AEW X NJPW Forbidden Door 2026 GRADED - Results, Review

To finish off a jam-packed weekend of professional wrestling, AEW and NJPW combined to present the Forbidden Door pay-per-view from San Jose's SAP Center.

The show featured the finals of the Owen Hart Foundation tournaments, as well as a Steel Cage Match where if Team Briscoe won, the Sussex County Chicken would earn a shot at the AEW World Championship.

AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2026 GRADED:

Drilla Moloney def. Daniel Garcia - Buy-In

The opening match on the Forbidden Door Buy-In saw Death Riders’ Daniel Garcia go one-on-one with Unbound Company’s Drilla Moloney in a match that saw Daniel Garcia fly into the front row following a Chop from the NJPW star. 

The match went back to the ring, where Daniel Garcia distracted the referee so Marina Shafir could choke Drilla Moloney. Garcia then worked over Moloney’s leg and remained in control for a good length of time before Drilla fired back with a picture perfect Dropkick.

Moloney later went for a Drilla Killa but Garcia escaped and Moloney nearly ran into Marina Shafir, which allowed Garcia to take advantage with Twist and Shout. Soon after, though, Moloney countered a Jumping Knee into the Drilla Killa for the win. 

Grade: C - A match that happened. Drilla Moloney and Daniel Garcia had a competitive match but it won’t be one that anyone remembers in about an hour’s time. 

Maika def. Skye Blue - Survival of the Fittest Qualifier - Buy-In

Maika hit the first big move of the match with an Apron Powerbomb, but the two competitors primarily kept switching momentum for the opening minutes as the crowd was right behind Maika, with the crowd popping for a big Superplex, which recorded a near fall. 

Skye Blue fought back with a Cheeky Nando’s Kick and a Sit-Out Powerbomb for a near fall. Later, Blue hit a Tornado DDT for another near fall as the Triangle of Madness member became frustrated. Blue then hit a Thrust Kick but couldn’t make the cover as Maika rolled to the outside. This paid dividends for the STARDOM talent, who hit an Apron Suplex followed by the Michinoku Driver for the win. 

Grade: C - Another competitive, forgettable match that happened on the Buy-In for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door as Maika advanced to the Survival of the Fittest match for the TBS Title on Wednesday’s Dynamite.

Divine Dominion (Megan Bayne & Lena Kross) (c) def. Thunder Rosa & Olympia - AEW Women's World Tag Team Championships - Buy-In

The AEW World Tag Team Championships were on the line in the final match of the Buy In as Divine Dominion defended against Thunder Rosa and CMLL’s Olympia. 

Thunder Rosa was quickly flattened by Lena Kross but Rosa fought back and tagged in Olympia, and the babyfaces combined with stereo Hurricanranas before Rosa hit a Corkscrew Dive to the outside. Olympia followed up with a Springboard Dive, wiping out the champions as soon as they got back to their feet. 

Divine Dominion soon fired back, though, and worked over Thunder Rosa for a substantial amount of time until Rosa made the hot tag as Olympia ran wild with Lariats, a Shotgun Dropkick, and a Bronco Buster for a near fall on Lena Kross. Kross managed to block tag team offence from the babyfaces but Olympia hit a Fallaway Slam to Megan Bayne followed by a Moonsault by Olympia from Lena Kross onto Bayne. Rosa then used her partner’s back to hit a Shotgun Dropkick to Kross in the corner. 

Soon after, everyone took turns delivering Flying Lariats before Lena Kross and Olympia just started swinging for the fences against each other. Megan Bayne then hit a rough-looking Frankensteiner before a stiff Shotgun Dropkick from Rosa. Bayne then took out her tag team partner with a Shotgun Dropkick and the challengers followed up with a Gorilla Press Slam and Double Stomp but it was only enough for a near fall. 

Soon after, Megan Bayne was able to connect with an F5 to Thunder Rosa but Olympia broke up the pin. Divine Dominion followed up with a Shotgun Dropkick/German Suplex combo to Olympia. With Thunder Rosa all alone, the champions hit From Heaven to Hell to Thunder Rosa to record the successful title defence. 

Grade: B- - A hard-hitting, enjoyable encounter to close out the Buy-In that made everyone look good, especially Olympia, who impressed in her first AEW match of 2026.

