We’re on the road to the Forbidden Door!

Before AEW collides with NJPW, we get some appetizers! Minoru Suzuki teams up with Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara in Trios action!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• The Hardy Boyz VS The Gunns; The Gunns win.
• Concession Stand Brawl: Jeff Jarrett VS Mark Briscoe; Briscoe wins.
• Six Man Tag: Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara & Minoru Suzuki VS Action Andretti, Darius Martin & AR Fox; Jericho, Sammy & Suzuki win.
• Orange Cassidy & Katsuyori Shibata VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Daniel Garcia; ZSJ & Garcia win.
• AEW TBS Championship: Kris Statlander VS Taya Valkyrie; Kris wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

The Hardy Boyz VS The Gunns!

Matt & Jeff are perhaps one of the most iconic brother tag teams ever, and they’re looking to prove they’re still a top tier tag team even today! But will they DELETE Austin & Colten? Or will the #AssBoys finally prove they’re Ass MEN?

The teams sort out and fans rally up as Matt starts against Austin. Austin tells the fans to shut up about “ASS~ BOYS~!” Matt gets fans chanting “DELETE! DELETE!” The two circle, tie cup, and Austin powers Matt back but Matt turns it around. Austin turns it back around, and back again, and then Matt shows punch. Austin uses ropes for defense, but Matt SPANKS him! Fans taunt Austin more and Austin rushes in, but into fast hands! Matt wrenches, tags Jeff, and fans fire up as the Hardys double whip to double elbow! FIST DROP SENTON COMBO! Austin runs away, Colten runs in, but into DUOBLE HIP TOSS!

The Hardys kick Austin to double suplex! Matt clotheslines Colten, then sets up for POETRY IN MOTION! Jeff TOSSES Colten then goes after Austin. Jeff whips corner to corner, runs in corner to corner, but Austin dodges! Jeff ELBOWS back, goes up top, WHISPER IN THE WIND! Cover, TWO! Austin survives but Jeff drags him up fast. Jeff kicks Austin, whips, but Austin reverses. Jeff holds ropes but Colten gets a cheap shot in! Fans boo but Austin tags Colten. Colten drags Jeff up, stomps a mudhole into Jeff, but lets off as the ref counts. Colten then mocks the Jeff Hardy dance and fans boo.

Colten drags Jeff up, snap suplexes, and covers, TWO! Jeff hangs tough and fans continue to taunt the “ASS~ BOYS~!” Colten drags Jeff over, tags Austin, and Austin wraps on a chinlock. Jeff endures, fights up, and fans rally as he reaches out for Matt. Austin keeps Jeff away from Matt, but Jeff runs around to throw Austin out of the ring! Colten hurries to get his brother back in, then tags in, and he brings Jeff up. But Jeff JAWBREAKERS free! Colten staggers, Jeff baits him into a corner, and Colten hits buckles! Austin tags in, drags Jeff up, but Jeff SPIN KICKS him away! Hot tag to Brother Matt!

Fans rally as Matt rallies on the Ass Boys with clothesline after clothesline! SIDE EFFECT for Austin! Fans fire up and Colten staggers in, and Matt TOSSES him out! “DELETE! DELETE! DELETE!” Austin staggers up, into a kick! TWIST OF FATE! Austin flops, Matt covers, but Colten helps with the ropebreak! Fans boo but the Gunns survive. Matt is upset, he drags Colten up by his man bun, but Austin distracts so Colten can HOTSHOT! Austin stacks, with feet on the ropes! TWO!! Matt escapes but Austin brings him up. Austin kicks low, says “SUCK IT!” but Matt dodges the Famouser to fire off haymakers!

Matt kicks low, but Colten saves Austin from the Twist! Tag and Colten drags Matt up! COLT 45!! Cover, Austin blocks the way but Jeff just barrels in to break the cover! Fans fire up as all four brothers are down! Jeff returns to his corner, and Matt tags him in! Jeff rallies on the Gunns, atomic drop for Austin, and a BIG atomic drop for Colten! But Austin CLUBS Jeff! Fans boo as the Gunns regroup and drag Jeff up. The Gunns double whip, Jeff gets them for DOUBLE DDTS! Jeff has both Gunns down, and he gets a leg each! DOUBLE LEG DROP! Fans fire up as Jeff adds a basement dropkick on Austin!

Jeff gets Colten with a kick, but Colten slips outta the Twist! But Jeff slips outta the underhooks, TWIST OF FATE! Colten ends up in the drop zone and Jeff hurries up top! Fans are thunderous but JUICE ROBINSON is here!? He distracts the ref, so that JAY WHITE can SHOVE Jeff off the top!! Austin tags in, Jeff staggers up into 3:10 TO YUMA!!! Cover, the Gunns win!!

Winners: The Gunns, by pinfall

What in the world?! The Gunns help Bullet Club Gold against Ricky Starks and then Bullet Club Gold helps the Gunns?! And now they all beat up on the Hardys! BLADERUNNER for Matt!! Fans boo but White drags Jeff up so Juice can hit the FIST FULL O’ SILVER DOLLARS!! White says jackpot! The Gunns join in, they get Matt up, but here comes RICKY STARKS! Absolute has absolutely had enough, but he’s getting mugged 4v1! Only for FTR to rush in!! Dax & Cash beat up on BCG and the Ass Boys! That’s still 4v3! Fans chant for “C M PUNK! C M PUNK!” and YES, here he comes! CM Punk TACKLES Juice, DECKS White and fires off on an Ass Boy!

