In February 2021, the American professional wrestling promotionAll Elite Wrestling (AEW) started a partnership with the Japanese promotion, New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), with Kenta being the first NJPW wrestler to appear on AEW's primary weekly television program, Wednesday Night Dynamite during the Beach Break special.[3] Since then, both AEW and NJPW have had their wrestlers appear on each other's shows in the United States. On April 15, 2022, it was reported that a planned co-promoted event held by the two promotions was in the works.[4]
On the April 20 episode of Dynamite, AEW President Tony Khan introduced NJPW President Takami Ohbari to make a major announcement regarding their respective companies. They were interrupted by AEW wrestler Adam Cole, who officially announced that a co-promoted event titled Forbidden Door would be held on June 26 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.[5] The event took its name from the same term often used by AEW when referring to working with other professional wrestling promotions.[6] The event aired on pay-per-view (PPV) via traditional PPV outlets, the Bleacher Report app, FITE TV, and was livestreamed in Japan on NJPW World.[7] Pre-sale tickets went on sale on May 5 and sold out in less than 40 minutes, with more than 11,000 tickets sold with only a limited number of tickets set aside to go on sale to the general public on May 6.[8] Forbidden Door became the first professional wrestling pay-per-view event to be held at the United Center since the former World Championship Wrestling (WCW)'s Spring Stampede took place in 2000.
On the June 1 episode of Dynamite, newly crowned AEW World ChampionCM Punk called out his NJPW Forbidden Door opponent. Hiroshi Tanahashi would make a surprise debut, indicating he would face Punk for the title at the supershow. On the June 3 episode of Friday Night Rampage, however, Punk announced that he needed surgery and would be taking time off. Instead of vacating the title, AEW president Tony Khan announced that they would crown an interim champion at Forbidden Door. A battle royal was scheduled to open the June 8 episode of Dynamite, with the winner facing Jon Moxley, who was the number one ranked singles competitor, in the show's main event, and the winner of that match would be placed in the match to crown the interim AEW World Champion at Forbidden Door.[10] It was then announced on AEW's social media that the winner of Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirooki Goto at NJPW's Dominion 6.12 in Osaka-jo Hall would be the other competitor in the interim championship match at Forbidden Door.[11] On the June 8 episode of Dynamite, Kyle O'Reilly won the Casino Battle Royale, but was defeated by Moxley in the main event, who advanced to Forbidden Door.[12] At Dominion, Tanahashi defeated Goto, setting up NJPW's half of the match.[13]
On the June 8 episode of Dynamite, "Hangman" Adam Page wrestled his first match since losing the AEW World Championship to CM Punk at Double or Nothing, defeating David Finlay. After the match, Page called out Kazuchika Okada, the reigning IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, challenging him to a match for the title at Forbidden Door. Page was interrupted by Adam Cole, who pointed out that Okada may not be champion by Forbidden Door due to his scheduled title defense against Jay White at Dominion 6.12 in Osaka-jo Hall.[14] On June 12, White defeated Okada to win the title and insulted Page after the match.[15] Page addressed the situation on the June 15 episode of Dynamite, and was once again interrupted by Cole, who also wanted to face White for the title. White appeared from behind Page and attacked him with a Blade Runner. White went on to explain that he would not defend his title against Page, pointing out that he was 2–0 against Page, much to Cole's amusement. At the same time, much to Cole's dismay, White also stated he would not defend the title against Cole either, leaving White's Forbidden Door opponent still to be decided.[16] On the June 22 episode, Cole and White once again attacked Page, however, Okada made his AEW debut, helping Page fend off Cole and White.[17] It was later announced that White would defend the title in a four-way match against Okada, Page, and Cole at Forbidden Door.[18]
Also on the June 8 episode of Dynamite, AEW unveiled a brand new men's singles championship, the AEW All-Atlantic Championship, to be a secondary championship of the promotion to "represent the AEW fans watching around the world in over 130 countries". It was announced that four wrestlers, determined through qualifying matches, would battle in a fatal four-way match at Forbidden Door to be crowned the inaugural champion. Pac defeated Buddy Matthews that same night to qualify. On the June 15 episode, Miro defeated Ethan Page to become the second qualifier, and Tomohiro Ishii defeated Clark Connors on June 21 at New Japan Road to qualify. Malakai Black was the last qualifier, defeating Penta Oscuro on the June 22 episode of Dynamite.[12][19][20] On June 23, Ishii was replaced by Connors following an injury.[21]
Bryan Danielson was scheduled to face Zack Sabre Jr. at the event; due to suffering an injury, an opponent of Danielson's choosing took the latter's place.
