Tag: aew x njpw forbidden door

We’re Live, Pal: AEW Forbidden Door preview

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

It’s another episode of We’re Live, Pal which is also available for free on YouTube below.

Joining Andrew Zarian and I for the majority of the show was author and podcaster J.D. Oliva. We talked about his brand new book GAIJIN, which you can currently pledge on Kickstarter.

We also talked about the low AEW Dynamite rating, the difference between AEW today from five years ago, and why the compaby doesn’t feel like a true alternative right now. J.D. also talked about why the Wyatt Sicks doesn’t work for him yet.

Then, Andrew and I took a look at this weekend’s AEW Forbidden Door.

You can follow us on Twitter.

For website subscribers, you can click here to listen (sub needed).

Samoa Joe issues trios match challenge to Chris Jericho for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A new trios match has been added to Forbidden Door.

After Chris Jericho and Big Bill defeated Private Party on AEW Collision, the two along with Bryan Keith continued to attack Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy until Samoa Joe, Hook, and Katsuyori Shibata came out for the save.

Joe then cut a promo saying that Jericho’s learning tree sucks, and they come from different backgrounds and different school of thoughts. He then issued the trios challenge for Forbidden Door. The match, however, has yet to be made official.

Jericho has debuted a new persona since taking the FTW Championship away from Hook, taking Big Bill and Bryan Keith under his “learning tree”, often giving patronizing advice to those he comes across.

Since his loss to Jericho at Double or Nothing thanks to Bryan Keith, Hook has been looking for revenge. He and Samoa Joe have since agreed to have each other’s backs, with Shibata joining them to form a trio. Earlier on Collision, the trio defeated Ari Daivari, Tony Nese, and Josh Woods of the Premier Athletes.

Lio Rush advances to TNT title ladder match at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

Lio Rush will have his shot at winning the TNT title at next Sunday’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door by virtue of his victory over Action Andretti on Friday’s AEW Rampage.

With the win, Rush joins the six-man ladder match for the vacant title alongside Ring of Honor Champion Mark Briscoe, Konosuke Takeshita, Jack Perry and Dante Martin. One more participant has yet to be determined.

Rush got the win over Andretti after a unique rope-assisted stunner followed by his frog splash for the win. He made his surprise return to the company last month as part of the Casino gauntlet match for a future World title shot. The win over Andretti is his first in three bouts since that night.

The title was made vacant after then-champion Adam Copeland broke his leg on a jump gone wrong from the top of a steel cage onto Malakai Black at last month’s Double or Nothing.

Fight Game: Swerve vs. Ospreay heats up

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

John LaRocca and I are back to talk about the major topics in the world of professional wrestling on this week’s Fight Game Podcast.

We kicked off the show with our Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down winners and losers of the week. Then, we went through our Top Five topics of the week which included discussions on the following:

  • A great face-off between Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay at this past Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite
  • Early thoughts on The Wyatt Sick6’s debut on WWE Raw
  • Drew McIntyre’s curse at the ‘Castle’
  • Episode 3 of Who Killed WCW?
  • NXT’s no. 1 contender’s battle royal this past Tuesday and the subsequent booking confusion for the men’s NXT title shot

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

Wrestling Observer Live: WWE Clash at the Castle fallout & the build to AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door

Posted on by Andrew Zarian

On today’s Wrestling Observer Live, I break down WWE’s Clash at the Castle from Saturday, including my thoughts on the finish of World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre. How many more times will Drew get screwed over?

Also, It was announced this morning at NOAH’s Yokohama show that WWE star AJ Styles is wrestling on their July 13th show. This comes after last week’s announcement that IYO SKY is wrestling for the Marigold promotion on the same day. I talk about these new relationships WWE is forming and how it could both benefit them and wrestling worldwide.

I also break down AEW Collision’s 1st anniversary show and how much the presentation has changed in just a year. Plus, let’s look at the build to Forbidden Door and MJF’s big in-ring return this Wednesday against Rush.

If that wasn’t enough, how about Chad Gable’s new WWE contract, the G1 lineup, Jeff Hardy’s return to TNA, and much more!

Click here to listen or watch below on YouTube:

Jim Ross recovering from virus, will be at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Jim Ross says he’s recovering from a virus.

On the latest episode of his podcast, Ross said that he was traveling home when he suddenly began to feel sick. After a stay in the hospital, he is currently recovering and plans on being at Forbidden Door later this month in New York. 

