Hiroshi Tanahashi To Wrestle For AEW Championship?
Could the New Japan Pro Wrestling icon bridge the divide?
Hiroshi Tanahashi has alluded to a possible future AEW World Championship match should he defeat current All Elite Wrestling steward Chris Jericho in their non-title clash at Wrestle Kingdom 14.
The two will go to war on January 5th as the annual tradition stretches over two nights at the Tokyo Dome for the first time in its rich history, but 'The Ace' suggested that there may be more to this than just a one-time only meeting between company figureheads.
Speaking to Tokyo Sports, Tanahashi (according to translations) referred to going to AEW as walking through the "Forbidden Door" noting also that victory over Jericho would potentially open that locked route. He also suggested that Jericho had become "lazy" due to his continued reliance on NJPW elements of his gimmick such as his 'Painmaker' persona.
There's been no further comment from Tanahashi or a response from Chris Jericho at this point, and the words could just be bluster from the NJPW legend to help build further hype for their huge clash. Jericho will join fellow AEW crossover star Jon Moxley has part of the Wrestle Kingdom festivities, though there appears to still be no overt relationship beyond these particular talent arrangements. More on this story as and when it (hopefully) develops.