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Between Dynasty and All In Texas? I don’t think AEW has ever had a better run of matches, storylines, promos, and TV shows. It’s the best in company history. I used to say the best was January 2020 to Revolution 2020. I’m probably biased on that due to being at Revolution, but I wasn’t at anything here. I think everyone was hitting all cylinders, lessons learned from the previous months on what to do and not to do, storylines hitting their crescendo, and weekly wrestling at a high level.
I thought All In Texas, while not the best pay per view AEW has ever done, is arguably one of the most important. So many watched in the stadium and all over the world on pay per view.
I think for AEW, they put so much time, effort, and energy into getting to that point at All In Texas that they forgot to properly plan for Forbidden Door.
AEW did have some real issues with the schedule. Stardom and New Japan Pro Wrestling wouldn’t really be available until the conclusion of 5STAR Grand Prix and G1 Climax. There was probably the usual injury issues, which is why it’s a benefit AEW has such a deep roster. But none of this changes the way they’ve planned this show.
They relied on Instashots for cheap reactions, both with Athena teasing to cash in her Instashot, and MJF executing the contract and then getting it back to use another time by threatening to set someone on fire. They finished a tournament for an AEW World Tag Team Championship shot in a draw. They had JetSpeed used to both put over Jon Moxley and help Hiroshi Tanahashi defeat the Death Riders only to have no matches on the main card. They spent considerable television on Adam Copeland and Christian Cage reuniting, more than any of the tag contenders, only to watch their destruction at the hands of a returning Killshot get cheered because nobody thought the AEW original might get cheered for returning from being near death.
They’ve had Kris Statlander all over TV even winning a $100,000 four way match only for it to lead to… something on Zero Hour. Certainly not for the pay per view. The Opps are not defending their Trios championship on the main card. Anthony Bowens and Max Caster get TV every week for reasons. Triangle of Madness have been building a big multi-women feud for… Zero Hour.
And yet, despite all of these issues? AEW has honestly not been this hot in some time. People are genuinely happy with the product. The return of, “people are complaining about AEW too much” when you point out these issues. People don’t want to hear any issues or concerns or any general criticism that isn’t positive and glowing. They are so happy AEW is doing well they feel any criticism will just derail it, and people pointing out these issues just can’t be happy for a hot product.
I get it. Fans will be fans. It’s funny when these same fans criticize fans of other companies for doing this thinking they are in some way impervious to it, but that’s just the way fandom goes. As I’ve said many times before, I’ve been discussing the positives and negatives of All Elite Wrestling from my personal perspective since day 2019. That’s never going to change.
But what I hope they understand is that just because I don’t think this has been a good build up to Forbidden Door and just because I’ve had issues with a lot of storylines and programming decisions? That doesn’t mean I’m unhappy with AEW or even think the product is bad. The product is very good. I just expect more of it than you do. I’m not good enough with it just existing because I have some constant existential fear of AEW one day disappearing. I expect it to try to be as great as I just saw it be from Dynasty to All In Texas every pay per view cycle, and if it misses the mark? It misses the mark, and there’s always next show.
Also, just because I think the build up to this show and the decisions being made have not been good, that doesn’t mean I’m not looking forward to this show. It’s an AEW pay per view. Their reputation for great pay per view shows is second to none. Nobody is more consistent. Nobody gives you a better bang for your buck. I just want that same consistency when it comes to, oh I don’t know, Maxwell Jacob Friedman programs.
So with that out of the way, here’s to a great Forbidden Door, and here’s to hopefully a better build up from Forbidden Door to All Out Toronto. See you there.
AEW Forbidden Door 2025
Tag Team Match
Adam Copeland and Christian Cage versus Killshot and Kip Sabian
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Nick Wayne ended up injured and on crutches so Killshot ended up taking his spot in the match.
This is unfortunate for two reasons. The first is that Nick Wayne is who Christian Cage delayed this program for. He wanted to finish things with Wayne before he moved on to this one last run with Adam Copeland. Him getting injured is really unfortunate.
