This Sunday, All Elite Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling present the second edition of their annual crossover event, Forbidden Door! Both company’s world titles are on the line as AEW World Champion MJF defends against Hiroshi Tanahashi and IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA defends against “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry. That’s not all though, as this is a loaded card featuring several other title defenses, and CM Punk’s first match since that fateful night last August.
AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2023 date and start time
AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2023 will be live Sunday, June 25, 2023 from Toronto, Ontario, Canada starting at 8pm ET.
How to watch AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2023
AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2023 will be available for purchase on pay-per-view through all major television providers in the United States and Canada, as well as on the Bleacher Report app. Internationally, the show will be available on FITE. The show will cost $49.99.
AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2023 card and predictions
Toni Storm (c) vs. Willow Nightingale for the AEW Women’s World Championship
Darius: Not going to lie, I’m tired of having to say that Willow is going to lose a match. Even when she’s a champion, she’s still the heavy underdog. The good thing here is that, when she inevitably takes the L, she’ll have to look good in defeat because 1) she’s representing NJPW here, and 2) she’s probably going to get screwed out of the win by Ruby. Hopefully the next time Willow gets a title shot, it’s one that she’s actually in prime position to win.
Winner: Toni Storm
Shane: Unfortunately for Willow, this just isn’t going to be her night. Toni Storm will not lose the belt just weeks after winning it for the second time. The match will make Willow look great though.
Winner: Toni Storm
Adam Cole vs. “Filthy” Tom Lawlor”
Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Katsuyori Shibata vs. Daniel Garcia for the AEW International Championship
Darius: If this were a 1-on-1 match with ZSJ like I suspected before they announced the four-way, I honestly would’ve pulled for Zack here. The International Championship was always meant to be defended around the world and in other countries, and ZSJ is the perfect wrestler to wrench this belt from an injured Orange Cassidy. With this being a multi-man match with room for shenanigans, I still see Orange walking out with the belt. It’s not that Orange HAS to lose 1-on-1, but I think Orange is the wrestler here built to win a match with more than three dudes. Garcia, meanwhile, is the wrestler built to take a loss here (despite the wild pinfall Shibata took on Dynamite).
Winner: Orange Cassidy
Shane: I have a feeling the Orange’s title reign is coming to an end sooner rather than later, but I don’t think it is going to happen at Forbidden Door. All In is right around the corner and I think that’ll be the place where Freshly Squeezed will lose his belt, hopefully against PAC.
Winner: Orange Cassidy
CM Punk vs. Satoshi Kojima (Men’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament first round match)
Darius: This match is actually going to be one of the sleeper hits of the night if both men are in any sort of fighting condition. Much like a young lion, it’s always safe to bet against one of the fabled New Japan Dads, a group which Kojima finds himself in. Even so, this should still be fun! Hopefully Samoa Joe and Homicide are involved in some way to call back to Punk’s iconic “KOJIMA!” shoot interview.
Winner: Japanese Wrestling Legend CM Punk
Shane: I can only imagine the fit Punk would throw if he lost his first PPV match since his controversial return. I’m not entirely sure if he’s being a total heel or not as of this writing, but I think there will be some shenanigans that will grant Punk a cheap victory.
Winner: CM Punk
Blackpool Combat Club, Shota Umino and Konosuke Takeshita vs. The Elite, Eddie Kingston, and Tomohiro Ishii
Darius: This is actually a tough one to call for me, as I’ve seen various reasons for each side. The BCC is a more complete team here. The Elite need to win to prove their reunion meant something. Shooter is a rising star in New Japan and could use the win. Ishii has lost a bunch in AEW and could use the win to make his surprise announcement worth it. Takeshita needs to cement his heel turn. But more importantly, Eddie Kingston needs to beat Claudio Castagnoli. Their feud isn’t just that Claudio is better; in fact, this goes back to a feud that Kingston kind of won in Chikara. If Tony Khan wants to legitimize the Hung Bucks, legitimize Ishii in America, set up Kingston for the G1 Climax, and book the next ROH PPV main event all in one match, Kingston needs to go over at Forbidden Door.
Winner: The Elite, The Kingston, and The Ishii
Shane: When I sat down to write these predictions, I had no idea who I was going to pick for this match. And then I read Darius’ prediction. I can’t argue with anything he said. From a pure long term booking decision, it really does just make sense for The Elite, Kingston and Ishii to win.
