Tag: Forbidden Door

Stardom representative revealed for TBS title match at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door

Posted on by Josh Nason

The fourth entrant is official for the four-way TBS title match at Sunday’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door and it’s a rather large threat to reigning champion Mercedes Mone.

Announced on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, Stardom’s representative is the 5’11”, 200+ pound Bozilla who will be making her AEW debut on the show.

Mone and Bozilla will be joined by Alex Windsor and CMLL’s Persephone in the four-way in London, England.

The 21-year-old German native has been recently competing in the 5STAR Grand Prix 2025 and was unsuccessful in besting NJPW Strong Women’s Champion AZM in July.

Current AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door card | Sunday, August 24 | London, England

  • AEW World Champion Hangman Page defends against MJF
  • AEW Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada defends against Swerve Strickland
  • AEW World Tag Team Champions The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) defend against FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) and Brodido (Brody King & Bandido) in a three-way
  • Adam Copeland & Christian Cage vs. Killswitch & Kip Sabian
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Athena
  • TBS Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Alex Windsor, Persephone and Bozilla in a four-way
  • IWGP World Champion Zack Sabre Jr. defends against Nigel McGuinness
  • TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher defends against Hiromu Takahashi
  • Lights out steel cage match: Darby Allin, Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi vs. The Death Riders (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli), Gabe Kidd & The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)

Tag Team title match participants set for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door

Posted on by Josh Nason

This Sunday’s AEW World Tag Team title match at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door is now officially a three-way following the events of Wednesday’s Dynamite.

In the finals of the eight-team Tag Team title eliminator tournament, FTR and Brodido (Brody King & Bandido) went to a 30-minute time limit draw. It was announced nearly immediately afterward that both team will face reigning champions The Hurt Syndicate on Sunday.

Shelton Benjamin, Bobby Lashley and MVP came out afterward to stare down both teams.

FTR will be looking for their third run with the titles and their first since October 2023 while Brodido is in search of their first. With a win, Benjamin and Lashley will earn a seventh successful title defense and extend a 200+ day run.

Current AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door card | Sunday, August 24 | London, England

  • AEW World Champion Hangman Page defends against MJF
  • AEW Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada defends against Swerve Strickland
  • AEW World Tag Team Champions The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) defend against FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) and Brodido (Brody King & Bandido) in a three-way
  • Adam Copeland & Christian Cage vs. Killswitch & Kip Sabian
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Athena
  • TBS Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Alex Windsor, Persephone and Stardom TBD in a four-way
  • IWGP World Champion Zack Sabre Jr. defends against Nigel McGuinness
  • TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher defends against Hiromu Takahashi
  • Lights out steel cage match: Darby Allin, Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi vs. The Death Riders (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli), Gabe Kidd & The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)

Bryan Danielson to appear on AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pre-show

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Bryan Danielson is set to play a role at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2025, appearing as part of the pre-show panel.

It was announced today that the Forbidden Door Zero Hour broadcast will be hosted by Renee Paquette, RJ City, Jeff Jarrett & Danielson. The pre-show begins at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time on Sunday and will stream live on Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and other AEW social media platforms.

Forbidden Door is happening just one day shy of the one-year anniversary of Danielson winning the AEW World Championship from Swerve Strickland at All In 2024. Danielson held the title until retiring as a full-time competitor last October, and it’s unclear if he’ll ever compete in the ring again.

Danielson did get involved physically at All In 2025 last month, where he helped fend off interference by the Death Riders as Hangman Page dethroned Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship.

The O2 Arena in London is hosting Forbidden Door on Sunday. The pay-per-view main card will begin at 1 p.m. Eastern.

AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2025 (Sunday, August 24) —

  • AEW World Champion Hangman Page defends against MJF
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Athena
  • AEW Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada defends against Swerve Strickland
  • TBS Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Alex Windsor, Persephone, and Stardom wrestler to be announced
  • AEW Tag Team Champions The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) defend against winner of Tag Team title eliminator tournament
  • Adam Copeland & Christian Cage vs. Nick Wayne & Kip Sabian
  • IWGP World Champion Zack Sabre Jr. defends against Nigel McGuinness
  • TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher defends against Hiromu Takahashi
  • Lights Out steel cage match: Darby Allin, Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi vs. The Death Riders (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli), Gabe Kidd & The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)

Tony Khan: AEW Forbidden Door build had ‘different cadence’ this year

Posted on by Joseph Currier

With the show moving back a couple of months, the build to AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2025 required a “different cadence” than usual.

Forbidden Door had been held in June every year since the pay-per-view was first introduced in 2022. But the event was moved to August this year with the AEW schedule being shaken up a bit. The band Coldplay had Wembley Stadium booked at the time AEW All In usually happens, so that PPV was moved up to July and was held in Texas. Forbidden Door is now happening at The O2 in London this Sunday on what had traditionally been All In weekend.

The shake-up impacted the build to Forbidden Door, with most of NJPW’s top stars competing in the G1 Climax and unable to appear on AEW television. Despite that, Tony Khan feels the build still worked well, pointing to AEW Dynamite being number one on cable in the 18-49 demo last Wednesday.

“We’re going to have one of the biggest days in the history of the company with Forbidden Door, which is also going to be one of our biggest gates ever. But with the G1 Climax happening this time of year, it’s different cadence than the other Forbidden Doors,” Khan said.

“It’s always something fun working with Gedo. It’s a very different presentation using American television to build pay-per-views. It’s a different rhythm and cadence to what’s typically done in Japan and what New Japan does to present a show.

“And for us, this year, with a little bit less availability of a lot of those stars, we’ve still been able to work in great representation from top stars in New Japan Pro Wrestling, as we’re going to talk about on the card. Big matches involving top stars in New Japan and big stakes in AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling. But also, a lot of their stars tied up in the G1 Climax, which we’re very excited about.”

Khan said he was excited to watch Konosuke Takeshita’s G1 matches. The AEW star was crowned the winner of the tournament last weekend, securing a future IWGP World Heavyweight Championship shot.

Zack Sabre Jr. is the current IWGP World Champion and will be defending the belt against Nigel McGuinness at Forbidden Door. NJPW wrestlers Hiroshi Tanahashi, Gabe Kidd, and Hiromu Takahashi are also set to compete on Sunday.

The Forbidden Door build will wrap up in Glasgow tonight with a Dynamite episode and Collision taping.

Taz to miss AEW Dynamite, Forbidden Door

Posted on by Joseph Currier

AEW will be without one of its top commentators for this week’s Dynamite episode as well as Forbidden Door.

This Wednesday, AEW will be in Glasgow for Dynamite and a Collision taping. The promotion then heads to London for its Forbidden Door 2025 pay-per-view that’s taking place on August 24. Taz announced today that he won’t be doing commentary at the events because a long flight over to the United Kingdom would not be good for his surgically replaced knee right now.

“I will be off this week, a combo of doctors appointments/imaging test on a couple of future surgeries, some R&R & most importantly my new knee does not cooperate to well w/very long flights at the moment,” Taz wrote. “Hope u all enjoy #AEWDynamite & #ForbiddenDoor!”

Taz underwent knee replacement surgery last October and has been back on commentary since December, with his recovery going “really well” with rehab and physical therapy.

In May 2024, Taz noted that a doctor had told him he would need both of his shoulders and knees replaced at some point. Taz said the damage was caused by training too hard in the gym during his career.

The 57-year-old ECW legend calls Dynamite weekly alongside Excalibur and Tony Schiavone.

WOL: I guess there’s a wrestling war after all

Posted on by Josh Nason

For the second straight week, there’s an extended Sunday version of Wrestling Observer Live with Josh Nason, available below or on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Josh leads off with an admission that he was wrong (I know!) about there not being a wrestling war between WWE and AEW. Given the past week of the news that WWE is planning a head-to-head PLE with All Out and John Cena’s final match opposite Worlds End in addition to TNA’s possible TV home and night, it’s more clear than ever. But why should WWE care? I discuss.

