The second AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door event is set up to be a special show, and on paper, it will easily surpass the first one.
In 2022, All Elite Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling came together for the first Forbidden Door pay-per-view, an event that signified the increasingly strong relationship between the two companies. When the show was announced, the possibilities were endless, as numerous dream matches became legitimate possibilities.
However, the show was famously hindered by setbacks, as multiple top stars went down with injuries. On the AEW side alone, AEW World Champion CM Punk hurt his foot, Bryan Danielson was unable to compete, and Kenny Omega still hadn’t recovered from his prior medical issues. Though AEW was working with less depth at the top level than desired, Forbidden Door still turned out to be a smashing success.
This year, both company’s rosters are much healthier heading into the show. Punk, Omega, and Danielson are all on the card, as are other stalwarts like Jon Moxley, Will Ospreay, Orange Cassidy, and more. With that in mind, the 2023 event might just blow its predecessor out of the water, as the top two matches alone have set up the show to be one for the stages.
1. Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada Will Be Wrestling At Its Finest
For years, Bryan Danielson and Kazuchika Okada have widely been considered the best, if not undoubtedly among the best, wrestlers in the world. Their accolades speak for themselves, as they are world champions multiple times over. Though both men have wrestled all over the world, they have never faced each other, so this bout doesn’t need much of a build in order to feel special.
Putting it simply, Okada vs. Danielson should be appointment viewing for all wrestling fans, even those who may not be familiar with Okada’s work or NJPW as a whole. The chance to see two of the best of the best go head-to-head is rare these days, and it shouldn’t be taken for granted. We’re in for a treat on Sunday night.
2. Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay Is The Rematch Of The Year
Omega and Ospreay had been feuding for quite some time before they stepped into the same ring. When Omega and the Young Bucks left NJPW to help found AEW in 2019, Ospreay became one of the stars New Japan leaned on to carry the company forward.
Comparisons between Ospreay’s NJPW and Omega’s NJPW quickly because unfair, both due to the COVID-19 pandemic that turned the wrestling world on its head and the injuries Ospreay struggled with. However, the two stars went back on forth on social media and in interviews, and fans increasingly dreamt of the day they would face off.
It finally happened in 2022, as the two stars competed in a trios match as part of the AEW World Trios Championship Tournament. This was a mere appetizer for what came next, as Omega made his return to NJPW at Wrestle Kingdom 17 and beat Ospreay to win the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship in what many consider to be the match of the year. Their feud has continued since then, and heading into the rematch, there’s every reason to hope that the second bout will match, or even surpass, the instant classic they delivered the first time.
3. The Rest Of The Card Is An All-Star Game
Frankly, it would be an injustice to the card to only pick one more match, as most of them are intriguing for one reason for another.
- AEW World Champion MJF, who did not compete at the first Forbidden Door, will defend his title against Hiroshi Tanahashi in a match that could help the respect for the champion’s in-ring game reach a new level. MJF’s Iron Man match against Danielson went a long way in erasing any doubt about, but this could be a statement match for the self-proclaimed “Devil.”
- IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA and “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry have drummed up interest in their bout with some compelling comments in interviews, as both men have said they’re not familiar with the other. Casual fans in the United States may not be as familiar with SANADA as that may be with Okada and others, but this could be a coming out party for him. Likewise, Perry will have the chance to prove himself on a major stage.
- AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy might face his toughest test yet when he faces NJPW World Television Champion Zack Sabre Jr, ROH Pure Champion Katsuyori Shibata, and Daniel Garcia. Cassidy has had an incredible run, but the odds are not in his favor here, as he’ll be facing some of the best technical wrestlers in the world.
- CM Punk will compete on a pay-per-view for the first time since AEW All Out 2022 when he faces Satoshi Kojima to kick off the Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Cup Tournament.
- The first-ever clash between Sting and Chris Jericho promises to be a buzzworthy moment, especially with the looming surprise of the third member of Sting’s team for the trios match; the individual will be revealed Saturday on AEW Collision.
- AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm will defend the title against Willow Nightingale will face off in a Champion vs. Champion bout, as Nightingale previously beat Mercedes Mone to win the NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship. Nightingale is a beloved name in the wrestling world, though this match carries some disappointment with it, given the reports that Mone had been in talks for the show prior to her injury.
- The bitter feud between the Blackpool Combat Club and The Elite rages on; this time, honorary members Konosuke Takeshita and Shota Umino will fight alongside the BCC, while unlikely allies Eddie Kingston and Tomohiro Ishii will join forces with The Elite.
- Adam Cole will look to bounce back following his Time-Limit Draw against MJF, which was arguably Cole’s best AEW match yet, when he faces “Filthy” Tom Lawlor, a criminally underrated competitor in the wrestling world.
- ROH Women’s World Champion Athena and Billie Starkz will get some deserved time in the spotlight, albeit on the Zero Hour pre-show, when they face off in an Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament match.
Even with just a brief breakdown of the lineup, there’s no doubt that AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door will be a must-see show. Come for the top two matches, but prepare to be blown away by the impressive depth of the rest of the slate.
The updated card for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door can be found here. WrestleZone will have coverage of the show as it airs.
