Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 02:17, 26 June 2023

This article documents a current professional wrestling PPV. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses. Initial news reports, scores, or statistics may be unreliable. The last updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. Please feel free to improve this article (but note that updates without valid and reliable references will be removed) or discuss changes on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove this message)

AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door
Promotional poster featuring Bryan Danielson, Kazuchika Okada, Kenny Omega, and Will Ospreay
Promotion	All Elite Wrestling New Japan Pro-Wrestling
Date	June 25, 2023
City	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Venue	Scotiabank Arena
Attendance	14,826
Event chronology
← Previous AEW: Double or Nothing NJPW: All Together Again Next → AEW: All In NJPW: Fantastica Mania Mexico
Forbidden Door chronology
← Previous 2022 Next → —

The 2023 Forbidden Door is the ongoing second annual Forbidden Door professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event and supershow co-produced by the American promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and the Japan-based New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). It takes place on June 25, 2023, at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is AEW's first PPV to be held outside of the United States and NJPW's first traditional PPV to be held in Canada.

Production

Background

In February 2021, the American professional wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW) started a partnership with the Japanese promotion, New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). After a year of AEW and NJPW wrestlers appearing on each other's shows, the two companies co-promoted a pay-per-view (PPV) event titled Forbidden Door in June 2022. The event took its name from the same term often used by AEW when referring to working with other professional wrestling promotions.

On March 15, 2023, a second Forbidden Door event between AEW and NJPW was scheduled to be held on June 25, 2023, at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, thus establishing Forbidden Door as an annual event between the two companies. Tickets went on sale on March 24. This marks AEW's first PPV held outside of the United States and will also kick off a month-long tour of Canada for AEW, which will include their weekly television programs and house shows. Forbidden Door is the first Canadian event co-promoted by NJPW to air on traditional PPV outlets. Prior to its acquisition, AEW's sibling promotion, Ring of Honor, co-promoted two Global Wars events with NJPW in 2014 and 2015, both of which were held in Toronto and aired live on internet pay-per-view (iPPV).

Storylines

Forbidden Door features professional wrestling matches that involve different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portray heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches.

On the April 26 episode of AEW Dynamite, AEW president Tony Khan announced that tournament matches for the second annual Owen Hart Cup would occur at Forbidden Door. On the June 21 episode, the brackets were revealed, with two matches to be held during the PPV: ROH Women's World Champion, Athena facing Billie Starkz in the women's tournament during the pre-show and CM Punk facing Satoshi Kojima in the men's tournament, marking Punk's first appearance on an AEW PPV since All Out 2022, where he main evented before being involved in the legitimate backstage fight.

At Wrestle Kingdom 17, Kenny Omega defeated Will Ospreay to win the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. In April, NJPW announced a tournament to determine the new Number 1 contender to Omega's championship, featuring Ospreay, Lance Archer, Juice Robinson, and Hiroshi Tanahashi. However, on April 16 at Capital Collision, Robinson was (kayfabe) suspended from NJPW after attacking both Fred Rosser and an NJPW referee during a match against Rosser, which ended in a no contest. Soon after, it was announced that Rosser would replace Robinson in the tournament. On April 16 at Capital Collision, Archer defeated Rosser. On May 21 at Resurgence, Ospreay defeated Tanahashi to set up the tournament final, which took place on June 4 at Dominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall, where Ospreay defeated Archer to become the number one contender for the US title. On June 6, NJPW held a press conference where the match was made official for Forbidden Door.

At Dominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall, Blackpool Combat Club's (BCC) Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli teamed with Moxley's protege Shota Umino to face Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Tomohiro Ishii for the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship, but failed to win the titles. After the match, Moxley took to the microphone, presenting a video package for Okada. The video featured fellow BCC member Bryan Danielson, who challenged Okada to a match. Okada responded by claiming that the "forbidden door" would be open, teasing the match taking place at the PPV. On June 6, NJPW held a press conference where Okada accepted Danielson's challenge for Forbidden Door, making the match official.

