Quick Thoughts: AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door 2023
It is that time of the year again where two of the biggest professional wrestling companies join forces. Two massive dream matches headline the card and with a lack of injuries form either side this feels as strong of a card as you can get. With AEW having CM Punk back and a new Saturday show in Collision and New Japan seemingly back or on its way back to it's best this was shaping up to be a great show at least on paper but let's see how they fared in execution.
Zero Hour
Mogul Embassy (Swerve Strickland, Toa Liona, Brian Cage, and Bishop Kaun) (with Prince Nana) vs. Chaos (Rocky Romero, Chuck Taylor, and Trent Beretta) and El Desperado
The Mogul Embassy I really like (well all of them except Brian Cage really), a good stable with a good look but they really do need to start giving them wins. A good match to start the show a fun opening tag match and I am glad Swerve got the win. Let's give him a few more of those and all of the titles. Poor Despy being victim of giving the people what they wanted, he will compete in deathmatches.
The Mogul Embassy I really like (well all of them except Brian Cage really), a good stable with a good look but they really do need to start giving them wins. A good match to start the show a fun opening tag match and I am glad Swerve got the win. Let's give him a few more of those and all of the titles. Poor Despy being victim of giving the people what they wanted, he will compete in deathmatches.
Women's Owen Hart Cup Tournament First Round Match: Athena vs. Billie Starkz
Good to see Athena here as she has been one of the stand out performers on ROH. A good champion and great character I hope we see more of her on AEW going forward. The right person won I think Billie will be great but in a few years and Athena is the right move now. I would like to see this run again for the ROH Women's Title at some point. AEW needs to invest in youth and Billie would be a good bet.
Good to see Athena here as she has been one of the stand out performers on ROH. A good champion and great character I hope we see more of her on AEW going forward. The right person won I think Billie will be great but in a few years and Athena is the right move now. I would like to see this run again for the ROH Women's Title at some point. AEW needs to invest in youth and Billie would be a good bet.
Stu Grayson (with The Righteous (Vincent and Dutch)) vs. El Phantasmo
An odd match to be announced but with Forbidden Door in Canada I guess it made sense to have a Canadian vs. Canadian match. I like ELP but him as a face is still odd to me. I would've thought he would be in United Empire considering his history with Aussie Open & Will Ospreay. My WiFi went down for a big during this match so I don't know what I missed but from what I saw this was a solid match that that is what would be expected from these two. This was just an odd match to announce.
An odd match to be announced but with Forbidden Door in Canada I guess it made sense to have a Canadian vs. Canadian match. I like ELP but him as a face is still odd to me. I would've thought he would be in United Empire considering his history with Aussie Open & Will Ospreay. My WiFi went down for a big during this match so I don't know what I missed but from what I saw this was a solid match that that is what would be expected from these two. This was just an odd match to announce.
United Empire (Jeff Cobb, Kyle Fletcher, and TJP) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi, Bushi, and Hiromu Takahashi)
Who doesn't love LIJ a great stable but man I wish Yota Tsuji was in this match so even more people could witness how good he is. Great match but you'd expect this from all 6 men I just wish LIJ were on the main card, my favourite stable but always good to see them.
Who doesn't love LIJ a great stable but man I wish Yota Tsuji was in this match so even more people could witness how good he is. Great match but you'd expect this from all 6 men I just wish LIJ were on the main card, my favourite stable but always good to see them.
Main Show
AEW World Championship Match: MJF (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
Interesting match to start the main show off with but go big or go home. MJF having to wrestle the pace of Tanahashi as the Ace's knees are not what they use to be. I do think we are nearing the end of the career of Hiroshi Tanahashi a man who gave his body and soul to claw New Japan out of the depths it found itself in, regardless of any lackluster performance he needs to be regarded as one of the greatest of all time. Again we have seen pointless twitter discourse as people try to tell you MJF actually is bad when this isn't the case, don't listen to people tweeting use your eyes and see for a fact that MJF is currently one of the best in the world. I really enjoyed this match, MJF worked at the slower pace of a Tanahashi match in 2023 and it was super fun. MJF is great, argue with a wall if you think otherwise.
Interesting match to start the main show off with but go big or go home. MJF having to wrestle the pace of Tanahashi as the Ace's knees are not what they use to be. I do think we are nearing the end of the career of Hiroshi Tanahashi a man who gave his body and soul to claw New Japan out of the depths it found itself in, regardless of any lackluster performance he needs to be regarded as one of the greatest of all time. Again we have seen pointless twitter discourse as people try to tell you MJF actually is bad when this isn't the case, don't listen to people tweeting use your eyes and see for a fact that MJF is currently one of the best in the world. I really enjoyed this match, MJF worked at the slower pace of a Tanahashi match in 2023 and it was super fun. MJF is great, argue with a wall if you think otherwise.