The second reason is having Killshot return as a heel. Returning him under the name Killshot if he’s turning on Christian is bewildering in itself, but this man almost died! The fans want to love Luchasaurus! They celebrated him attacking Copeland and Christian. Of course they did, they love the guy! It was a big return!
This is honestly a big issue with many programs Adam Copeland and Christian Cage get in. Both men are smart, know the business, and understand psychology as well as anyone. But they also tend to get into their own heads and think just because something makes sense on paper means it’s what the fans see and want. Yes, Killshot was treated poorly by Christian Cage. Yes, he’d want revenge. But that isn’t going to be someone the crowd is going to boo even if they love Copeland and Christian.
It also made more sense to hold off Killshot’s return for when Jack Perry was able to return so they could reform Jurassic Express. Which, if they do later as heels? Huge mistake. Even if that gets you a big Cope and Christian versus Jurassic Express match? You don’t do it trying to force people to boo their favourite boy and his dinosaur.
Anyway, this is just a stepping stone for the eventual program with FTR, which is likely involving the AEW World Tag Team Championship. Copeland likely pins Kip Sabian for the win.
Winners: Adam Copeland and Christian Cage
TNT Championship
Hiromu Takahashi versus Kyle Fletcher (c)
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Fletcher started his TNT Championship run by defeating Tomohiro Ishii, so it only makes sense to line him up against another New Japan Pro Wrestling alumni in Hiromu Takahashi.
I’m just happy to see Takahashi in AEW and hope Tony Khan puts the money in for People by The 1975 for Hiromu to come out to. If you’ve ever wondered about Hiromu’s aesthetic in the past few years? That music video is related to it. Might be one of the only songs by The 1975 that would be really good as a wrestler theme.
I know this will be a great match and be a great defence for Kyle Fletcher, but I won’t lie. I really want Hiromu and Darby Allin to mix it up before neither of them can. That’s one of my dream matches.
Winner: Kyle Fletcher
AEW Unified Championship
Swerve Strickland versus Kazuchika Okada (c)
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With recent reports that Swerve Strickland will be taking time off after this match due to a nagging injury (since 2019!) the result of this match certainly isn’t out of the question.
The fact it’s a nagging injury and he’s been wrestling at an incredibly high level for the past few years makes me wonder if he just plans to finally get it worked on now before it becomes a problem and it won’t be an issue for his match with Okada. These two are the best out there and have the ability to have the best match of the night. I do hope we get to see at least something close to the best Swerve Strickland can offer.
As the first defence for Okada’s Unified Championship it’s a pretty big deal, and ensures the standard for the title is much higher than the International or Continental. Where they go from here with two potentially big babyfaces off the board (Swerve and Ospreay) is hard to say, especially since Okada has already beaten a lot of guys. I personally would like to see Juice Robinson step up next.
As I said, this could be a match of the night if both men find their chemistry and go all out for it.
Winner: Kazuchika Okada
TBS Championship
4 Way Match
Alex Windsor versus Persephone versus BOZILLA versus Mercedes Moné (c)
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AEW has been spending a lot of time on TV (especially Collision) building up the likes of Thekla, Julia Hart, Skye Blue, Kris Statlander, Willow Nightingale, and Queen Aminata. None of which are on the main card of Forbidden Door. I don’t know if the plan is for them to do a Blood and Guts or not, but I wonder what the championship plans are for any of these women?
The reason I ask in this match is that I really don’t see Mercedes losing to any of them. Alex Windsor is likely there to get pinned by Moné so the CMLL and Stardom reps don’t get pinned. I don’t see them having either win it. Alex could win if Tony is that addicted to British women winning a title in London, England but I doubt this happens here.
So once Moné wins, what’s next? You have this midcard getting built up. Does Kris Statlander finally get her second shot at Moné and this time wins?
Maybe it’s cruel for me to write off the women in this match and discuss that, but more TV has gone to Statlander’s conflicts with The Death Riders and former friend Willow than it has to the TBS Championship, so it’s of course what’s on my mind. If this show is just a way to get CMLL and Stardom on the card, what’s next for Moné?
