7 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Dynamite (1 June)

6. Hiroshi Tanahashi Becomes All Elite

Hiroshi Tanahashi AEW
AEW

The main event for Forbidden Door is set.

CM Punk set out his stall post-six man and said he wanted a top calibre opponent for the joint AEW/New Japan pay-per-view. Enter one Hiroshi Tanahashi - he walked out onto the Dynamite set (which was a cool visual for those who know how Tana's career has inspired some on the roster) and pointed at Punk.

Hiroshi is a big time rival for the new AEW Champ, and there was no messing about here. Yes, Forbidden Door might become busy with exhibition bouts, but Punk vs. Tanahashi is a damn good one. It's the kind of showdown that nobody thought they'd ever get to see.

AEW would be wise to furnish their more casual viewers with some context on Tanahashi's career over the next few weeks. Although he doesn't need to wrestle on TV, he does need to be hyped for those All Eliters who don't watch New Japan regularly.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.