AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door 2023
AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2023 event was a joint PPV event from All Elite Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling. The event took place on June 25, 2023, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Canada.
The event featured inter-promotional matches between NJPW and AEW. Kazuchika Okada vs Bryan Danielson and Kenny Omega vs Will Ospreay were some marquee matches on the card.
EVENT INFO
EVENT NOTES
- This is the second event in the Forbidden Door series after the first one in 2022.
- This is the first AEW-associated PPV event taking place outside the United States and the first AEW-associated PPV event in Canada.
- On March 15, 2023, AEW announced the second Forbidden Door PPV event in collaboration with NJPW to take place on June 25, 2023, which would be part of AEW’s Canada tour.
- The tickets went on sale on March 24 and were sold out quickly.
- Adam Cole vs Tom Lawlor match was announced for the show, but it was canceled after some sickness for Cole.
MATCH CARD
The Mogul Embassy(Swerve Strickland, Brian Cage, Kon & Tanga Loa) vs El Desperado, Chuck Taylor, Trent Baretta & Rocky Romero
In another cross-promotional match, Swerve Strickland led The Mogul Embassy against El Desperado and Ropongii Vice.
Winner – The Mogul Embassy
Athena vs Billie Starkz – Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Round 1
Athena took on Billie Starkz in the first-round match in men’s division for Owen Hart Foundation Tournament.
Winner – Athena
Stu Grayson vs El Phantasmo
In one of the matches on pre-show, Stu Grayson was announced to face El Phantasmo.
Winner – El Phantasmo
United Empire (Jeff Cobb, Kyle Fletcher, & TJP) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi, & BUSHI)
United Empire’s rivalry with Los Ingobernables de Japon continued on the pre-show of Forbidden Door.
Winner – Los Ingobernables de Japon
MJF(c) vs Hiroshi Tanahashi – AEW World Championship
Hiroshi Tanahashi appeared in a video on AEW Dynamite June 14 episode and challenged MJF for AEW World Championship. While AEW made the match official, MJF rejected the challenge and said he would no-show at the event if forced to defend the title. Tanahashi interrupted MJF during his segment with Adam Cole on June 21 Dynamite and challenged him to show up at Forbidden Door. After this, Cole played to MJF’s ego and taunted him into accepting to defend the title at Forbidden Door. MJF then announced on Collision June 24 episode that his match has to be the first match on the card.
Winner – MJF
CM Punk vs Satoshi Kojima – Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Round 1
CM Punk faced Satoshi Kojima in the first-round match in men’s division for Owen Hart Foundation Tournament.
Winner – CM Punk
Orange Cassidy(c) vs Katsuyori Shibata vs Zack Sabre Jr. & Daniel Garcia – 4-way match for AEW International Championship
Zack Sabre Jr. appeared on June 14 Dynamite episode and challenged Orange Cassidy for AEW International Championship. Daniel Garcia also staked his claim for the title. Garcia also inquired about Cassidy’s buddy Katsuyori Shibata. Cassidy then challenged Sabre and Garcia for a tag team match against him and Shibata. Cassidy’s inadvertent Orange punch at Shibata led to them losing that tag team match. AEW then announced that Cassidy would defend the title in a fatal 4-way match.
Winner – Orange Cassidy
Sanada(c) vs Jungle Boy Jack Perry – IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
During June 14 Dynamite episode, Sanada put out an open challenge for AEW Roster for anyone to challenge him from IWGP World title. Jungle Boy Jack Perry accepted the challenge later in the ring. Perry defeated Sanada’s stablemate Douki in a singles match on Rampage June 23 episode. After that, Sanada came out to have a face-off with him.
Winner – Sanada
Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Konosuke Takeshita & Shota Umino vs Adam Page, Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, Eddie Kingston & Tomohiro Ishii
The Elite and Blackpool Combat Club clashed in Anarchy in the Arena match at Double or Nothing 2023 where Konosuke Takeshita helped BCC to get a win. Moxley and Claudio teamed up with Shota Umino at NJPW Dominion 6.4 event against Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii and Hiroshi Tanahashi to challenge for NEVER 6-Man Tag Team titles. The Elite’s Hangman Page and The Young Bucks defeated Moxley, Claudio and Yuta in a trios match on June 14 Dynamite. Eddie Kingston came out to attack Claudio and also had a face-off with his friend Moxley. On June 21 Dynamite episode, BCC challenged The Elite for a 10-man tag team match where Takeshita and Umino would partner with them. Kingston offered to team up with The Elite. He later revealed that Tomohiro Ishii would be the fifth man to team up with The Elite.
Winner – The Elite, Eddie Kingston & Tomohiro Ishii
Toni Storm(c) vs Willow Nightingale – AEW Women’s Championship
Willow Nightingale came out to save Skye Blue from a post-match attack from Toni Storm and Ruby Soho on Dynamite June 14 episode. Willow and Blue defeated Soho and Storm in a tag team match on June 17 Collision episode. AEW then aired a video package with dueling promos from Storm and Willow before announcing a match for AEW Women’s title at Forbidden Door.
Winner – Toni Storm
Kenny Omega(c) vs Will Ospreay – IWGP US Heavyweight Championship
Kenny Omega defeated Will Ospreay at Wrestle Kingdom 17 event to win IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship from him. NJPW later announced a tournament to find the next title contender via a 4-man mini tournament. Lance Archer defeated Fred Rosser at NJPW Collision in Philadelphia event in the first semifinal. Will Ospreay defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi in the second semifinal at NJPW Resurgence event. Ospreay then defeated Archer at NJPW Dominion 6.4 to become the #1 contender for the title. The match was made official for Forbidden Door event on June 6 during a press conference from NJPW. Ospreay then attacked Omega on June 14 Dynamite episode.
Winner – Will Ospreay
Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara & Minoru Suzuki vs Sting, Darby Allin & Tetsuya Naito
Darby Allin tried to convince Sammy Guevara to leave Chris Jericho behind and said Jericho was holding Guevera back. Jericho came out and berated Darby about poisoning Guevara. He also took shots at Sting, leading to sting coming out and having a face-off with him. The following week, Jericho, Guevara and Suzuki won a trios match on Dynamite. After this match, Jericho challenged Sting and Darby to find a partner for a trios match at Forbidden Door. Sting accepted the challenge while Darby said they would reveal their partner on June 24 Collision episode. The partner was revealed to be Tetsuya Naito.
Winners – Sting, Darby Allin & Tetsuya Naito
Kazuchika Okada vs Bryan Danielson
At NJPW Dominion 6.4, Kazuchika Okada teamed up with Hiroshi Tanahashi and Tomohiro Ishii to defeat Shota Umino and Blackpool Combat Club’s Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli. After this match, Jon Moxley said Okada was not the best wrestler in the world and he had a message. Bryan Danielson’s message appeared on the big screen where he said he is the litmus test for the best wrestler in the world and challenged Okada. Okada replied that Forbidden Door would be opened soon. NJPW officially announced this match in a press conference on June 6. Danielson called out Okada to meet him on June 21 Dynamite episode. In the closing segment, Okada ran out to save CHAOS teammate Tomohiro Ishii from an attack from Danielson. Danielson ducked a rainmaker from Okada and ran to safety. Okada then hit Wheeler Yuta with a rainmaker.
Winner – Bryan Danielson
