AEW Forbidden Door
AEW Forbidden Door is an annual professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event co-produced by the American promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and the Japanese promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The name refers to the "forbidden door" between wrestling promotions, breaking the traditional barriers to create dream matches between wrestlers from different companies.
Concept
First held in 2022, the event emerged from the working relationship between AEW and NJPW. The "forbidden door" concept gained popularity in the modern wrestling era as promotions began collaborating more frequently. Forbidden Door events typically feature a mix of AEW and NJPW rosters, along with occasional appearances from wrestlers belonging to other partner promotions such as Ring of Honor (ROH) and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). The event is known for its unpredictable match cards and the creation of unique cross-promotional storylines.
2022 Inaugural Event
The inaugural AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door took place on June 26, 2022, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The main event featured Jon Moxley defeating Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the vacant AEW Interim World Championship. The card was filled with inter-promotional matches, including Kazuchika Okada vs. "Hangman" Adam Page, and a four-way tag team match for the ROH World Tag Team Championship. The event was praised by critics for its unique matchups and the successful integration of NJPW talent into an AEW production.
2023 Event
The second event, AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door, was held on June 25, 2023, at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The main event saw Bryan Danielson defeat Kazuchika Okada in a highly acclaimed singles match. Other notable bouts included Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, and a four-way match for the AEW World Championship. The event built upon the success of the first year, featuring a strong emphasis on storytelling.
2024 Event
The 2024 edition took place on June 30, 2024, at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. The main event was Swerve Strickland successfully defending the AEW World Championship against Will Ospreay in a highly competitive match. The event also featured the in-ring debut of the AEW Continental Classic champion Kazuchika Okada against The Young Bucks, and a title unification match between Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa. The show was celebrated for its high-quality wrestling and compelling matchups.
Significance
AEW Forbidden Door has become a major annual event in the professional wrestling calendar. It is recognized for its role in breaking down traditional promotional barriers and providing fans with unique, high-profile matchups that were once considered impossible. The success of the event has been a cornerstone of the AEW-NJPW partnership and has set a new standard for inter-promotional cooperation in the wrestling industry.