Following All Together Again on June 9, it was hinted that IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Sanada would have an announcement on a future episode of Dynamite regarding his plans as NJPW's World Champion for the upcoming Forbidden Door PPV. The rumours were proven true on the June 14 episode of Dynamite, where Sanada appeared via a video message issuing an open challenge for his title at the PPV. Later on the show, the offer was accepted by "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry, who asked for his tag team partner Hook to be in his corner for the match. Soon after, the match was made official for Forbidden Door. On the June 23 episode of AEW Rampage, Perry defeated Sanada's Just 5 Guys teammate Douki, using Sanada's finisher to win the match, leading to Sanada confronting Perry in the ring, after the match.

On the June 14 episode of Dynamite, NJPW's Hiroshi Tanahashi challenged AEW World Champion MJF to a title match at Forbidden Door via a video message. The match was made official for the PPV, however, MJF claimed to have no interest in defending the belt against Tanahashi, claiming NJPW to be an inferior company, whilst also hinting no-showing the PPV. Despite this, on the June 21 episode of Dynamite, MJF accepted Tanahashi's challenge after being named a "coward" by Adam Cole. On the same week's episode of AEW Collision, Tanahashi defeated Swerve Strickland and after the match was insulted by MJF via a video message.

AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy successfully defended his title at Double or Nothing, winning the Blackjack Battle Royal. In the post-show press conference, Cassidy was asked who he would like to defend the title against in the future, which he answered by expressing the desire to face NJPW World Television Champion Zack Sabre Jr.. Meanwhile, on the May 31 episode of Rampage, Cassidy's ally, Katsuyori Shibata, successfully defeated Lee Moriarty to retain his ROH Pure Championship, although he was confronted by Daniel Garcia, who sought a future title shot. On the June 14 episode of Dynamite, Sabre Jr. confronted Cassidy backstage, looking to arrange a future match, however, they were interrupted by Garcia, who asked Cassidy about Shibata's whereabouts. Cassidy suggested that he and Shibata would team against Garcia and Sabre Jr. the following week, in a tag team match. Garcia and Sabre Jr, defeated Cassidy and Shibata. After the match, all four men held on to the International Championship and a four-way match for the title was scheduled for Forbidden Door.

Following his loss at Double or Nothing, Sammy Guevara returned to Dynamite on June 14, expressing his desire to "make some changes" to himself in AEW. Guevara was interrupted by Darby Allin, who also had lost at Double or Nothing, who went on to suggest that Guevara should not live in the shadows of the Jericho Appreciation Society (JAS). This led to JAS leader Chris Jericho confronting the duo, berating Allin for his suggestion and questioning Guevara's distancing from the JAS and suggesting that he and Guevara should team to reestablish Guevara in the faction. As Jericho hinted at attacking Allin, Sting entered the ring coming face-to-face with Jericho, who soon fled the ring. The following week, after teaming with Guevara and Minoru Suzuki to defeat Darius Martin, Action Andretti, and AR Fox, Jericho called out Sting and Allin, challenging them to find a partner to face himself, Guevara, and Suzuki at Forbidden Door, which Sting and Allin accepted, with Allin stating they had a partner which they would reveal on that week's episode of Collision. At the show, Sting and Allin's partner was revealed to be Jericho's old rival Tetsuya Naito, who made his AEW debut, and a six-man tag team match was made official for Forbidden Door.

On the June 14 episode of Dynamite, AEW Women's World Champion, Toni Storm successfully defended her title against Skye Blue. After the match, Storm and teammate Ruby Soho attacked Blue, only for her to be saved by NJPW Strong Women's Champion, Willow Nightingale. On the debut episode of Collision, Nightingale and Blue defeated Storm and Soho, in a tag team match. Soon after, it was announced that Storm would defend her AEW Women's World Championship against Nightingale at Forbidden Door.

Cancelled match

On the June 21 episode of Dynamite, it was revealed that rivals MJF and Adam Cole would team up in the Blind Eliminator Tournament in order to determine the number 1 contender for the AEW World Tag Team Championship, much to both men's dismay. Two days later, MJF made his debut on Rampage, interrupting Cole and informing him that he had arranged Cole a match at Forbidden Door against NJPW's Tom Lawlor. This led to Team Filthy's Lawlor and Royce Isaacs making their AEW debut, attacking Cole, as MJF mockingly teased saving his partner Cole from the assault. However, on the day of the event, it was announced that Cole was not medically cleared to compete and therefore the Forbidden Door match was cancelled.