Men's Owen Hart Cup Tournament First Round Match: CM Punk vs. Satoshi Kojima
I wasn't interested in this match but them Kojima said he's gonna kill CM Punk and Punk is an idiot so I was hyped, we need more promos like that. The return of Punk is an odd one if everything is good off screen then let's see how it goes on screen. Another show and we are all watching CM Punk's reaction and relationship with the crowd, he looks like he is having a great time in his current role. Much like the first match they played to the strengths of an older verteran and it worked well (apart from the elbow drop CM Punk suffered to the dick).
I wasn't interested in this match but them Kojima said he's gonna kill CM Punk and Punk is an idiot so I was hyped, we need more promos like that. The return of Punk is an odd one if everything is good off screen then let's see how it goes on screen. Another show and we are all watching CM Punk's reaction and relationship with the crowd, he looks like he is having a great time in his current role. Much like the first match they played to the strengths of an older verteran and it worked well (apart from the elbow drop CM Punk suffered to the dick).
AEW International Championship Match: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Katsuyori Shibata vs. Daniel Garcia
In a match of champions it was AEW vs. NJPW vs. ROH vs. PWG and man still seeing Shibata wrestle again is so cool. Orange Cassidy is the best champion in AEW at the moment, a variety of matches a different opponents. If Orange is the best champion then ZSJ has to be second he really has established the TV title as something to see. We are three to three in what I love on this card. You expect all four to deliver and they did especially Daniel Garcia who had it all to prove. Orange sneaking a win as he gets more and more hurt is great the best story anf champion keeps winning.
In a match of champions it was AEW vs. NJPW vs. ROH vs. PWG and man still seeing Shibata wrestle again is so cool. Orange Cassidy is the best champion in AEW at the moment, a variety of matches a different opponents. If Orange is the best champion then ZSJ has to be second he really has established the TV title as something to see. We are three to three in what I love on this card. You expect all four to deliver and they did especially Daniel Garcia who had it all to prove. Orange sneaking a win as he gets more and more hurt is great the best story anf champion keeps winning.
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Match: Sanada (c) vs. "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry (with Hook)
Twitter seems to hate Jungle Boy for no reason now. Maybe it is for attention? Maybe it's to be wrong I dunno either way Jungle Boy is a great and Sanada if he's motivated and he does feel it now it had hopes this was be a solid match which would have advance the heel turn for Jungle Boy. A good match Sanada is very much becomming a great world champion and this was a quick but fun match. Jungle Boy as a heel seems a great move right away, lots of heat on him and him vs. Hook feels like it is going to be great for both, very interested what happens there and for Sanada who will win the G1 and face him at WrestleKingdom.
Twitter seems to hate Jungle Boy for no reason now. Maybe it is for attention? Maybe it's to be wrong I dunno either way Jungle Boy is a great and Sanada if he's motivated and he does feel it now it had hopes this was be a solid match which would have advance the heel turn for Jungle Boy. A good match Sanada is very much becomming a great world champion and this was a quick but fun match. Jungle Boy as a heel seems a great move right away, lots of heat on him and him vs. Hook feels like it is going to be great for both, very interested what happens there and for Sanada who will win the G1 and face him at WrestleKingdom.
Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Wheeler Yuta, and Claudio Castagnoli), Konosuke Takeshita, and Shota Umino vs. The Elite ("Hangman" Adam Page, Matt Jackson, and Nick Jackson), Eddie Kingston, and Tomohiro Ishii
This has been the top feud in AEW and between having to deal with the BCC and Takeshita (and whatever Don Callis has planned) The Elite are fighting all comers. If only they could find a certain Golden Star to help them out. Anyway Eddie is back from injury and that's great time to finally give him the ROH World Title. Ok holy shit that Takeshita knocking out Ishii was insane what a shot, this guy is the future of wrestling. I enjoyed this but it is a Young Bucks multi man match so that's tp be expected. With the stables 1-1 I guess we are moving to Blood and Guts for them.
This has been the top feud in AEW and between having to deal with the BCC and Takeshita (and whatever Don Callis has planned) The Elite are fighting all comers. If only they could find a certain Golden Star to help them out. Anyway Eddie is back from injury and that's great time to finally give him the ROH World Title. Ok holy shit that Takeshita knocking out Ishii was insane what a shot, this guy is the future of wrestling. I enjoyed this but it is a Young Bucks multi man match so that's tp be expected. With the stables 1-1 I guess we are moving to Blood and Guts for them.
