestle? I don’t think so.
At Forbidden Door, Tanahashi I”m gonna take that air guitar of yours, I’ma put between those gross bow-legged knees of yours and I’ma shove it right up you ass because with all due respect, ‘Ace’ you are not on the level of The Devil.
Will MJF vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi Open The AEW x NJPW Event?
Less than 24 hours away!
The incredible crossover event of the year!@AEW and NJPW present #ForbiddenDoor LIVE on PAY PER VIEW 8/7c! https://t.co/ghBa9yeLQ2#AEWxNJPWpic.twitter.com/jyMwDWWiqQ
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) June 25, 2023
While there is no confirmation whether the match will open the show, it was revealed that Freidman will be performing on the June 29th edition of Collision emanating from the FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, Ontario.
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