The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) def. El Sky Team (Mistico & Mascara Dorada) & Unbound Co. (Shingo Takagi & Titan) - Three-Way

Forbidden Door started out hot with The Young Bucks vs. El Sky Team’s Mistico & Mascara Dorada vs. Unbound Company’s Shingo Takagi & Titan. 

Mascara Dorada looked impressive with some flippy Armdrags to The Young Bucks and Dorada continued to look impressive with a Hurricanrana to Shingo Takagi but the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion fired back with a big Lariat and the Unbound Co. stablemates worked together against Dorada, recording a near fall following a Springboard Splash from Titan. Dorada managed to make the hot tag to Mistico and he ran wild with a Hurricanrana to Takagi before a big Armdrag. Hurricanranamania followed from the Young Bucks and Mascara Dorada.

The luchadores combined to send Mascara Dorada flying into Titan with a Frankensteiner which wiped out the rest of the field. Dorada and Titan then impressed back in the ring with a Pop-Up Slam before a Swanton Bomb from Mistico for a near fall. Matt Jackson blocked an Armdrag from Mascara Dorada which ended with Northern Lights Suplexes to both Dorada and Titan. Shingo Takagi then went back to flattening everyone like a boss.

Leg Drop combo to Matt Jackson recorded a near fall for Unbound Co. Matt Jackson then used Shingo’s chest to hit Sliced Bread to Titan, with Matt Jackson making the hot tag to his brother, who ran wild on Titan and Shingo. Mistico then took out The Young Bucks with a Diving Crossbody before El Sky Team combined for stereo 619s. Springboard Dive from Mistico followed before a Springboard Shooting Star Press from Mascara Dorada. 

Superkick Party from everyone except Shingo Takagi, who just went back to battering people with Pumping Bombers to a big pop. He finally went down after The Young Bucks and El Sky Team hit him with Superkicks at the same time. Canadian Destroyer party next as everyone collapsed, sending the SAP Center to their feet. 

Shingo Takagi then went back to being a battering ram, hitting Pumping Bomber after Pumping Bomber in the corner before Mistico hit a Spanish Fly to Shingo from the top rope. The pin was broken up by a Flying Elbow from Matt Jackson before a 450 Splash from Nick Jackson and a Shooting Star Press from Mascara Dorada. Mistico then applied La Mistica to Takagi but Shingo refused to tap out and the submission was broken up by The Young Bucks. 

Shingo Takagi next hit a Pumping Bomber to Mistico and Unbound Co. worked over CMLL’s top star, including with a Michinoku Driver and Double Stomp, but the pin was broken up by Nick Jackson with Superkicks. The Superkick party followed from The Bucks and Mascara Dorada to Shingo Takagi. 

A Titan Crossbody was then caught by The Young Bucks and they reversed into a Meltzer Driver for the win. 

Grade: A - With the talent on display, this match, as expected, was very, very good. The high-flying action was great but Shingo Takagi acting like an absolute battering ram was always fresh as he just ran around decking everyone with Pumping Bombers. What a bloke and what a match to open Forbidden Door.

Kenny Omega def. Zack Sabre Jr.

Early technical wrestling in the early going before the action spilt to the outside, where Zack Sabre Jr. worked over Kenny Omega’s fingers. Omega fought back with multiple knees before he spent time bouncing ZSJ’s head off the Spanish announce table. The action then went on top of the announce table but Sabre blocked Omega from putting him through it and flipped off the crowd while using one of his many, many submissions. 

Sabre next spent time working over Omega’s arm as ZSJ bathed in “You’re a d*ckhead” chants. Omega eventually fired back and he hit a Terminator Dive, wiping out his opponent. Later, Omega hit a Neckbreaker but Sabre fought back with more arm work, before they just started exchanging Chops and Uppercuts. Snap Dragon Suplex from Omega followed, sending both men to the mat. 

After exchanging more submissions, ZSJ kicked Omega in the head but Kenny just asked for more, so Sabre obliged. He was caught on the third Kick, though, and Sabre reversed a Snap Dragon Suplex into an Armbar, but Omega reached the ropes to break the hold. Once again, Sabre went back to working over the right arm of Omega. 

