5 Matches That Should Take Place At AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door

Tony Khan confirmed the rumours of a huge AEW vs NJPW Supershow that’s set to take place on June 26th, 2022, going by the name of AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door.

This event has been talked about for years, since AEW was first put on the map and a partnership began to form between them and Japan’s biggest wrestling promotion, New Japan Pro Wrestling. There have been occasions where talent have travelled overseas to compete for the other promotion, mostly weighed in AEW’s favour at the time of writing.

However, with this massive event now penned for the summer of this year, this will benefit both brand’s massively, with the Forbidden Door being well and truly smashed down.

There hasn’t been a joint event such as this in decades, really since the 1990s when WCW and NJPW ran their version of what’s about to go down. With so many stars now being regularly featured on AEW, and so many talented performers honing their craft in NJPW, the fantasy bookers are going wild with all sorts of dream match-ups that could take place on the Supershow’s card.

With that being said, let’s run down 5 potential marquee matches that should be booked for AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door 2022.

 

1. Kazuchika Okada vs Bryan Danielson

Unfortunately, the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion’s perennial gaijin rival, Kenny Omega, is currently on the shelf with injury, making the inevitable revival of the Okada/Omega series impossible for the near future. Even though ‘The Cleaner’ is on the road to recovery and could very well be back by the time of the AEW/NJPW event, it’s unlikely that we’ll be seeing a match of this magnitude booked in such a hurry. Instead, Okada could find himself tussling with a performer that he himself has been very vocal about, Bryan Danielson.

Since arriving in AEW, Danielson has been heavily touted by many as a dream opponent. Okada is undoubtedly in the conversation for being one of the best in the world today, and should definitely be one of the first NJPW stars in line for a mega-clash with ‘The American Dragon’. As far as styles go, this would be the perfect example of the Japanese Strong Style against the hybrid MMA/western style that Danielson has mastered. Height differences may play a factor here, with Okada perhaps taking the more dominant role, but Danielson has proven that he can go with anyone in that ring, so there’s no doubt in my mind that this would be a stellar contest.

Whether the IWGP title is on the line however is down to debate. There’s a chance that the head-honchos behind the show may want to go with a classic Survivor Series main-event by pitting the two respective World Champs against one another, which would be a huge match in of itself, but personally I’d rather see a match that’ll be remembered for years to come, and that’s likely going to be Rainmaker vs Dragon.

 

2. Will Ospreay vs Jon Moxley

Those that tuned into NJPW’s Windy City Riot would have seen Ospreay vs Moxley turn into one of the most underrated matches of the year so far. Two of the most popular wrestlers across the globe, they gave it their absolute all and delivered on a match that has mostly been built over social media and general fan anticipation. Mox and Will very rarely cross paths, despite both being heavily featured on NJPW events, so this first encounter should stand as a taste for what these two could do together if they were booked into a long-term rivalry.

They spilled blood and made some notable throwbacks to previous partners and rivals, which hooked the fans in many different ways. It’s a shame that not many wrestling fans have since been talking about this incredible exhibition bout, which maybe down to the fact that it wasn’t featured on a larger platform.

By continuing this major feud as part of the AEW/NJPW cross event could mean huge things for Moxley and Ospreay’s future. With the added element of the Blackpool Combat Club and Ospreay’s United Empire, it could easily lead to a cross-branded stable war, or even having Ospreay brought into the Club after getting the win back over the former AEW Champion. Ospreay’s new heel attitude would certainly lend itself to Regal’s gritty stable.

Regardless, Ospreay vs Moxley II is a sure-fire draw for any card, but needs to be included on one which has a few more people tuning in. AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door is that show.

 

3. CM Punk vs Shingo Takagi

It seems that all that ‘The Dragon’ needs to be a huge hit in the States is one big match. Any fan of NJPW already knows that Shingo Takagi is one of the best of our time, but despite winning some high-profile matches over the course of the last two years and even winning the IWGP Championship, people are still looking for a reason to care about him over some of the other more established wrestlers on the roster.

Takagi has attempted to break out in American promotions like PWG and ROH but has yet to score one critically acclaimed match against a performer that fans can buy into as a worthy opponent. Enter CM Punk.

Punk may be tapping at the door of the AEW Champion right now, but before he embarks on that championship run, he has it in him to put over a new star in a huge way. This is a win-win for Punk, not only would a match with a young gun like Shingo bring out the very best in his skillset but also it lets him use his veteranship to establish a new star to the mainstream audience.

Punk could act as the foot in the door for Shingo in AEW, whether that be through an earned victory or hearty loss on Takagi’s part, a big match against one of AEW’s top guys where both men can shine respectively could be all that’s left on the road to become one of the most talked about wrestlers in the world.

 

4. FTR vs Guerrillas of Destiny

FTR have been on a streak of proving they are the best tag team in wrestling today, defeating the very best of AEW, ROH and AAA to certify themselves as ‘Top Guys’. However, the team of Cash and Dax have yet to step foot in the rough-and-ready leagues of NJPW, and there’s one particular team that have stood out over the years as being their top team, the Guerrillas of Destiny.

Former Bullet Club members and having held the IWGP Tag titles a total of 7 times, the GoD are simply the perfect opponents for FTR as they continue to build their repertoire of stellar two-on-two matches. Following the incredible performance against the Briscoes at ROH Supercard, a match against Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa could turn into one of the most brutal matches on the Forbidden Door card. Two teams of heavy hitters and no-nonsense grapplers, this is almost sounding like the perfect match.

FTR are one of those teams that would thrive in the NJPW roster, so you can bet on the fact that they’ll be giving whoever they do face at Forbidden Door they’re absolute all.

 

5. Adam Page vs Minoru Suzuki

It’s unlikely that AEW or NJPW will want to put any of their championships on the line, for the sake of keeping their respective title holders looking as strong as possible. However, if there’s one that deserves to be showcased in the show’s main-event, or a marquee match of some sort, then it’s the AEW Championship, a title which is slowly gaining prestige while still in its infant years. ‘Hangman’ Adam Page has been a great champion for AEW so far, defending regularly against some stiff competition and making true of one of the brand’s biggest success stories to date.

With all that being said, Page deserves to be the one to represent the AEW brand at the first joint event with NJPW, and he should do that by putting his title on the line against one of Japan’s best and a regular haunt of the AEW roster, Minoru Suzuki. The Murder Grandpa has occasionally shown his face on episodes of Dynamite and Rampage, most recently defending his newly-acquired ROH Television Championship against Samoa Joe. Suzuki has been the lynchpin of the Forbidden Door movement, dipping his foot in AEW’s waters every now and then to keep the momentum going for a joint Supershow.

Minrou Suzuki has more than earned a shot at one of America’s biggest major titles, and that should be a moment featured on the AEW/NJPW cross-production. Suzuki could match Page’s popularity and give ‘Hangman’ a true run for his money. This would be a Page with, without a doubt, but seeing Suzuki in one final main-event match at the first Supershow would be a testament to the international work he’s put in as well as his career as a whole. Also, much like Shingo and CM Punk, this would be another feather in Adam Page’s cap that could sell him to the few remaining doubters.

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