Results

See also

• 2023 in professional wrestling
• List of All Elite Wrestling pay-per-view events
• List of major NJPW events

References

1. ^ Powell, Jason (June 25, 2023). "AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door results: Powell's live review of Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada, Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay for the IWGP U.S. Championship, MJF vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the AEW World Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
2. Nason, Josh (February 4, 2021). "AEW, New Japan Pro Wrestling Established Working Relationship". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
3. Barrasso, Justin (April 20, 2022). "Tony Khan Announces First-Ever AEW, NJPW Joint Pay-Per View Event". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
4. Lambert, Jeremy (February 10, 2022). "Tony Kahn Admits He Butchered His 'Forbidden Door' Definition, Which Led To Securing Jay White". Fightful. Retrieved April 28, 2022. The term "forbidden door" has always been used in reference to companies working together and not signing exclusively with one company.
5. Casey, Connor (March 15, 2023). "AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2023 Date, Location Confirmed". ComicBook.com. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
6. Russell, Skylar (March 15, 2023). "AEW Returning To Toronto For Forbidden Door 2 On June 25, Five Other Shows In Canada Announced". Fightful. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
7. Grabianowski, Ed (January 13, 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
8. Keller, Wade (April 26, 2023). "4/26 AEW Dynamite TV Results: Keller's report on Darby vs. Guevara, Omega & Takeshita vs. Butcher & Blade, Jade vs. Valkyrie, Dax vs. Jarrett, Tony Khan announcement". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
9. Powell, Jason (June 21, 2023). "AEW Dynamite results (6/21): Powell's live review of Chris Jericho, Minoru Suzuki, and Sammy Guevara vs. Darius Martin, Action Andretti, and AR Fox, Jeff Jarrett vs. Mark Briscoe in a Concession Stand Brawl, Kris Statlander vs. Taya Valkyrie for the TBS Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
10. Fritts, Chick (January 4, 2023). "NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 live results: White vs. Okada, Omega vs. Ospreay". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
11. Thomas, Jeremy (April 9, 2023). "NJPW Announces IWGP United States Title #1 Contender's Four-Way Tournament". 411Mania. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
12. Carey, Ian (April 16, 2023). "Juice Robinson removed from NJPW Collision due to storyline suspension". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
13. Fritts, Chick (April 16, 2023). "NJPW Collision in Philadelphia live results: Aussie Open vs. Ishii & Lio Rush". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
14. Fritts, Chick (May 21, 2023). "NJPW Resurgence live results: Strong Women's title tournament". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
15. ^ Fritts, Chick (June 4, 2023). "NJPW Dominion live results: Seven title matches". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
16. ^ Harris, Jeffrey (June 6, 2023). "Danielson vs. Okada, Ospreay vs. Omega at Forbidden Door II Made Official at NJPW Press Conference". 411Mania. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
17. Gregory, Jack (June 13, 2023). "NJPW Hints That SANADA's Upcoming Match Will Emerge On AEW Dynamite". 411Mania. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
18. Sinha, Saptarshi (June 13, 2023). "SANADA To Make AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door II Announcement On Dynamite, Alicia Fox Note". eWrestlingNews. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
19. Bixenspan, David (June 14, 2023). "SANADA Issues IWGP Title Challenge For AEW X NJPW Forbidden Door, Jungle Boy Accepts". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
20. Collins, Joseph (June 23, 2023). "AEW Rampage live results: MJF appearance, Owen Hart Tournament kicks off". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
21. Rose, Bryan (June 14, 2023). "MJF vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi set for NJPW x AEW Forbidden Door". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
22. Ravens, Andrew (June 15, 2023). "Backstage News On Hiroshi Tanahashi Being Chosen As MJF's Forbidden Door Opponent". Wrestling Headlines. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
23. Beaston, Erik (June 21, 2023). "AEW Dynamite Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights from June 21". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