After more arm work, Omega fought back with a V Trigger but he couldn’t connect with a Piledriver because of the injured arm, but that didn’t stop the former AEW World Champion from swinging for the fences with a huge Lariat, followed by another V Trigger. Omega then used the ropes to get in position for the One Winged Angel and he went for an Avalanche version but ZSJ escaped and applied a Rear Naked Choke as they remained on the top rope. To break the hold, Omega simply fell from the top, crushing Sabre. 

Omega remained on top, just hitting more and more V Triggers until Zack blocked one and reversed into an Ankle Lock. Omega broke free and they exchanged a Penalty Kick and V Trigger before a Poisonrana from Kenny Omega, which was only enough for a two count. ZSJ then got a 2.9 count after reversing the V Trigger into a pin. 

Omega hit the V Trigger soon after, but ZSJ fought back with the Zack Driver for another near fall, much to the TMDK leader’s frustration. After more counters, Omega hit the Snap Dragon Suplex, V Trigger, and was about to hit the One-Winged Angel but Sabre reversed into a Triangle Choke. Omega powered out with one arm and hit a Kamigoye before the One Winged Angel at the third time of asking for the win.

Grade: A- - To the shock of absolutely nobody, Kenny Omega and Zack Sabre Jr. had a very good match at Forbidden Door that saw The Best Bout Machine pick up a big win on potentially going on to challenge for the AEW World Title at a future date. It started slowly but just built and built and peaked at the right time.

Jon Moxley (c) def. Bandido - AEW Continental Championship

After some initial lucha, Jon Moxley gave Bandido the middle finger, and this was how the early going played out of Bandido trying to gain momentum and Moxley knocking him straight back down, including with a Piledriver on the steel steps which left Bandido busted open. Moxley targeted the cut, biting it, before he went to work ripping Bandido’s mask. Next, Moxley licked Bandido’s blood and then ripped the mask a little too hard to the point you could just see Bandido’s face, meaning Bandido had to take time to adjust the mask a little. 

With Bandido’s face mostly visible, Moxley just started punching his opponent until Aubrey Edwards pulled Moxley away. Moxley then just started punching Bandido in the corner until the ROH World Champion fought back with a big Sit-Out Powerbomb, launching Moxley across the ring in the process. The two men exchanged blows in the immediate aftermath before Moxley went back to biting Bandido’s bloody face once again. 

All this did was fire up Bandido, who connected with a Skytwister Press and punches in the corner before a Shotgun Dropkick and a Shining Wizard for a near fall. A One-Handed Gorilla Press Slam followed that led to a Frog Splash but Moxley got his knees up, much to the sadness of the fans in the SAP Center. 

After a kick exchange, Bandido had an opening for a 21 Plex but the AEW Continental Champion hit a huge Lariat counter and connected with the Death Rider, but it was only enough for a near fall as Bandido’s mask continued to get more and more torn. Moxley went for an Avalanche Death Rider but Bandido blocked it and the ROH World Champion bit his opponent, followed by a Moonsault Fallaway Slam for a near fall. 

Bandido went for the 21 Plex but he rolled completely over Moxley to the outside, which allowed Moxley to apply a Rear Naked Choke. Bandido escaped briefly but Moxley reapplied it and transitioned into a Bulldog Choke. Bandido refused to give in and he tried to break free but Moxley held on and won the the match by KO when Bandido faded. The two competitors shook hands after the match. 

Grade: A- - The strong start to Forbidden Door continued as Jon Moxley and Bandido delivered a fight inside the squared circle that contained everything you could want from the contest. The only negative is that Bandido, once again, lost a singles match on AEW pay-per-view in 2026.

Shota Umino (c) def. PAC - IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship

PAC dominated the early going here until Shota Umino fired back with an Apron Tornado DDT, which drew a pop from a San Jose crowd that had become very quiet. Umino next hit a Shotgun Dropkick, sending PAC crashing into the barricade before a Draping Barricade DDT, spiking PAC on the top of his head. A rough Powerbomb back in the ring followed for a near fall for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion. 

PAC fired back with a Belly to Belly Suplex into the corner as Nigel McGuinness discussed the virtues of the beautiful city of Newcastle upon Tyne, home of Greggs and Alan Shearer. An Asai Moonsault from PAC followed before an Avalanche Belly to Belly Suplex back in the ring, but it was only enough for a two count. Eventually, Shota Umino got annoyed as PAC goaded him, but it just led to a forearm exchange won by the champion. 