Winner: Mercedes Moné
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
Nigel McGuinness (with Daniel Garcia) versus Zack Sabre Jr. (c)
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Has a heel turn ever been this obvious?
Honestly it’s the most obvious heel turn since… probably since Jack Perry facing SANADA for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Forbidden Door two years ago. We all knew Perry was going to turn, and in losing he turned on HOOK as the big AEW story of the match. This time it’s not the person losing who will turn but the person accompanying them.
Daniel Garcia watching as Nigel McGuinness steals his dream of competing in London, England so the old part timer previously retired from the business can carry out his fantasies and have a dream match with his mate Zack Sabre Jr. is going to eat Garcia alive, and you just know when he watches as Nigel just can’t quite finish the job? He’s going to finish him for it.
It’s a good time to turn Daniel Garcia heel as AEW needs a few more heels with some spice, some form of sizzle, since most either have a belt, are in the Don Callis Family, or are Maxwell Jacob Friedman. Daniel Garcia trying to retire Nigel could be exactly what his career needs.
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr.
AEW World Tag Team Championship
Elimination 3 Way
Brodido versus FTR versus The Hurt Syndicate (c)
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The best thing possible would be to have Hurt Syndicate lose the match first so the tournament final can finally see a real result. Ending a tournament in a draw is so weak. AEW should feel shame for that.
I doubt that’ll happen and I’m sure Hurt Syndicate pin Brodido or FTR before going out, but it would be the best way to go to have them lose and allow either the top babyface team here in Brodido surprise as tag champions or FTR to win the titles without having to officially beat Hurt Syndicate for them. Even if FTR is the best tag team in AEW right now.
Which is also why I think they do walk out of London, England as AEW World Tag Team Champions. Yes, part of it is because I believe they are putting those belts on the line against Adam Copeland and Christian Cage, but it’s also because I just think they deserve it as the best tag team in the company.
Maybe the division can recover after Hurt Syndicate essentially sucked the life out of it, though who knows what sort of damage they plan to do and to what division next.
Winners and NEW AEW World Tag Team Champions: FTR
AEW Women’s World Championship
Athena versus Timeless Toni Storm (c)
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It seems people are split on Athena. Some haven’t cared for her at all in the build up to this and think she’s been annoying. I think she’s been great as a heel, finding ways to get under Toni’s skin, to take the spotlight from her, and to be a general nuisance.
Athena is also a very good wrestler, and I am really looking forward to her first title shot in AEW since the Grand Slam Dynamite in 2022. She was in a four way with Serena Deeb, Britt Baker, and champion… Toni Storm.
Toni’s win against Mercedes Moné last month cemented her as the women’s wrestler in AEW. Nobody is above her now. If Athena wasn’t still ROH Women’s World Champion I would think switching to her would be the best way to go. I just don’t see her holding both belts when “belt collecting” is more Mercedes gimmick.
I think Storm wins this, which would be a win against the TBS Champion and ROH Women’s World Champion in the same calendar year, back to back defences. You can’t get much stronger than that. Then AEW will have to spend their time thinking about exactly which woman gets built up as a heel to take Toni out finally.
Maybe Kris Statlander associated with Death Riders?
Winner: Timeless Toni Storm
AEW Men’s World Championship
If Hangman is counted out or disqualified he loses the championship
Maxwell Jacob Friedman versus Hangman Adam Page (c)
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“If Hangman is counted out or disqualified he loses the championship”
Meaning Ricochet can walk out, smack MJF with a chair, and MJF is champion?
Meaning if Mark Briscoe tries to even the odds and get revenge against MJF, he could become champion?
Meaning the AEW Men’s World Championship, the most protected championship in the company, can exchange hands by a countout?
Meaning if Hangman doesn’t listen to a five count on the ropes he could have to drop the championship?
Do you see why there isn’t this stipulation all the time? Because it leads to really goofy possibilities that should never be considered in a World Championship match.
