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AEW Forbidden Door is this weekend and is sure to deliver some fantastic cross-promotional matches. Let’s break down the card.
The #AEWxNJPW #ForbiddenDoor opens once again THIS SUNDAY, June 30th LIVE on PPV from the @UBSArena in Long Island, NY!
Tickets are almost sold out, so get yours today!
🎟️ https://t.co/UN1cNj1SFY pic.twitter.com/v43Z1H4hec
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 27, 2024
Kris Statlander and Momo Watanabe are set to take on Willow Nightingale and Tam Nakano in tag team action on the preshow. Statlander and Nightingale have an ongoing storyline with the recent betrayal from Statlander. I am going to predict an average match in which Nightingale gets the pin on Momo Watanabe. Statlander and Nightingale can then continue the rivalry a bit further and Statlander can claim she didn’t pin her.
This Sunday, 6/30@UBSArena
Forbidden Door Zero Hour@willowwrestles/@tmtmtmx vs@callmekrisstat/@stardom_momoBefore Wednesday's @owen_foundation Semifinal, Kris Statlander + Momo Watanabe have challenged Willow Nightingale for Sunday, + Willow's partner will be Tam Nakano! pic.twitter.com/8ep9YsnlxB
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) June 27, 2024
Swerve Strickland will defend the AEW World Championship against Will Ospreay. This one has “match of the night” written all over it. Ospreay has been putting on classic after classic since coming to AEW, while Swerve certainly earned his way into the position he is in now. The move set, pace, and reversals are all things I’m looking forward to. It’s hard to foresee Ospreay taking a loss at this point, but it’s also hard to see him taking the strap from Strickland to hold two himself. After numerous and fantastic false finishes, I am going to predict Strickland to retain and for Ospreay to carry on with a storyline involving his AEW International Championship.
#AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland did NOT let International Champion Will Ospreay get away with that move a second time before their World Title Match at #ForbiddenDoor THIS SUNDAY!
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@SwerveConfident | @WillOspreay pic.twitter.com/aDbDZkFFYY
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 27, 2024
There will be a 6-man ladder match for the AEW TNT Championship, which was vacated by the injured Adam Copeland. It will feature Konosuke Takeshita, Mark Briscoe, Jack Perry, Dante Martin, Lio Rush, and El Phantasmo. This is another candidate for the match of the night, or at least the best high spots and the most danger. The Elite has been grabbing gold for all of the faction members lately, and it’s hard not to see that happening here, especially when you look at the lineup. I can’t wait to see what the likes of Dante Martin or Lio Rush will do, but I predict The Elite helping their faction-mate, Jack Perry, win this match.
Lio Rush has qualified and is the 5th man in the vacant TNT title ladder match at Forbidden Door!
ONE SPOT STILL REMAINS.
4 AEW, 1 NJPW… need a CMLL guy now. pic.twitter.com/UaelH6b9ec— Drainmaker 🌧️ 💵 (@DrainBamager) June 22, 2024
Mercedes Mone and Stephanie Vaquer will have a huge, cross-promotional, title-for-title match. The winner will get both the AEW TBS Championship and the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship. Mercedes hasn’t really done much in AEW for us to judge, but she is certainly one of the biggest names in the business. Stephanie has been on a roll lately, currently holding the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship, the CMLL World Women’s Championship, and one-half of the CMLL World Women’s Tag Team Championship. I don’t see AEW giving Stephanie Vaquer yet another title to carry around, and Mercedes is a big name in Japan. I see Mone winning the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship and dropping it to someone in Japan in the not-too-distant future.
Eyes focused on this Sunday!
Will Mercedes Moné leave #ForbiddenDoor with the NJPW Strong Women's Title & the TBS Title held high?Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@MercedesVarnado pic.twitter.com/sVMv06VGR8
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 27, 2024
The AEW Women’s World Championship will be on the line when Toni Storm defends against Miyu Yamashita. This whole storyline has had very little to do with wrestling and seems solely focused on Toni Storm and Miyu Yamashita fighting over their friendship with Mariah May. I am going to predict Toni Storm winning while using a heel tactic (that Mariah notices). This can lead to a title shot in the future for Mariah May if this is correct and they go with a friends-turned-enemies storyline.