He also gives his thoughts on the UFC’s deal with Paramount and why AEW is a (temporary) winner.

He also looks ahead to next weekend’s AEW Forbidden Door card and why he is looking forward to it more than week vs. last week.

Josh also goes over some things he thinks he knows he thinks including why Ring of Honor needs a direction, Nick Khan’s hatred of out-of-office messages, Big E’s wrestling future, Karrion Kross, and how Vince McMahon will be remembered.

Click here to listen for free or on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Former ROH champion earns IWGP title shot at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

Years after his in-ring career was thought to be over, former Ring of Honor World and Pure Champion Nigel McGuinness has a chance to add the IWGP World title to his trophy case and in front of his countrymen.

McGuinness earned the opportunity on Saturday’s AEW Collision by winning a four-way title eliminator that included Lee Moriarty, Daniel Garcia and Hechicero.

The 49-year-old will get that chance at next Sunday’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door in his hometown of London, England, challenging reigning champion Zack Sabre Jr. As an added bonus, Garcia will be in McGuinness’ corner for the match.

It will be their first ever match against each other. It will be the first title defense in Sabre Jr.’s second run.

The Collision commentator made his surprise return at 2024’s All In as part of the Casino Gauntlet match — his first since December 2011. Since then, he fell in defeat to Bryan Danielson and Lee Moriarty (also in 2024) and then he and Garcia lost to FTR at May’s Double or Nothing.

Current AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door card | Sunday, August 24 | London, England

  • AEW World Champion Hangman Page defends against MJF
  • AEW Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada defends against Swerve Strickland
  • AEW Tag Team Champions The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) defend against winner of Tag Team title eliminator tournament
  • Adam Copeland & Christian Cage vs. Nick Wayne & Kip Sabian
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Athena
  • TBS Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Alex Windsor, CMLL TBD and Stardom TBD
  • IWGP World Champion Zack Sabre Jr. defends against Nigel McGuinness
  • TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher defends against Hiromu Takahashi
  • Lights out steel cage match: Darby Allin, Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi vs. The Death Riders (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli), Gabe Kidd & The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)

Fight Game: Copeland & Christian’s rushed reunion

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

John LaRocca and Garrett Gonzales are back to discuss the latest happenings in the world of pro wrestling, available in audio form or YouTube.

We kicked off the show with our Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down winners and losers of the week before getting to our big topic of the show which was the current card for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door.

We discuss the rushed reunion of Christian Cage and Adam Copeland, a seemingly disjointed AEW Forbidden Door card, and major TNA rumors involving Lorenzo Fertitta.

We also provide an early look at WWE’s Clash in Paris, LA Knight’s stellar promo on Raw, the potential Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena match, TripleMania, a quick look at the G1 semi-finals, and thoughts on the Paramount/UFC deal.

FIRST TIME SUBSCRIBERS GET 50% OFF – Exclusive Subscriber only Podcasts

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WOR: More on UFC/ESPN deal, Hulk Hogan TV bios, AEW vs. WWE, Dynamite review

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Image: AEW

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the death of Great Wojo, more on the UFC/TKO deal, Hulk Hogan TMZ bio, AEW vs. WWE on December 27th, Karrion Kross, the G-1, weekend schedule, RATINGS~!~!!~, Dynamite review and some NXT notes, and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

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TNT title match official for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

Kyle Fletcher’s TNT title challenger for this month’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door is now official following Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite: NJPW’s Hiromu Takahashi.

Days ago on Collision, Fletcher defended his title for the first time against Tomohiro Ishii and then he & Don Callis (in separate segments) challenged NJPW to send their best to confront him on Dynamite.

On Wednesday, Fletcher joined the Young Bucks and Josh Alexander against Ishii, Hologram, Brody King and the surprise addition of Takahashi who picked up the win by pinning Alexander.

It will be Takahashi’s third-ever Forbidden Door and first-ever singles match at the event. Including Wednesday, the two have shared the ring three times prior, but never in singles action. One of those came at 2023’s Forbidden Door.