It’s also a stipulation best set on a heel so the heel has to play fair. Hangman Adam Page is more than willing to play fair in any match. Why is he getting the stipulation?
Because someone clearly felt like Maxwell Jacob Friedman doesn’t have enough of an advantage going into the match and he needs to stack the odds in such a way that you go, “Oh me oh my how ever will Hangman get out of this?” but they showed their hand the moment MJF got his Instashot back.
MJF isn’t winning this. But he might win later.
The best thing possible would be Hangman winning tonight clean, regardless of temptations, and MJF uses the Instashot only to lose again. Stay the course. Don’t give in to this dumb stupidity of Instashots and bad stips. Do the right thing.
I expect this match to a mess. I wish it wasn’t. MJF versus Hangman was a masterpiece at Revolution. I want that again, but with the title on the line. The stakes are not MJF threatening to burn Mark Briscoe. The stakes are the AEW Men’s World Championship!
Sigh.
Winner: Hangman Adam Page
Lights Out Steel Cage Match
Darby Allin, Will Ospreay, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kenny Omega, and Kota Ibushi versus Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Gabe Kidd, and The Young Bucks
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Jon Moxley and the Death Riders were finally stopped by the combined efforts of Will Ospreay, The Opps, Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin, and Swerve Strickland in assisting Hangman Adam Page in his main event match at All In Texas.
Once.
They were stopped… once.
There’s still countless amounts of damage and destruction that the Death Riders still have to account for, and everyone knows even though Hangman as champ is something they currently cannot change? There’s a lot of suffering elsewhere they can still inflict.
While I don’t expect Bryan Danielson to do much, and Swerve is facing Kazuchika Okada, it does make one ask what the next chapter is going to be?
That chapter is Darby Allin coming out and messing up the plans of the Death Riders. He did it for weeks and challenged the Death Riders only to eventually eat a beat down from the crew. That beatdown would be interrupted by the return of Will Ospreay, who issued his challenge.
This cage match is at Forbidden Door, so it really can’t be about AEW. It can’t be about Darby’s revenge. That revenge should be personal. This is more like a stop in the road towards Darby completing this chapter.
So this stop in the road will include Darby. It will include Will Ospreay, who has decided to make the drama less about Death Riders versus Team Darby and more about his potential health going into the match. Hiroshi Tanahashi of New Japan Pro Wrestling has been added to the team. And then the Golden Lovers in Kota Ibushi and Kenny Omega, who haven’t showed up to a single moment of TV to build for this match.
On the other side is Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli, temporary member Gabe Kidd (who once brought his NJPW faction War Dogs to help him wreck havoc) and of course The Young Bucks. The Young Bucks were added after Tanahashi was added to the other side, showing in some way that Moxley was feeling desperate and needed them for this.
I personally would have no issue with this match if it was a 10 wrestler elimination tag that could open the show or be the semi-main event. Instead, it will close the show as a lights out steel cage match, the first lights out steel cage match since Hangman defeated Swerve Strickland at All Out 2024.
You can see how the stakes are very much different.
Even if Will Ospreay’s health concerns are just kayfabe, this is a match with a lot of fragile wrestlers who will be expected to do some dangerous stuff to excite the crowd and make them think the stipulation is worth it.
I also don’t think this works as an AEW farewell for Hiroshi Tanahashi, who is retiring at the end of the year. We’re really having him do a cage match? Lights out?
I just feel like AEW should have never announced a lights out stipulation and made this more about people who had real issues with the Death Riders. Or don’t make it at all about that.
I’m sure this match will be a lot of fun. The Young Bucks can be trusted to protect Tanahashi and the Golden Lovers, while Darby and Gabe I’m sure will bring some good violence. Will Ospreay has been trying to make this in a lot of ways about himself and Jon Moxley, which I hope they either resolve quickly or leave as an opening for Darby Allin to feel more motivated for revenge against the Death Riders.
For all of my criticism, it will be nice to see Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi together again, as will it be to see the Golden Lovers together again.
Winner: Team Darby Allin
In the words of Ian Riccaboni? Happy Wrestling everyone.