24. Williams, Suit (June 24, 2023). "AEW Collision live results: CM Punk, FTR & Ricky Starks eight-man tag team match". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
25. Lambert, Jeremy (May 29, 2023). "Orange Cassidy: Zack Sabre Jr, I'd Fight Him". Fightful. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
26. Tessier, Colin (June 3, 2023). "Pretty Deadly And Theory Make A Winning Team, Garcia Confronts Shibata | WWE SD x AEW Recap". Fightful. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
27. "Daniel Garcia Confronts Shibata". Bleacher Report.
28. Applegate, Colby (June 14, 2023). "Zack Sabre Jr. Challenges Orange Cassidy To Match At AEW X NJPW Forbidden Door". WrestleZone. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
29. Adamson, Bon (June 21, 2023). "Orange Cassidy To Defend AEW International Title In Four-Way Match At Forbidden Door". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
30. Silverio, Ben F. (June 14, 2023). "Chris Jericho Faces Off With Sting For The First Time Ever On AEW Dynamite". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
31. Canton, John (June 22, 2023). "Chris Jericho And Sting Agree To Tag Team Match At Forbidden Door PPV". TJR Wrestling. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
32. Rose, Bryan (June 24, 2023). "Tetsuya Naito to team with Darby Allin & Sting at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
33. Nason, Josh (June 9, 2023). "Toni Storm vs. Skye Blue Women's title match set for AEW Dynamite". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
34. Malkasian, Mike (June 14, 2023). "AEW Dynamite Results 6/14/23". Wrestling Headlines. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
35. Knox, Caylon (June 17, 2023). "Skye Blue & Willow Nightingale Defeat Toni Storm & Ruby Soho on AEW Collision". Wrestling News Source. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
36. Carlin's, Matthews (June 21, 2023). "Toni Storm Vs. Willow Nightingale For AEW Women's World Title Set For Forbidden Door". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
37. Renner, Ethan (June 21, 2023). "MJF & Adam Cole to team in AEW blind eliminator tournament". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
38. Nason, Josh (June 23, 2023). "Adam Cole vs. Tom Lawlor set for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
39. Lambert, Jeremy (June 25, 2023). "Adam Cole Not Cleared For AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door Due To Illness, Bout With Tom Lawlor Canceled". Fightful. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
40. ^ Lambert, Jeremy (June 24, 2023). "Three Matches Added To AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door Zero Hour". Retrieved June 24, 2023.
41. Russell, Skylar (June 21, 2023). "Brackets, Matchup Dates Revealed For 2023 Men & Women's Owen Hart Cup Tournament". Fightful. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
42. Lambert, Jeremy (June 14, 2023). "MJF Says He'll No Show Forbidden Door 2 AEW World Title Bout Against Hiroshi Tanahashi". Retrieved June 14, 2023.
43. ^ Russell, Skylar (June 21, 2023). "Punk vs. Kojima, BCC vs. The Elite, Eddie Kingston & Ishii, More Set For AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door". Retrieved June 21, 2023.
44. Lambert, Jeremy (June 14, 2023). "Jack Perry Accepts SANADA's Open Challenge For IWGP World Heavyweight Title At Forbidden Door 2". Fightful. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
45. Lambert, Jeremy (June 4, 2023). "Will Ospreay Earns IWGP US Title Bout Against Kenny Omega At AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door". Fightful. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
46. Defelice, Robert (June 24, 2023). "Tetsuya Naito Revealed As Sting And Darby Allin's Partner For AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2023". Fightful. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
47. Lambert, Jeremy (June 4, 2023). "Bryan Danielson Challenges Kazuchika Okada At NJPW Dominion, Okada Says 'Forbidden Door' Will Be Open". Fightful. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
48. Powell, Jason (June 25, 2023). "AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door pre-show results: Powell's live review of Athena vs. Billie Starkz in a Owen Hart Cup tournament match, Kyle Fletcher, Jeff Cobb, and TJP vs. Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi, and Bushi, Stu Grayson vs. El Phantasmo". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved June 25, 2023.

External links

• All Elite Wrestling Official Website
• New Japan Pro-Wrestling Official Website

• 2023 All Elite Wrestling pay-per-view events
• Events in Toronto
• New Japan Pro-Wrestling shows
• Professional wrestling in Toronto
• Professional wrestling joint shows