Since the announcement of Forbidden Door, Zack Sabre Jr. had continuously called out in post-match interviews, challenging "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson to find out who the best technical wrestler was.[28] However, following defeat in the Anarchy in the Arena match at Double or Nothing, it was speculated that Danielson had suffered an injury.[29] This was confirmed by Danielson on the June 22 episode of Dynamite, yet he acknowledged Sabre Jr.'s challenge, revealing that he had organised a replacement as "the one person" he trusted to take his place at the PPV and the subsequent AEW Blood and Guts special episode of Dynamite. This led to Sabre Jr. making his AEW debut, verbally mocking Danielson.[30]
Following their defeat in the Anarchy in the Arena match at Double or Nothing, Eddie Kingston along with Santana and Ortiz continued to feud with the Jericho Appreciation Society (JAS). On the June 1 episode of Dynamite, Blackpool Combat Club's (BCC) manager William Regal and Kingston issued a challenge to the JAS to fight the trio and the BCC in a Blood and Guts match, which Jericho declined. Ortiz then jumped Jericho from behind and cut a lock of Jericho's hair off, which led to Jericho accepting the match while also challenging Ortiz to a Hair vs. Hair match.[31] On June 15 at Road Rager, Jericho defeated Ortiz in the match after seemingly receiving outside help from Fuego Del Sol, only for it to be revealed as Sammy Guevara under the mask, who would later be revealed to have joined the JAS along with his fiancé Tay Conti, turning both heels. Later in the night, Jericho interrupted the face-to-face confrontation between Moxley and Tanahashi, and both men were immediately attacked by Suzuki-gun members Lance Archer and El Desperado, despite additional help from Wheeler Yuta. Jericho announced that he and Sammy would team up with their leader, Minoru Suzuki, to face Kingston, Yuta, and Moxley's NJPW protege Shota Umino in a six-man tag team match.[25]
On the June 8 episode of Dynamite, Thunder Rosa successfully defended her AEW Women's World Championship against Marina Shafir, only for Shafir to attack her after the match. Toni Storm rushed out to the ring to successfully stop Shafir's assault. Storm then picked up the championship belt, admired it, and handed it back to Rosa, indicating a possible future match against the two.[32] Soon after, the match was made official for Forbidden Door.[33]
The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson on left and Nick Jackson on right) returned to Bullet Club for one night at the event.