Current AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door card | Sunday, August 24 | London, England

  • AEW World Champion Hangman Page defends against MJF
  • AEW Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada defends against Swerve Strickland
  • AEW Tag Team Champions The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) defend against winner of Tag Team title eliminator tournament
  • Adam Copeland & Christian Cage vs. Nick Wayne & Kip Sabian
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Athena
  • TBS Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Alex Windsor, CMLL TBD and Stardom TBD
  • TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher defends against Hiromu Takahashi
  • Lights out steel cage match: Darby Allin, Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi vs. The Death Riders (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli), Gabe Kidd & The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)

All-star lights out cage match with NJPW icon made for AEW Forbidden Door

Posted on by Josh Nason

This story has been updated.

If your wrestling bingo card had NJPW icon and president Hiroshi Tanahashi competing in a lights out steel cage match in his final ever match in London, England, congratulations.

Tanahashi will be part of the ten-man cage match at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door in London, England, joining Darby Allin, Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi against The Death Riders (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli), Gabe Kidd, and the Young Bucks.

Here’s how it all came together.

Following Moxley’s win over Kevin Knight on Wednesday’s Dynamite, Allin came to the ring, attacking Wheeler Yuta when Castagnoli returned to lay Allin out and put him in a body bag intended for Yuta.

Castagnoli and Yuta were about to finish the job when Ospreay ran out to even the odds and take out both men. He then grabbed the microphone and told Moxley, Castagnoli, Yuta and Marina Shafir that they tried to snap his neck at All In, so he was going to snap theirs.

He then told the group to get his friends and he’ll bring his, and they will meet at Forbidden Door in a lights out steel cage match.

Ospreay later revealed backstage to Renee Paquette that he and Allin will be part of a team that is still adding a few members, but he confirmed one made via a phone call: Tanahashi. Near the end of Dynamite, Moxley and crew learned about his addition and went to find the Young Bucks who were in the “extras” area.

The lineups were then later revealed.

It will be Tanahashi’s final match in London as his final year as an active wrestler winds down.

A lot of returns

For Ospreay, it will mark his return to the ring after revealing in July that he would be missing some time due to two herniated discs.

For Allin, it’s his first match since December 22, 2024, when he was in the Continental Classic. He left to climb Mount Everest and made his return at All In: Texas as part of the group helping fend off the Death Riders as Hangman Page won the AEW World title.

Kidd hasn’t competed since sustaining an injury in his NJPW G1 Climax opening match against Konosuke Takeshita which forced him to withdraw from the tournament.

It will be Omega’s first match since losing the Unified title to Kazuchika Okada at All In: Texas.

Current AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door card | Sunday, August 24 | London, England

  • AEW World Champion Hangman Page defends against MJF
  • AEW Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada defends against Swerve Strickland
  • AEW Tag Team Champions The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) defend against winner of Tag Team title eliminator tournament
  • Adam Copeland & Christian Cage vs. Nick Wayne & Kip Sabian
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Athena
  • TBS Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Alex Windsor, CMLL TBD and Stardom TBD
  • TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher defends against Hiromu Takahashi
  • Lights out steel cage match: Darby Allin, Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi vs. The Death Riders (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli), Gabe Kidd & The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)

World title match set for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door

Posted on by Josh Nason

The second title defense for new AEW World Champion Hangman Page will come at this month’s Forbidden Door pay-per-view against a familiar foe in former champion MJF.

During Wednesday’s Dynamite, the two had an in-ring confrontation as Page has been a thorn in MJF’s side for several weeks, unwilling to take his bait as he holds an anytime, anywhere World title shot earned at All In: Texas in the Casino Gauntlet match.

The two threw insults at each other until Page got MJF so heated by calling him a coward and demanding he cash in his shot at Forbidden Door that MJF finally agreed and then quickly regretted it.

It will be Page’s second title defense after retaining against former champion Jon Moxley on the July 30th Dynamite, and MJF’s first World title shot since he lost it to Samoa Joe at December 2023’s Worlds End.

The two have a history in AEW and one that has seen them in two singles matches before: one in the 2019 Dynamite Diamond ring finals that MJF won and another this past March at Revolution that Page won.

