Jeff Jarrett, WWE Hall of Famer and currently AEW’s Director of Business Development, recently shared his enthusiasm for the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view during an episode of his podcast, My World with Jeff Jarrett. He expressed that the event’s lineup represents the pinnacle of cross-promotional wrestling, a long-sought dream for fans and industry insiders alike.
A Look at the Dream Matches Featured on the Card
Reflecting on his early days watching wrestling, Jarrett compared the Forbidden Door event to legendary hypothetical matches from the late 1980s that were impossible to arrange, such as WCW versus WWE dream bouts. He emphasized how this pay-per-view captures that rare excitement by bridging promotions.
Regarding specific matches, Jarrett highlighted the excitement around the 10-man Lights Out match, especially with Tanahashi’s inclusion, calling it a standout moment. He also focused on the contest involving The Young Bucks and Darby Allin, noting the unpredictability and impressive talent on display. Jarrett pointed out that Jon Moxley’s ruthless style makes his match one of the most compelling on the card.
Jarrett further praised the bout featuring Nigel versus Zack Sabre Jr., recognizing Nigel’s opportunity to perform on a global stage. He mentioned the significance of the venue, the O2 Arena, as one of the world’s most iconic locations despite its relatively recent establishment.
The Importance of Forbidden Door in Modern Wrestling
By calling the event a “dream match card,” Jeff Jarrett reinforced the rare collaboration between AEW and NJPW as a transformative moment in wrestling history. The Forbidden Door show not only unites top talents from different promotions but also delivers the kind of high-profile, must-see matches that fans had only imagined decades ago.
As AEW continues to push boundaries in partnership with NJPW, the outcome of this event could set a new standard for cross-promotional wrestling and influence how future collaborations are approached, further expanding the global reach and appeal of professional wrestling.
“I’ve done a little media on this already. And every time the host like yourself kind of goes through the card — you know, and I can remember looking through the magazines, waiting on my old man to get off the phone. And you hear about, ‘Oh, a dream match, a dream match, a dream match.’ In those days it was late 80s, it was a WCW versus a WWE opponent that would never really happen. You know, Sting versus Taker, or whatever it may be, so the forbidden door already, you know, from day one, it kind of brings off that vibe.” —Jeff Jarrett, WWE Hall of Famer and AEW Director of Business Development
“That 10-man Lights Out [match]? I loved it when Tanahashi was added to it. Like you said, there is show stealers across the card. I’m — seriously with the Bucks and Darby. This is going to be interesting. Moxley has no conscience. So that is to me one of the standouts. I can’t help but note on Nigel [vs.] Zack Sabre Jr. That in a way — you know, last year in the gauntlet, and Nigel coming out. But you know the O2, that that is one of the most famous — you know, it’s relatively new, but still, it’s a famous venue around the globe. So hats off to Nigel getting his shot here. You’ve already gone through the matches. I could go on and on about it, but it’s really a dream match card.” —Jeff Jarrett, WWE Hall of Famer and AEW Director of Business Development