In June, reDRagon (Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly) began feuding with Darby Allin and Sting, which led to reDRagon challenging Allin to a match on the June 17 episode of Rampage. Allin defeated Fish, before being attacked by O'Reilly, however, Sting made the save, helping Allin fend off O'Reilly, with Allin breaking Fish's leg.[34] The following week on Dynamite, O'Reilly and The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) challenged them to a match at Forbidden Door with their partner being Hikuleo, rejoining Bullet Club for one night only. Allin and Sting accepted their challenge with their partners being Los Ingobernables de Japón's Hiromu Takahashi and Shingo Takagi.[35] On June 23, it was announced that O'Reilly would be forced to miss the event, due to an injury, being replaced by El Phantasmo.[36] On June 25, it was announced that Takahashi would be forced to miss the event, due to suffering from a fever, and that the match would be a trios match with Sting, Allin, and Takagi facing The Young Bucks and El Phantasmo.[37]
Four matches were contested on the Buy-In pre-show. In the first match, The Factory (Aaron Solo and Q. T. Marshall) faced Bishamon (Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi). Marshall went for a 450 splash, but Hashi avoided it. Hashi and Goto performed a Powerbomb/Spinning headlock elbow drop combo on Solo for the win.[38]
Next, Lance Archer took on Nick Comoroto. Comoroto attempted to attack Archer before the match had begun, but Archer prevented it and took out Comoroto with a cannonball. In the end, Archer performed the Blackout on Comoroto to win the match.[38]
The actual pay-per-view opened with Minoru Suzuki and Jericho Appreciation Society (Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara) (accompanied by Tay Conti) facing the team of Eddie Kingston, Shota Umino, and Wheeler Yuta, with the winning team receiving the man advantage for the upcoming Blood and Guts match between the Jericho Appreciation Society and Blackpool Combat Club. Early in the match, Yuta performed multiple German suplexes on Jericho. Yuta and Kingston performed suicide dives on Guevara and Jericho, respectively. In the final moments, Suzuki hit a Gotch-Style Piledriver on Kingston. Umino knocked both Guevara and Suzuki down, but Jericho took advantage and dropped Umino with a Judas Effect for the win, thus giving the Jericho Appreciation Society the man advantage for Blood and Guts.[39]
Next was a Winner Takes All three-way tag team match for both the ROH World Tag Team Championship and IWGP Tag Team Championship between ROH World Tag Team Champions FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood), IWGP Tag Team Champions United Empire (Great-O-Khan and Jeff Cobb), and Roppongi Vice (Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta). During the match, Harwood legitimately injured his left shoulder, leaving Wheeler to fly solo. Later, Harwood returned with his shoulder wrapped. Romero performed a suicide dive onto Harwood and Khan on the floor. FTR hit Romero with the Big Rig to win the IWGP Tag Team Championships and retain the ROH World Tag Team Championships.[39]
Backstage, Tony Schiavone interviewed Juice Robinson and Jay White. Robinson had the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship and White noted that Robinson never lost the title. White also spoke about retaining his IWGP World Heavyweight Championship later in the night.[39]
After that was the inaugural AEW All-Atlantic Championship four-way match between Pac, Clark Connors, Miro, and Malakai Black. Outside the ring, Connors landed a Spear on Miro through a table. Back in the ring, Miro applied the Game Over submission on Pac but was broken up by Black who sprayed a mist into Miro's face. As Black and Connors were fighting over an armbar, Pac performed a 450 Splash on Black and applied the Brutalizer submission on Connors to become the inaugural AEW All-Atlantic Champion.[39]
The next match was between Dudes with Attitudes (Darby Allin, Sting, and Shingo Takagi) against Bullet Club (El Phantasmo, Matt Jackson, and Nick Jackson) (accompanied by Hikuleo). As the Bullet Club was making their entrances, Sting dove onto Bullet Club from the top of one of the entrance tunnels. Allin hit a cutter on Phantasmo, but the Young Bucks took Allin out with a double superkick. Takagi performed the Last of the Dragon on Phantasmo to win the match.[39]
Next, Thunder Rosa defended the AEW Women's World Championship against Toni Storm. Rosa ended up at ringside and stuffed a Tornado DDT attempt and suplexed Storm. Storm executed a Tornado DDT on Rosa on the floor. Back in the ring, Rosa performed a Fire Thunder Driver on Storm for a near fall. Storm attempted the Storm Zero, but her shoulder gave out. Rosa then performed the Final Reckoning on Storm to retain the title. After the match, Rosa and Storm shook hands.[39]
