First things first. For his showdown with Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 14 on Sun., Jan. 5, Chris Jericho was introduced as the AEW World champ. While he had it under his jacket and shirt until he hit the ring, he also wore the belt at the Tokyo Dome.
Tokyo Dome! #LeChampion @IAmJericho is here! #AEW #njwk14
— TDE Wrestling (@tde_wrestling) January 5, 2020
➡️ https://t.co/nA6zFRMmxQ pic.twitter.com/gOCaAyKr5q
That’s a point of interest because Tanahashi referenced opening the “forbidden door” to All Elite during an interview promoting the match, and Jericho then responded by confirming the legendary New Japan superstar would get a shot at his title if he could win at WK 14.
It’s pretty remarkable that any of this is going on just a year after the announcement of AEW’s formation resulted in bad blood between NJPW and its former stars & current All Elite Executive Vice-Presidents Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks. But could it actually happen? Would Tanahashi get an AEW title shot?
No.
Well, maybe some day. The forbidden door was cracked open tonight, and we got a really good match from Jericho & Tanahashi too. Both men played their characters to the hilt. We got big match spots in and around the ring, and cool counters.
.@tanahashi1_100 dodges the Judas Effect and hits Jericho's own Codebreaker! #njwk14
— TDE Wrestling (@tde_wrestling) January 5, 2020
➡️ https://t.co/nA6zFRMmxQ pic.twitter.com/w7o5zy5VJV
@IAmJericho #njwk14
— TDE Wrestling (@tde_wrestling) January 5, 2020
➡️ https://t.co/nA6zFRMmxQ pic.twitter.com/yYkJdGCcJX
But in the end, the AEW World champ locked The 1/100 Ace in a Liontamer, and Tanahashi tapped.
Maybe next year.
"The forbidden door is closed, but I don't think it needs to be closed." "Put aside all of the hurt feelings and egos." Chris Jericho wants AEW and NJPW to work together. #NJWK14 #WrestleKingdom14 pic.twitter.com/3ovoCMqfad
— Jim Valley (@JimValley) January 5, 2020
Get all the results from night two of Wrestle Kingdom 14 here.