After Umino kept firing up on Release German Suplexes, he just collapsed and PAC hoisted him up and hit a Razor’s Edge from the ring through a table on the outside. PAC followed up with a 450 Splash, which Umino kicked out of, but PAC just applied the Brutaliser. Umino managed to reach the bottom rope. Umino then fired back with a Headbutt before a Strike Knee, but PAC managed to kick out. 

A Poisonrana and Superkick from PAC followed but Umino decked his opponent with a big Lariat, but it was only enough for a near fall. Umino then hit a Paradigm Shift before a Northern Lights Bomb for the win. 

Post-match, Shota Umino backed into Jon Moxley, who made his way to the ring to check on PAC with Marina Shafir. A confrontation was heavily teased but was stopped by NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi, who headed to the ring and belted up Shota Umino.

Grade: B - This match looked like it was going to be a disappointment but it really picked up as it continued and both competitors worked hard, typified by PAC sending Shota Umino through a table with a Razor’s Edge. Shota Umino, as a whole, still seems to be overpushed compared to his level of charisma, but he delivered in the squared circle tonight and the always excellent PAC.

Thekla (c) def. Starlight Kid - AEW Women's World Championship

Big-time entrance for Thekla and the AEW Women’s World Champion dominated the early going in her war against STARDOM, which included a confrontation with STARDOM President Taro Okada. The confrontation allowed Starlight Kid to turn the tide and there was almost a botch as Starlight Kid placed her foot on Thekla to taunt her and Rick Knox started counting the pin, which caused Starlight to remove her foot before she accidentally won the AEW Women’s World Championship. 

Starlight Kid applied a Stretch Muffler, with Thekla breaking free by poking her opponent in the eyes followed by a Tarantula. After more back and forth action, Thekla connected with a Spear before Starlight Kid hit Double Knees to the back to leave them both in a heap. When they got back to their feet, Starlight Kid just pummelled Thekla but the champion fired back once again with a Running Knee to the skull, followed by a Diving Crossbody for a near fall. 

Thekla whiffed on a second Spear and Starlight Kid locked in another Stretch Muffler and just started swinging the AEW Women’s World Champion. Thekla just about managed to reach the bottom rope to continue the contest. Starlight Kid tried to press home her advantage with a Moonsault and she hit it, but Thekla managed to kick out at two. 

Starlight Kid went for a Lariat bur Thekla did her spider thing to avoid it and followed up with a Spear, but it wasn’t enough to put Starlight Kid away. The champion picked up the win soon after, though, following two Stomps. 

Post-match, Thekla and her Triangle of Madness stablemates unmasked Starlight Kid. Thekla then used the mask to beatdown Taro Okada, who quickly fell over. 

Grade: B+ - Another very good match at Forbidden Door that was only helped by the strong story of Thekla vs. STARDOM. Hopefully this is just the first chapter of the programme. 

Adam Copeland & Christian Cage (c) def. The Dogs (David Finlay & Clark Connors) - AEW World Tag Team Championships

The AEW World Tag Team Championships were on the line in the next match of the night in what was actually Adam Copeland and Christian Cage’s first tag team title defence on pay-per-view since WWF WrestleMania X-Seven in 2001. Their opponents in Clark Connors and David Finlay of The Dogs were seven years old. 

The match was dominated by The Dogs working over Christian Cage, and Adam Copeland’s hot tag didn’t do much as Clark Connors and David Finlay quickly battled back with a Spear/Chop Block combo. In mid-air soon after, Cage hit David Finlay with a Spear which led to a ref bump after Clark Connors pushed Christian into the official to break up the pin. 

Cope and Connors then faced off and Speared each other at the same time. Finlay then retrieved the shillelagh and he battered Christian Cage with it. Finlay was then about to hit Adam Copeland when the lights in the arena went out and The Bang Bang Gang appeared on the ramp. 

Everyone knew what this was leading to and when the lights came back on, Jay White was behind David Finlay and he laid out the man who kicked him out of Bullet Club all the way back in 2023 with a Blade Runner. Cope then hit a Spear to Finlay for the successful title defence. 

