PAC Challenges Shota Umino for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship at AEW Forbidden Door

By Noah Leatherland

With Forbidden Door less than two weeks away, a major crossover title challenge between AEW and NJPW has been issued. PAC has called out the new IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Shota Umino, daring to be his first challenger for the white belt.

Shota Umino has had a complex past with the Death Riders over the years. Whilst a young lion in the NJPW Dojo, Umino was taken under the wing of Jon Moxley, who affectionately named him ‘Shooter’. Umino added elements inspired by Moxley into his style and presentation, even using Moxley’s Death Rider finishing move.

Umino was seen as an ally to the predecessor of the Death Riders faction, the Blackpool Combat Club. Umino teamed with the Blackpool Combat Club at NJPW STRONG Resurgence, Dominion and Forbidden Door in 2023, and tagged with Moxley at Sakura Genesis and Wrestling Dontaku in 2024. Umino also challenged Moxley for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship that year.

However, after winning the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship just a few days ago at Dominion, Umino’s celebrations were cut short by the Death Riders-aligned Gabe Kidd. Now, Umino has been challenged by another Death Rider, PAC.

Umino and PAC have faced off one-on-one once before. Whilst Umino was on excursion at UK’s Revolution Pro, he unsuccessfully challenged PAC for the AEW All-Atlantic Championship. Now, Umino has a chance to level the scoreboard.