AEW Women's World Championship: Toni Storm (c) vs. Willow Nightingale
It is very rare to find someone so good at being a babyface, a natural likeable person and Willow Nightingale is that. Very interested in how her match against Giulia in Japan goes for the Strong Women's Title but it is good to see her get such a spotlight and when Jamie Hayter is back I do hope they face off again (well I hope Jamie faces both women, all three throw in Giulia). I think a lot of how Willow is as a character people forget she's good in ring and this showed with Toni who is one of the best women's wrestlers in the world and has been for years. I do wonder who beats Toni maybe it will be Jamie at Wembley. Faces are really bad when it comes to helping their friends why did Skye Blue and Britt Baker just stay backstage instead of helping their friends I dunno.
It is very rare to find someone so good at being a babyface, a natural likeable person and Willow Nightingale is that. Very interested in how her match against Giulia in Japan goes for the Strong Women's Title but it is good to see her get such a spotlight and when Jamie Hayter is back I do hope they face off again (well I hope Jamie faces both women, all three throw in Giulia). I think a lot of how Willow is as a character people forget she's good in ring and this showed with Toni who is one of the best women's wrestlers in the world and has been for years. I do wonder who beats Toni maybe it will be Jamie at Wembley. Faces are really bad when it comes to helping their friends why did Skye Blue and Britt Baker just stay backstage instead of helping their friends I dunno.
IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship Match: Kenny Omega (c) vs. Will Ospreay
I remember watching Kenny vs. Will at Wrestle Kingdom this year and it was amazing it seemed odd that four days into the year and all I could think about was when would the rematch take place. Well it turns out it would be Forbidden Door as many had hoped. What can you say about this match holy shit. I think it is unfair to compare this to their first match they are so different but both a phenomenal, an incredible match which leaves me again wanting more of these two facing off it's insane how good these two are. Do we get number three at All In? Let me hope.
I remember watching Kenny vs. Will at Wrestle Kingdom this year and it was amazing it seemed odd that four days into the year and all I could think about was when would the rematch take place. Well it turns out it would be Forbidden Door as many had hoped. What can you say about this match holy shit. I think it is unfair to compare this to their first match they are so different but both a phenomenal, an incredible match which leaves me again wanting more of these two facing off it's insane how good these two are. Do we get number three at All In? Let me hope.
Le Suzuki Gods (Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, and Minoru Suzuki) vs. Sting, Darby Allin, and Tetsuya Naito
I love Naito, one of my favourites a charisma like nobody else, same with Suzuki such a presence so seeing them compete as much as I can is always great. Sting I feel is on a retirement tour without saying it so seeing him againt Suzuki and teaming with Naito is such a weird thing but cool regardless. I feel bad from this match a real being used as a cool down match and Sammy almost killed Sting so just odd. Maybe get Sting some medical help he seems fucked. Match fell apart but I laughed when Sting just let Naito get pinned and didn't break it up odd match but is what it is.
I love Naito, one of my favourites a charisma like nobody else, same with Suzuki such a presence so seeing them compete as much as I can is always great. Sting I feel is on a retirement tour without saying it so seeing him againt Suzuki and teaming with Naito is such a weird thing but cool regardless. I feel bad from this match a real being used as a cool down match and Sammy almost killed Sting so just odd. Maybe get Sting some medical help he seems fucked. Match fell apart but I laughed when Sting just let Naito get pinned and didn't break it up odd match but is what it is.
Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada
The phrase Dream match is someone used probably a bit too much these days but man this is a dream match, two of the greatest of all time in a match nobody thought would happen and here it is main eventing a million dollar gate. First of all, I yelled when Final Countdown started. Kenny vs. Will was a violent personal fight whereas this was a technical masterclass of pure wrestling. Danielson working with one arm faking dying everything a once in a lifetime talent who somehow despite it all still puts on a great match. I was shocked that Danielson won let alone tapped Okada out! At 5am in the morning it jolted me awake. Okada tapping out? Wow Danielson is the greatest of all time. One arm, one dream the best in ring wrestler to ever live. Is there more do they fight January 4th God I hope so.
The phrase Dream match is someone used probably a bit too much these days but man this is a dream match, two of the greatest of all time in a match nobody thought would happen and here it is main eventing a million dollar gate. First of all, I yelled when Final Countdown started. Kenny vs. Will was a violent personal fight whereas this was a technical masterclass of pure wrestling. Danielson working with one arm faking dying everything a once in a lifetime talent who somehow despite it all still puts on a great match. I was shocked that Danielson won let alone tapped Okada out! At 5am in the morning it jolted me awake. Okada tapping out? Wow Danielson is the greatest of all time. One arm, one dream the best in ring wrestler to ever live. Is there more do they fight January 4th God I hope so.
All in all, this was AEW's best ever PPV in terms of in ring quality. No question about it. Wow what a show I need to watch it again probably start to finish. This is what you get when both companies are on fire with their products and I cannot wait to see what both have to offer going into the summer and for AEW going into All In where I will be in attendence.
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