Post-match, Cope and Christian celebrated, while Jay White reunited with The Bang Bang Gang in a feel-good moment.

Grade: B- - The match was very much second fiddle to the return of Jay White after over a year out of action and was almost all offence from The Dogs before Cope hit a Spear for the win. A good moment, but there wasn’t much going on in the actual match.  

Mercedes Moné def. Maya World - AEW Owen Hart Foundation Women's Tournament Final

A match stoppage to prevent a wardrobe malfunction was the most noteworthy moment in the opening moments as Mercedes Moné dominated much of the action, scoring a near fall on a Meteora after several minutes. Another awkward moment occurred soon after as Mercedes Moné tried to win by count-out and actually had the match won when Aubrey Edwards just suddenly stopped counting at nine to go and check on Maya World, seemingly because another wardrobe malfunction occurred. 

After a host of counters as they both looked for a Tombstone Piledriver, Mercedes Moné rolled through into a Stomp. World fought back with a Shining Wizard but Moné was too close to the ropes and Moné fired back with an Up Kick and the Three Amigos. Moné then applied the Statement Maker, but World rolled through into a pin for a near fall. World then hit Locomotion Fallaway Slams, dumping Moné to the floor, and followed up with a Suicide Dive before a Swanton Bomb for a two count. 

A Cheeky Nandos’ Kick from Maya World followed but Mercedes blocked a Sunset Flip Powerbomb and they twice botched a Powerbomb attempt before Moné hit a Sunset Flip Powerbomb into the corner on the third attempt before the Running Knees in the corner. Moné then landed on the back of her head on a Hurricanrana counter, but Moné fired back with the Moné Maker. Maya World kicked out at two. 

Moné went for the Moné Maker again but World almost stole the match with a pin. World then blocked a Backstabber and followed up with a Sunset Flip Powerbomb to the floor, before she went for an Asai Moonsault, lost her footing, and eventually hit it. World then connected with a Moonsault back in the ring but Moné kicked out at 2.9. 

Maya World next applied her own version of the Statement Maker. When World tried to roll back to the centre of the ring, Moné countered into the Statement Maker and re-applied it. The submission was eventually broken but Moné hit a Backstabber and applied the Statement Maker again. This time, Maya World tapped. 

Grade: C - A match filled with too many awkward moments to ignore, including a wardrobe malfunction, Aubrey Edwards just stopping counting at nine when Maya World was still outside the ring, an awkward exchange over a Sunset Flip Powerbomb, and World losing her footing on an Asai Moonsault. Although Maya World winning would have been a feel-good moment, the right person in Mercedes Moné ultimately won and she will move on to challenging for the AEW Women’s World Title at All In.

Team Briscoe (Mark Briscoe, Darby Allin, Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong, Kyle O'Reilly & Konosuke Takeshita) def. Team MJF (MJF, Kevin Knight, Kyle Fletcher, Jake Doyle, Kazuchika Okada & Andrade El Idolo) - Steel Cage Match - If Team Briscoe wins Mark Briscoe earns a shot at the AEW World Championship

Absolute carnage to start off the opening minutes as everyone brawled around the big round cage, a new addition to AEW canon, including Jake Doyle hitting a Powerbomb to Darby Allin to the cage. The Don Calls Family also took turns just bouncing Mark Briscoe’s head into the cage. Issues soon emerged in Team DCMJF, though, as Andrade wanted to take his trousers off and MJF wanted to pose. This allowed Roddy Strong to just swing for the fences with a hockey equipment bag. Kyle O’Reilly then used a NES as a weapon and whipped Kazuchika Okada with the controller. After blowing in the cartridge, O’Reilly battered Okada some more. 

Mark Briscoe revealed thumbtacks were in his backpack but he soon took a tumble into them, while Darby Allin battered Kyle Fletcher with a skateboard. Darby Allin and MJF then renewed hostilities and Friedman sent his fellow AEW pillar into the thumbtacks face first on a Back Body Drop. 

MJF took some time to gloat and received a broom straight to the nether regions from Orange Cassidy. Cassidy then revealed his bag contained a bag of oranges like a 1970s football game from Willow Nightingale. The acid was then squirted in Kyle Fletcher’s eye, blinding the former TNT Champion, before Andrade and Okada made the save. This led to a confrontation between Okada and Konosuke Takeshita and they traded forearms, with Takeshita getting the better of the exchange before he unveiled his backpack contained a middle finger for Okada. 