In the sixth match, Will Ospreay (accompanied by Aussie Open) defended the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship against Orange Cassidy. Cassidy performed a Stundog Millionaire and Michinoku Driver on Ospreay for a near fall. Cassidy removed his elbow pad and attempted an Orange Punch on Ospreay, who countered and hit Cassidy with a cutter. Ospreay went for a Storm Breaker, but Cassidy countered into a frankensteiner for a near fall. Cassidy held up his thumb and Ospreay performed the Storm Breaker to retain the title. Following the match, Ospreay instructed Fletcher and Davis to take out Cassidy. Roppongi Vice (Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta) ran out to Cassidy's aid, but they were cleared from the ring. They were interrupted by Katsuyori Shibata, who attacked Ospreay and Aussie Open. Cassidy approached Shibata and teased putting his sunglasses on, but instead put them on Shibata and struck his thumbs-up pose.[39]
Subsequently, Zack Sabre Jr. came out for his match against an opponent who was pre-selected by Bryan Danielson. Claudio Castagnoli made his unannounced AEW debut as Sabre Jr.'s opponent and also became the newest member of Blackpool Combat Club. At the start of the match, Castagnoli performed a Neutralizer on Sabre Jr. for a near fall. A short time later when Sabre stood up, Castagnoli dropped him with a forearm shot. Castagnoli performed the Swing on Sabre Jr. and attempted a sharpshooter, but Sabre Jr. countered into a heel hook submission. Castagnoli broke free and later hit Sabre Jr. with an uppercut and a lariat and then performed the Ricola Bomb on the latter to win the match.[39]
In the penultimate match, Jay White (accompanied by Gedo) defended the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Kazuchika Okada, "Hangman" Adam Page, and Adam Cole in a four-way match. Cole attempted the Boom on White, but White ducked it and performed a Uranage Slam on Cole. Cole hit White with the Boom, Okada landed a dropkick on Cole, Page executed a lariat on Okada and all four men were down temporarily. White attempted a Bladerunner on Page, who countered with a Dead Eye. As Page performed the Buckshot Lariat on White, Okada broke up the pin. Cole hit multiple superkicks on Page and Okada for a near fall. White executed another Blade Runner on Okada and pinned Cole to retain the title.[39]
Main event
In the main event, Jon Moxley took on Hiroshi Tanahashi to determine the interim AEW World Champion. Early in the match, Moxley performed a piledriver on Tanahashi for a near fall. Outside the ring, Tanahashi landed a crossbody block on a bloodied Moxley. Back in the ring, Moxley applied a bulldog choke submission on Tanahashi, who escaped the hold. Tanahashi slapped Moxley multiple times and ran the ropes, but Moxley blasted him with a clothesline. Moxley covered Tanahashi, but Tanahashi kicked out at one. Moxley applied the rear naked choke submission, who later released the hold and executed the Paradigm Shift on Tanahashi to become the interim AEW World Champion. Post-match, Moxley celebrated his victory. Chris Jericho and Daniel Garcia ran out and attacked Moxley and Tanahashi. Eddie Kingston ran out and went after Jericho, but Garcia put him in a sleeper. Wheeler Yuta, Santana, and Ortiz ran out and attacked Jericho and Garcia. Jake Hager, Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, and Sammy Guevara ran out to help Jericho and Garcia. Castagnoli ran out and went after Jericho. The Jericho Appreciation Society fled and lost the brawl, culminating in the Blackpool Combat Club celebrating.[39]
Aftermath
The following episode of Dynamite was the special episodeBlood and Guts. Due to Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, and Minoru Suzuki defeating Shota Umino, Wheeler Yuta, and Eddie Kingston, the Jericho Appreciation Society earned the advantage in the Blood and Guts match. Additionally, due to Bryan Danielson's injury preventing him from participating in Blood and Guts, Claudio Castagnoli took his place in the match. The match resulted in the Blackpool Combat Club, Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz defeating the Jericho Appreciation Society.[40]
Due to Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI's win over The Factory, The Young Bucks challenged them to a match on the Rampagespecial episode Royal Rampage for an opportunity at the Bucks' AEW World Tag Team Championship, however at the show Goto and Yoshi-Hashi were defeated.[41]
On March 15, 2023, a second Forbidden Door event between AEW and NJPW was scheduled to be held on June 25, 2023.[42]
↑ He won a 21-Man Casino Battle Royal earlier that night to qualify for the tournament.
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