Winners: The Elite, Eddie Kingston and Tomohiro Ishii
Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, and Minoru Suzuki vs. Sting, Darby Allin, and Tetsuya Naito
Darius: Sting doesn’t lose, but more importantly, Guevara and Jericho can’t win. If the goal now is to turn Guevara fully face and have him go solo, he needs to stop being dependent on Jericho. Not only should Le Suzuki Gods lose, but Jericho should be the one to get pinned, as (of all people) Guevara gets protected in the loss. Again, my months spent studying AEW’s four pillars have made me incredibly invested in the wins and losses of these four men, and I think a loss here creates a new era for one young pillar.
Winner: The Dudes with Attitude 2023
Shane: I’m basing this prediction on one thing and one thing only: Sting. Doesn’t. Lose. Period.
Winners: Sting, Darby Allin and Sting’s Other Son
Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada
Darius: AIPT has informed me that I’m not allowed to say “I don’t know” and leave it there, so I guess I have to rule in favor of NJPW’s First Law of Ace: “The Rainmaker wins.” I can’t even think in terms of story because, honestly, these two have nothing to do with each other right now. Bryan is fighting “pretend wrestlers” and has to pretend that Okada is in his target demographic. Okada has been beating up young people, and despite his stamina, Danielson is no spring chicken. This match is wrestling for wrestling sake, and I’m here for it. Make me pick a winner, and I have to go with the guy whom I’ve only seen lose like 10 singles matches even.
Winner: The Best in Japan, Kazuchika Okada
Shane: I wish that more matches on this card were exhibition matches like this one instead of for title matches. Having the titles on the line kinda makes predicting the outcome easy. Then you have matches like this that doesn’t have a title on the line that could honestly go either way. Danielson has proven time and time again that he is just loving life being in the wrestling ring and doesn’t give a toss about wins and losses. Because of that and because NJPW needs some love, I’m going with Okada winning this one.
Winner: Kazuchika Okada
Kenny Omega (c) vs. Will Ospreay for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship
Darius: NJPW’s First Law of Trilogies states that the underdog has to lose two matches before winning a third. Ospreay has a card up his sleeve with this shaky relationship with Don Callis, but I don’t think Ospreay’s taking this second match. If I were a betting man, I’d put good money on Ospreay finally getting his win at All In, and while it’s not an original take, it’s certainly not a bad guess. Should still be an AMAZING match, though.
Winner: Canada’s Own Kenny Omega
Shane: If a title is going to change hands Sunday night, I think it’ll be this one. And I think at least one title should switch hands so it can help add some uncertainty in title matches moving forward. Plus, Don Callis and Takeshita can get involved to give Ospreay a murky win.
Winner: (and NEW IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion) Will Ospreay
SANADA (c) vs. “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
Darius: Much like Okada, SANADA is currently engaged in a war against youth based on his placement in the upcoming G1. Jack Perry may be the first 20-something SANADA beats this summer, and he won’t be the last. Even though the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship has a wild current and previous lineage, I still think we’re a while away from seeing Jungle Boy legitimately have a chance at winning.
Winner: Just 1 Guy: SANADA
Shane: I’m sorry, but I do not see Jungle Boy as a credible threat to any world champion. The gimmick and theme song that Jungle Boy has at the moment has a ceiling and I think he has already reached it. I kinda want to see him lose and possibly turn heel after the match or at least do something to help refresh his character. Here’s hoping SANADA helps to elevate Jungle Boy up the card.
Winner: SANADA
MJF (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the AEW World Championship
Darius: If TK weren’t a coward, he’d let Tanahashi have his moment in Canada. Of course, we’re in the Summer of MJF, and it wouldn’t be complete without a loud mouthed, company-hating heel beating a seemingly unstoppable, company-leading hero in June. Instead of Chicago cheering on their straight-edge hero, though, I predict Toronto is going to want Max’s head on a stake after this one’s over, because Tanahashi is going to have the crowd in the palm of his hands…and MJF is going to break that hand with a mallet.
Winner: The Pillar and The Musketeer, Maxwell Jacob Friedman
Shane: I feel like I’ve been repeating myself a lot here, but again, this title match feels easy to predict. MJF is the AEW World Champion and there is no way he is going to drop the belt to a New Japan guy, even if the New Japan guy is Hitoshi Tanahashi. I have a feeling that MJF’s title reign won’t be as long as we initially thought, but I still don’t think he’s losing it in Toronto. At least not this Sunday night in Toronto.
Winner: MJF
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