Kyle Fletcher and Okada failed to work together against Takeshita as Fletcher hit Okada with a Superkick, followed by a Double German Suplex from Takeshita. It was then Darby Allin and Kevin Knight’s turn to brawl with no winner before Jake Doyle decked Darby with steel chair shots, with Knight following up with a chair-assisted Coast to Coast. 

MJF next battered a bloody Mark Briscoe with a chair shot straight to the head, which led to Okada opening the equipment bag, which contained Lio Rush. No wonder Roderick Strong caused so much damage earlier. Rush took down almost all of Team DCMJF and he wanted MJF’s Dynamite Diamond Ring, like Gollum, which gave Okada time to hit a Rainmaker. Lio Rush was then stuffed back in the equipment bag and shoved under the ring. 

Mark Briscoe was left all alone and he managed to fend off the Don Callis Family and was about to hit a Jay Driller to MJF when Jake Doyle recovered to make the save. Roderick Strong and KOR then combined to put Jake Doyle through a table with an Olympic Slam. O’Reilly was taken out by Chair-Assisted Double Knees from Andrade, who was then taken out by a Poisonrana from Takeshita. Okada then took down Takeshita with a Dropkick before Takeshita fought back with a Powerdrive Knee on the apron. Takeshita remained on top, countering a Brainbuster attempt into a Blue Thunder Bomb to Kyle Fletcher through a table. 

The match came back down to MJF and Mark Briscoe and Friedman delivered the low blow and was about to use the Dynamite Diamond Ring when Orange Cassidy stood in the way of his friend, taking a ring shot for his trouble. Darby Allin then hit a Scorpion Death Drop and Coffin Drop to MJF and Kevin Knight tried to break the pin but Darby rolled out of the way, so Kevin Knight just hit a Frog Splash to MJF. Kevin Knight then ran away from Darby and reached the top of the cage, with Allin giving chase. When Knight grabbed a backpack on the top, it exploded and sent Knight crashing back into the cage and through a table. Darby, just for the hell of it, hit a Coffin Drop from the top of the cage to everybody in the ring. 

This brought the match down to Mark Briscoe and MJF, and Mark hit the Jay Driller, but Jake Doyle broke up the pin before he battered Briscoe with chair shot after chair shot. The issues between MJF and Andrade re-emerged as Friedman ordered El Idolo to hold Mark Briscoe as fans chanted “Take your pants off.” Andrade did reluctantly until he decked MJF with a Spinning Back Elbow and flipped off the down AEW World Champion. Jake Doyle pushed Andrade so El Idolo hoofed him in the testicles and removed his Team DCMJF t-shrt, revealing a ‘F*ck Don, F*ck MJF’ vest and turning babyface. A Jay Driller from Mark Briscoe to Jake Doyle followed as Team Briscoe won the match.

After the match, Mark Briscoe’s promo was ruined by audio issues but Excalibur relayed that Briscoe has challenged MJF to an AEW World Title match on Wednesday’s Dynamite.

Grade: A - All Elite Wrestling usually deliver in their multi-man plunder matches and they did so again with a number of unique spots, including orange slices, a NES, Lio Rush, and more. Everybody had their chance to shine and several storylines were advanced outside of just the AEW World Title programme between Mark Briscoe and MJF, including an Andrade El Idolo babyface turn.

Will Ospreay def. Swerve Strickland - Owen Hart Foundation Men's Tournament Final

Over five hours after the first match on the Buy-In, it was time for the main event and the action started quickly, with Swerve managing to avoid the Hidden Blade during a frenetic sequence. Ospreay remained on top, though, hitting a Plancha to the floor to wipe out Strickland. Swerve soon fought back into the match, however, and slowly worked over Ospreay until Billy Goat stunned Strickland with an Enziguiri, a Pele Kick, and a Phenomenal Forearm. 

