12 Ups & 0 Downs From AEW X NJPW Forbidden Door

11. Holy Shibata

Katsuyori Shibata
AEW

While Forbidden Door's other surprise appearance could have been seen a mile away by a blind man, Katsuyori Shibata's arrival was totally unforeseen, blowing the roof off the United Center as a result.

Last seen working LA Dojo student Ren Narita in his first true wrestling match in close to five years at Wrestle Kingdom 16, Shibata came to fight. United Empire had set upon Orange Cassidy following his defeat to Will Ospreay. Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta failed in their attempted save, setting the stage for New Japan's ultimate head-kicker, who came out in fight shorts, ready to maim.

Aussie Open were downed before Ospreay found himself trapped in a rear naked choke. Fortunately for the Englishman, Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis saved further damage by getting him out of the ring, with Ospreay vs. Shibata now very much on the table.

An unexpected, delightful surprise here. Shibata getting physical remains one of the most cathartic things in modern wrestling given his near-death experience (and miraculous comeback from) wrestling Kazuchika Okada in April 2017. That Chicago received him with such reverence proves, once again, that those spitting outdated "casual fan" rhetoric around these events are out of touch with reality.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.