Current AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door card | Sunday, August 24 | London, England

  • AEW World Champion Hangman Page defends against MJF
  • AEW Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada defends against Swerve Strickland
  • AEW Tag Team Champions The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) defend against winner of Tag Team title eliminator tournament
  • Adam Copeland & Christian Cage vs. Nick Wayne & Kip Sabian
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Athena
  • TBS Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Alex Windsor, CMLL TBD and Stardom TBD
  • TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher defends against Hiromu Takahashi
  • Lights out steel cage match: Darby Allin, Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi vs. The Death Riders (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli), Gabe Kidd & The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)

WOL: The week WWE proved they are cancel-proof

Posted on by Josh Nason

For the first time in years, the Sunday edition of Wrestling Observer Live is TWO HOURS long (well, for Sports Byline, anyway).

Josh Nason guest hosts this week with a lot to talk about including:

  • The week that WWE proved they are cancel-proof with the return of Brock Lesnar, Paul Heyman explaining there are no apologies for him returning, and the insulating culture of many WWE fans in 2025 that made it possible
  • The winners & losers of the WWE & ESPN PLE deal
  • An early look at AEW Forbidden Door, why this year’s lineup doesn’t feel special thus far, and why the gimmick has lost its luster
  • Why the John Cena heel turn was going to be a disaster from the start and why we should have known

All that and lots more ahead. Listen below for free or on either Spotify or Apple Podcasts (search for Wrestling Observer):

Click here to listen

UK promotion inducting Jushin Liger into Hall of Fame during Forbidden Door weekend

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Revolution Pro Wrestling is set to honor one of NJPW’s greatest-ever legends during Forbidden Door weekend.

The British indie promotion announced today that it will induct Jushin Thunder Liger into the RevPro Hall of Fame on Friday, August 22. Liger will be appearing in person at the induction, which is happening at RevPro’s Global Wars UK show at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in London.

Liger made several trips to RevPro during his career and was the winner of the promotion’s inaugural British J-Cup tournament in 2017. In today’s announcement, RevPro credited Liger for opening the door to the strong working relationship the company has with NJPW.

“He was the first NJPW wrestler to be showcased on a RevPro event opening the door to a great relationship,” RevPro wrote.

Liger retired from the ring with his last NJPW match taking place in 2020. His last time competing in the UK was for RevPro in 2020.

Following his retirement, Liger was also honored with an induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.

The RevPro Hall of Fame was established in 2021 with the late Ryan Smile being selected as the first inductee.

RevPro, NJPW, ROH, and CMLL wrestlers will be featured on Global Wars UK, an event that’s happening as part of RevPro’s 13th anniversary weekend. Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jay Joshua is the latest match to be announced.

Global Wars UK is happening two days before AEW & NJPW Forbidden Door 2025. That pay-per-view is being held at The O2 Arena in London on Sunday, August 24.

New title match confirmed for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

Alex Windsor now has the opportunity to win her first-ever AEW title in front of her countrymen and women later this month.

Windsor won a four-way no. 1 contender’s match on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite to earn a spot in a four-way against reigning TBS Champion Mercedes Mone (pictured above) at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door, set for Sunday, August 24th in London, England.

Windsor picked up the victory in the match that also featured Queen Aminata, Skye Blue and Billie Starkz after pinning Starkz with a small package. Reigning AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm got involved, preventing Athena from interfering on Starkz’s behalf.

Mone confronted Windsor after the match, leading to Athena and Starkz laying out Windsor and Storm with the three heels standing tall.

Windsor, a native of England, will be looking for her first major championship while Mone is in search of her 19th successful title defense as part of a run that has lasted nearly 440 days.

The match will also feature wrestlers from Stardom and CMLL who will each separate qualify.

Current AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door card | Sunday, August 24 | London, England

  • AEW Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada defends against Swerve Strickland
  • AEW Tag Team Champions The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) defend against winner of Tag Team title eliminator tournament
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. TBA
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Athena
  • TBS Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Alex Windsor vs. CMLL TBD vs. Stardom TBD