Ospreay missed out on a Hidden Blade and there was some brief Strickland taunting which led to a lighting quick exchange ended by a Powerslam from Strickland. The action spilt to the outside when Ospreay applied a Cross Armbreaker. Swerve tapped but it was outside of the ring so it didn’t matter. In retaliation, Prince Nana threw a coffee over Ospreay, with Will giving chase. When Ospreay returned, he walked straight into an Apron Powerbomb from Swerve, followed by Strickland bouncing Ospreay’s throat into the metal turnbuckle link, which led to another blade job, and Ospreay struggled to see as Strickland just battered his former friend for the next few minutes until Ospreay could somewhat see and connect with a Styles Clash for a near fall. 

Ospreay hit a Hidden Blade but Strickland no-sold it á la All In 2024 against Bryan Danielson with the Busaiku Knee and just sent Will back to the mat. Strickland set up for the Swerve Stomp but Ospreay stopped him in his tracks and hit a Frankensteiner and Corkscrew Kick for another near fall. Ospreay looked for an OsCutter but Swerve caught him and countered with Dead Eye for a near fall of his own. 

Strickland went for a Swerve Stomp on the apron but missed and Ospreay followed up with a Sunset Flip before he just swung Strickland’s head into the steel steps, giving Strickland time for his own blade job. As blood poured from Strickland, Ospreay battered his opponent’s head off the steel steps before he prepared the announce table. Prince Nana interfered again when the official wasn’t looking, and Ospreay gave chase, running straight into a House Call from the steel steps. They both brawled on the steel steps, ending with Ospreay hitting a Styles Clash on the announce desk. 

Ospreay made it back in the ring at six but Swerve only just made it back to the squared circle at nine. Ospreay immediately went back on the attack with a Dropkick and OsCutter, but it wasn’t enough for the win as Swerve just about managed to get his shoulder up. Multiple Superkicks from Ospreay followed as Strickland stumbled around like he was drunk. Following a forearm, Ospreay punched Strickland on the back of the head while Swerve was down, drawing boos from the crowd. Swerve made it back to his feet at nine and Ospreay immediately went back on the attack with a Hidden Blade. Swerve managed to kick out at 2.9.

The action went to the top rope and Swerve just punched the back of Ospreay’s neck before a Swerve Stomp to his opponent’s back. Strickland managed to hit a House Call but Ospreay kicked out at one and hit a Hidden Blade, with Swerve then kicking out at one. Duelling Lariats caused both Ospreay and Swerve to collapse to the mat as the fans chanted for AEW. 

Like two prizefighters, Ospreay and Strickland squared off and they backed into the corner, setting up for a duel. It was Ospreay who won with a Hidden Blade that turned Swerve inside out. Stormbreaker followed, yet Swerve kicked out yet again. Strickland avoided a Hidden Blade to the back and Ospreay almost fell into Paul Turner which allowed Swerve to hit a Low Blow. A Vertebraker followed and Ospreay kicked out at 2.9 this time. 

Swerve connected with his own Hidden Blade and Big Pressure, but it was still only enough for 2.9. The move brought the entire Death Riders to ringside and they cheered on Will Ospreay. Strickland hit another House Call but Ospreay just ate it, hulked up, screamed, and hit a Hidden Blade. A Buckshot Hidden Blade was next but it still wasn’t enough. Ospreay hit a Paradigm Shift, then a Death Rider, then a Tiger Driver ’91 to finally win the match. 

Grade: A - A fantastic epic capped off Forbidden Door as Will Ospreay, after an incredibly long match with Swerve Strickland filled with more near falls than I could count, punched his ticket to All In at Wembley Stadium. Both men brought their A game as two of the best wrestlers in the world went one-on-one. The only thing blocking this match from an A+ was that it was at least five minutes too long and came after a pay-per-view that was already over four hours by the time they started making their way to the ring. 

Show Grade: A- - Another AEW pay-per-view filled with great professional wrestling, this time in collaboration with NJPW, CMLL, and STARDOM for Forbidden Door. Particular highlights were the final two matches, the opener, Jon Moxley vs. Bandido, Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Kenny Omega, and the return of Jay White. 

It’s hard to complain about too much good wrestling, and it was difficult to know which matches would be cut from the pay-per-view, but if the plan is for a five-hour pay-per-view - six hours including the Buy In - it would be nice if the show began at the very least an hour earlier. The show came to an end at 6 am BST/1 am ET.