Jeff Jarrett, WWE Hall of Famer and current Director of Business Development for All Elite Wrestling (AEW), recently shared his thoughts on the upcoming AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door event during an episode of his podcast, My World with Jeff Jarrett. He expressed confidence that the Forbidden Door event will attract a larger audience compared to WWE NXT Heatwave, highlighting the unique collaboration behind the event.
Forbidden Door Combines Multiple Promotions, Raising Expectations
Jarrett emphasized the strength of Forbidden Door as a partnership between AEW, New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). He stated,
“Forbidden Door is AEW, CMLL, and New Japan. I’m just — broad strokes. So it’s three promotions, and the card’s going to be off the charts. The O2 is going to be rocking. I’m just not real sure the bullets in the gun that NXT is going to have. But I’m going to say they’re going to have some… But why do that to NXT? There is no way from an online audience — , and again, there’s a value to this and that. But as the challenger brand, it just feels like, what is the upside?” —Jeff Jarrett, Director of Business Development, AEW
He questioned the potential benefits for WWE NXT as a challenger brand in this scenario, implying that Forbidden Door’s appeal will overshadow NXT’s Heatwave event.
Jarrett Compares the Audience Battle to a Local Market Rivalry
Addressing the competition between Forbidden Door and WWE NXT Heatwave, Jarrett used a local fast-food analogy to illustrate the disparity in audience draw. He compared the current situation to multiple chicken chains opening side-by-side in his hometown:
“Because there’s no doubt that Forbidden Door will blow Heatwave out of the water from an online audience perspective…. And look, when you put a fast-food chicken restaurant, we’ve talked about this. There’s Raising Cane’s, there’s Slim Chickens, and Chick-fil-A in my hometown in Hendersonville going up right across the street, three side by side by side. We’re not selling chicken here, but I don’t know, Conrad. As the challenger brand, it feels like that TKO is giving us an opportunity to knock one clean out of the park again.” —Jeff Jarrett, Director of Business Development, AEW
This analogy highlights Jarrett’s belief that Forbidden Door, as a collaborative event and challenger product, holds a distinct advantage and will secure significant attention from wrestling audiences.
Significance of the Forbidden Door Event for AEW and Wrestling Fans
The Forbidden Door event represents a strategic partnership among AEW, NJPW, and CMLL, promising a unique and high-caliber wrestling card. Jarrett’s comments suggest the event could redefine audience engagement in professional wrestling by surpassing WWE’s NXT Heatwave in reach and excitement. Fans and industry observers will closely watch how both events perform, as this may influence future collaborations and promotional strategies within wrestling.