“I was diagnosed as having, I think they call it Virus A or something along those lines,” Ross said. “So I struggled a little bit for a couple, three days, but I got over the hump, as I always do. Seems like I always kick out. Can’t do any jobs, you know, not in Oklahoma.”

Ross stated that with the help of his daughters, he was able to get over the virus.

“Anyway, I’m battling. I feel good, actually. I’ve got some appearances coming up,” he said, noting an appearance with Highspots. “The next time I’m going on the road will be for the AEW pay-per-view, so I’m gonna resume my schedule of that activity. So I’ll be at [Forbidden Door], as far as I know. If Tony Khan doesn’t want me there, then he’ll tell me, but that’s not been the case. He’s been very supportive, which I appreciate.”

Ross has spent most of 2024 battling various health issues, including undergoing cancer surgery and dealing with a broken hip. He was originally set to take part in AEW Double or Nothing, but had to miss the show after being hospitalized for shortness of breath.

Jeff Cobb issues open challenge for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

Reigning and defending NJPW TV Champion Jeff Cobb wants a fight for this month’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door.

Following his successful title defense over Tomohiro Ishii at last night’s NJPW Dominion, Cobb spoke at the post-event press conference and said that it was Forbidden Door season and “If you’re elite, challenge me.”

As of now, no members of The Elite have matches set for the Sunday, June 23rd pay-per-view that fuses talents from AEW and NJPW and now Stardom and likely CMLL.

“The big shiny golden belt that symbolizes NJPW TV is calling. I’ll make you famous,” he said.

Cobb has held the title for just over a month after defeating Zack Sabre Jr. at May’s Wrestling Dontaku with defenses over Lance Archer and Ishii.

Cobb has never wrestled in a singles match in the brief history of Forbidden Door, losing in an IWGP & ROH Tag Team title four-way at the inaugural edition and then falling in defeat in a trios bout last year. Including those bouts, he has wrestled six times in AEW since 2020, last appearing in a tag team match last month.

It was the second-such challenge for the show Saturday as the aforementioned Sabre Jr. issued a challenge to Orange Cassidy that has yet to be answered.

Zack Sabre Jr. challenges Orange Cassidy for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door

Posted on by Josh Nason

A year after they did battle in a four-way, Zack Sabre Jr. has declared that he will return for this month’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door and wants to face Orange Cassidy.

On a video package that played during Saturday’s AEW Collision, Sabre Jr. referred to last year’s bout for Cassidy’s then-International title in which he defeated Sabre Jr., Daniel Garcia and Katsuyori Shibata to retain.

The two have yet to face each other one-on-one, but have shared the ring twice: once in the aforementioned four-way which was preceded by a tag match with all four combatants.

Cassidy did not answer Sabre Jr.’s challenge Saturday as he picked up a win over Kyle O’Reilly and was then attacked by Trent Beretta and Kyle Fletcher.

Sabre Jr. lost to Claudio Castagnoli on the inaugural show while Cassidy fell to then-IWGP U.S. Champion Will Ospreay.

Here’s the current confirmed card for the Sunday, June 30th card:

  • AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland defends against Will Ospreay
  • TBS Champion Mercedes Mone defends against NJPW Women’s Strong Champion Stephanie Vaquer
  • AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm defends against Mina Shirakawa
  • Ladder match for the vacant TNT Championship: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Mark Briscoe vs. TBD participants

Mark Briscoe qualifies for TNT title ladder match at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Mark Briscoe is the latest to qualify for the Forbidden Door ladder match.

Briscoe defeated Brian Cage on Wednesday, earning himself a spot in the ladder match that will determine a new TNT Champion at Forbidden Door on June 30. Konosuke Takeshita, who appeared in the crowd next to Don Callis, applauded Briscoe’s victory.

Jack Perry, who was watching the match backstage, also applauded but told Briscoe that it didn’t matter because no one is willing to make as big of a sacrifice for AEW than himself. Perry said he is destined to win the TNT title no matter what Tony Khan thinks.

Takeshita was the first to qualify, defeating Penta El 0 Miedo on a recent episode of Rampage. The title was vacated after Adam Copeland suffered a foot injury at Double or Nothing.

Here is the updated lineup for Forbidden Door:

  • AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland defends against Will Ospreay
  • Ladder match for the vacant TNT Championship: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Mark Briscoe vs. TBD
  • Title for title: TBS Champion Mercedes Mone vs. NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer
  • AEW Women’s Championship: Toni Storm defends against Mina Shirakawa