Shota Umino has accepted PAC’s challenge for a match at Forbidden Door, with the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship set to be defended.
The challenge was accepted on Saturday at Yuji Nagata Produces Blue Justice XVIII, held at Kimitsu City Gymnasium in Chiba, Japan.
After Umino and Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Jake Lee and Zane Jay, PAC’s video challenge aired for the crowd.
PAC had issued the challenge through AEW’s social media, tying it to Gabe Kidd’s attack on Umino at Dominion one week earlier.
“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,” PAC said.
PAC then invited Umino to “fly across the Pacific” for Forbidden Door on June 28, adding:
“And whilst you’re at it, why don’t you bring me the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship for the ride?”
Umino accepted the challenge after the video played.
“The IWGP Global title is just that — global,” Umino said. “I am ready to fight anyone anywhere in the world. PAC, I’ll see you at Forbidden Door, and I will prove that NJPW is the best!”
Umino: The IWGP Global title is just that- global! I am ready to fight anyone anywhere in the world. PAC, I'll see you at Forbidden Door, and I will prove that NJPW is the best!@Shooter_us has ACCEPTED @BASTARDPAC's challenge for Forbidden Door!
pic.twitter.com/UMKtixPzVY— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) June 20, 2026
The match would mark Umino’s first defense since winning the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship at NJPW Dominion. Umino pinned Andrade El Idolo in a three-way match also involving Drilla Moloney, earning the first IWGP title of his career.
Kidd attacked Umino after the match and told him he was “never one of the Death Riders.”
Umino has history with the group through Jon Moxley, who mentored him during Moxley’s 2019 run in New Japan.
