The AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door event, traditionally held in June since its inception in 2022, faced an unusual scheduling shift this year, moving to August. This change, prompted partly by Coldplay’s Wembley Stadium booking clashing with AEW All In’s usual timing, repositioned the major pay-per-views. All In took place earlier in July in Texas, while Forbidden Door is set for this Sunday at The O2 Arena in London, overlapping what had been All In weekend in prior years. This realignment created unique challenges for the promotion’s buildup to the 2025 Forbidden Door event, especially involving coordination with NJPW’s ongoing G1 Climax tournament.
Tony Khan on Navigating the Build with Limited NJPW Star Appearances
With many top NJPW wrestlers competing in the G1 Climax, their appearances on AEW television were limited, influencing the event’s promotional rhythm. Despite these hurdles, Tony Khan remains optimistic about the build’s success, citing AEW Dynamite’s recent top placement in cable ratings for the 18-49 demographic as a positive indicator. Khan described the situation as a “different cadence” compared to previous Forbidden Door events, emphasizing the need for adaptation given the calendar disruptions and talent availability.
“We’re going to have one of the biggest days in the history of the company with Forbidden Door, which is also going to be one of our biggest gates ever. But with the G1 Climax happening this time of year, it’s different cadence than the other Forbidden Doors,”
Khan said.
Collaboration with NJPW and Unique Presentation Challenges
Khan highlighted the distinctive nature of producing American television content for building pay-per-views in collaboration with NJPW, overseen in part by Gedo. He noted how this approach contrasts with the standard presentation style used in Japan, requiring a tailored rhythm to engage audiences effectively. Even amid restricted availability of NJPW talent due to the G1 Climax, AEW’s build maintained strong representation from key New Japan stars scheduled for major matches on the Forbidden Door card.
“It’s always something fun working with Gedo. It’s a very different presentation using American television to build pay-per-views. It’s a different rhythm and cadence to what’s typically done in Japan and what New Japan does to present a show.”
“And for us, this year, with a little bit less availability of a lot of those stars, we’ve still been able to work in great representation from top stars in New Japan Pro Wrestling, as we’re going to talk about on the card. Big matches involving top stars in New Japan and big stakes in AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling. But also, a lot of their stars tied up in the G1 Climax, which we’re very excited about.”
Khan added.
Key Competitors and Tournament Highlights Leading Into Forbidden Door
Among the NJPW wrestlers spotlighted is Konosuke Takeshita, who recently won the G1 Climax and earned a future opportunity at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. This development adds significant anticipation to the event as Takeshita’s trajectory intersects with AEW storylines. The current IWGP World Champion Zack Sabre Jr. is scheduled to defend his title against Nigel McGuinness at Forbidden Door. Other notable NJPW competitors, including Hiroshi Tanahashi, Gabe Kidd, and Hiromu Takahashi, are also confirmed to participate, further enriching the event’s talent roster.
Final Preparations and Continued Excitement for Forbidden Door
The build to Forbidden Door 2025 will conclude with AEW’s Dynamite episode and a Collision taping in Glasgow tonight, offering the final promotional push before Sunday’s event. With a slate of high-profile matches and significant stakes for both AEW and NJPW, the partnership looks set to deliver one of the company’s landmark days, promising strong attendance and expanded fan engagement as the wrestling calendar evolves.
