Hiroshi Tanahashi made a video appearance on Wednesday’s edition of AEW Dynamite to challenge MJF for the AEW World Heavyweight Title.
#NJPW‘s Master of the Century @tanahashi1_100 has challenged #AEW World Heavyweight Champion @The_MJF at #ForbiddenDoor!!! Will #MJF accept?#ForbiddenDoor on Sunday, June 25th LIVE on PPV! #AEWxNJPW@njpwglobal pic.twitter.com/gilKCbCR5p
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 15, 2023
Renee Paquette told MJF backstage that the match had been made official by Tony Khan.
Nevertheless, MJF declined the match, describing Tanahashi as a “rando from a rinky-dink indie.”
Tanahashi said:
MJF, as long as you’re champion that belt won’t shine like it should. Last year at Forbidden Door I came this close to beating Moxley for the AEW Title. So this year at Forbidden Door, MJF, face me one-on-one.