EXCLUSIVE! @MinaShirakawa delivers a message to her #ForbiddenDoor opponent, #AEW Women's World Champion 'Timeless' Toni Storm! pic.twitter.com/cq9jGkudh8
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 27, 2024
Zack Sabre Jr. will go one-on-one with Orange Cassidy. Two amazing talents, but Orange is certainly the bigger star in AEW. If it weren’t for Swerve versus Ospreay, this might have been my match of the night candidate. Sabre Jr. is one of the best tacticians to ever do it, and Orange always brings a smooth flow and great reversals. For me, the prediction comes down to AEW giving the win to the bigger star – Orange Cassidy to win via pinfall.
#AEW x #NJPW #ForbiddenDoor
Sun, 6/30 | @UBSArena
8e/5p LIVE on Pay-Per-ViewOrange Cassidy vs Zack Sabre Jr@ZackSabreJr is looking to settle his unfinished business with @OrangeCassidy from last year's Forbidden Door!
Join us LIVE on Long Island!https://t.co/UN1cNj1SFY pic.twitter.com/rewiu53enq
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 10, 2024
Jon Moxley will defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Tetsuya Naito. Moxley defeated Naito for the championship at Windy City Riot. I have to admit, I went back and forth on this one. Two worldwide legends fighting for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on American soil. After bouncing opinions off a trusted wrestling mind, it comes down to AEW wanting their star to shine the brightest on their show and on their soil. I do see Moxley dropping the title in the not-too-distant future, but he will do it over there. Moxley to retain.
Tetsuya Naito and Jon Moxley get their hands on each other before they meet for the #NJPW World Heavyweight Championship THIS SUNDAY at #ForbiddenDoor!
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@s_d_naito | @JonMoxley pic.twitter.com/DuXCE7vGkE
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 27, 2024
MJF will take on Hechicero of CMLL. This match seems forced and unnecessary for a PPV. The Elite handpicked this opponent after MJF had been badmouthing them. I don’t think AEW is going to book MJF in a loss here, as his post-title run has already seemed to be going a little stale. MJF via pinfall.
EXCLUSIVE! @_reyhechicero & #GatesOfAgony @ToaLiona @thekaun send a message to MJF before #ForbiddenDoor! pic.twitter.com/j2x6pOtTX4
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 23, 2024
Bryan Danielson will take on Shingo Takagi as part of the Owen Hart Tournament. I’m looking forward to a stiff contest in this one as Danielson looks to continue cementing his legacy in the latter part of his career. This is another match where it’s hard to see the AEW star losing. I look forward to a fantastic match, but I fear the result is obvious.
EXCLUSIVE @bryandanielson speaks on his emotions coming out of #AEW Dynamite as he looks toward his @Owen_Foundation Tournament Quarterfinal match against @Takagi__Shingo. pic.twitter.com/CCACd8UZWy
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 27, 2024
The Learning Tree has found a replacement for the injured Bryan Keith in Jeff Cobb, and they will face off against Samoa Joe, Hook, and Katsuyori Shibata in a trios match. Hook has distanced himself from Jericho while seemingly making a new friend in Samoa Joe. I see them letting Hook get the pin, but on anyone besides Jericho.
The Trios Match is still on for #ForbiddenDoor, but who will side with "The Learning Tree"?
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@IAmJericho | @TheCaZXL | @BountyKeith | @SamoaJoe | @730HOOK | @K_Shibata2022 pic.twitter.com/RdeZIcgwvY
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 27, 2024
The Elite will take on Scissor Ace (The Acclaimed and Hiroshi Tanahashi) in a trios match. The Elite have been playing the villainous boss role and obtaining a lot of gold to add to the heel heat, so it’s difficult to imagine any of the three champion faction mates taking a loss in this situation.
Did the EVPs and Kazuchika Okada bite off more than they could chew at #ForbiddenDoor?!
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@Bowens_Official | @PlatinumMax | @RealBillyGunn | @RainmakerXOkada | @YoungBucks | @tanahashi1_100 pic.twitter.com/2aaAEUIHKT
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 27, 2024
That wraps up Forbidden Door, stay tuned to Greenville Sports Media for more of my regular wrestling articles
Howe Fresh (of The Wrasslin Corner on The Real Fresh Channel)
for Greenville Sports Media
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