Chicago is thunderous as this fight is finally 4v4! Punk DECKS Austin, DECKS Colten, and fireman’s carries Juice! Juice scrambles and gets away! Fans are thunderous for #CMFTR and Starks! Punk gets a mic to say, “I’ve been watching you guys back fighting for weeks! We could do it right here, but if you wanna fight so bad, we’ll make it official, and we’ll kick your asses next week on Collision! Fans like that idea! Punk is a “Collision guy,” he shouldn’t even be here. But see you chumps Saturday! Is #BCGunns VS #AbsoluteCMFTR gonna kick the door down on Forbidden Door weekend?

Concession Stand Brawl: Jeff Jarrett VS Mark Briscoe!

In order to finally settle things between the Last Outlaw and the Sussex County Chicken, as well as Team Triple J and the Briscoes as a whole, Double J brings back a classic invented by his own family! Where will it end and how much will it cost as these two battle it out in the back?

The two are already ready right in front of the Chicago Hot Dog stand! Jarrett is already fired up, he’s already ripping open a bag o’ popcorn and chucking it at Mark! The bell rings and the brawl is on! Fans are going nuts as Mark fires off on Jeff! Mark puts Jeff on the Pepsi brand cooler and just starts hammering him! Then he UPPERCUTS Jarrett! They end up going through the crowd and then a bit further on, to the merch stand! Mark mugs Jarrett, then SMACKS him with a trash can! Jarrett tips a table over! Mark sets that table back up, to RAM Jeff through it! That hip’s gonna feel bad in the morning!

Mark SMACKS Jarrett with the can again, then goes back the other way, past the Coors Light stand to RAM Jarrett into a pillar! And then he sprays Jarrett with the mustard! Jarrett SMACKS Mark with the plates! Mark SMACKS Jarrett with a fistful o’ frankfurters! And then some more! Mark UPPERCUTS again, but Jarrett SMACKS Mark off the Plexiglas! And then with more popcorn! And then SMACKS him off a table! Mark hits back with Redneck chops! Mark punches Jarrett onto the table, but then one of the workers in a hat and mask storms up. She sprays Mark with the ketchup! THAT’S KAREN JARRETT!!

Karen shoves the other workers outta the way and yells at Mark. Someone helps Mark get the ketchup outta his eyes with water, and Mark throws hands on Jarrett! Mark ROCKS Jarrett, puts him on the table, then brings out a ladder! Mark sets that up nearby, and fans fire up as Mark climbs! But then someone else goes up the ladder! They SHOVE Mark, and he CRASHES through another table! IT’S SONJAY DUTT!! So much for Jarrett promising this would be truly 1v1! You can’t trust a Jarrett! Jarrett CHOKES Mark in the wreckage while Dynamite goes picture in picture.

Sonjay talks trash and then helps Jarrett get Mark up. Jarrett moves the ladder outta the way, and Mark SMACKS Sonjay with a sausage! Jarrett pokes Mark in the eyes, then brings him around to the stairs! They brawl their way down the bleachers, and Sonjay adds on. Mark DECKS Sonjay, but Jarrett ROCKS Mark! Jarrett throws hands, pushes past him, and Sonjay throws hands while Jarrett soaks up the heat. Karen cheers but she’s the only one. Mark DECKS Sonjay, SMACKS Jarrett, STOMPS Sonjay, then hurries after Jarrett with hands and kicks! They continue down the way and fans cheer.

Mark STOPMS Sonjay one more time before leaving him behind. Mark BOOTS Jarrett, CLUBS him along and makes him smile. Mark drags Jarrett along, UPPERCUTS, but Sonjay returns! Mark TOSSES Sonjay over railing, then grabs a chair to SMACK Jarrett! Mark ROCKS Jarrett with haymakers, then gets some space. Mark high-fives fans along the way, and then runs back up with a chair to SMACK Jarrett! Wait! Another person attacks Mark, and of course it’s Jay Lethal! Lethal was Mark’s friend, but clearly he chose Triple J over Mark! Lethal & Jarrett TOSS Mark over the railing, and Sonjay is there to stomp away!

Sonjay throws down hands, then Lethal stomps Mark! The ref reprimands but he can’t stop this as Lethal holds Mark down. Jarrett SMACKS Mark on the back with the chair, and Dynamite returns to single picture. Fans boo as Triple J shoves Mark in the ring. Triple J mugs Mark, but the fans rally up for Mark. Lethal grabs the timekeeper’s table and brings it over! Jarrett tells the bell ringer to move, but guess who? IT’S PAPA BRISCOE! The Big Man grabs Lethal to CHOKE SLAM him through the table! And then Papa storms into the ring. Sonjay and Jarrett argue over who goes after him, and Sonjay runs in, to get a LARIAT! Papa LARIATS Jarrett, too!

Papa helps Mark up but Karen LOW BLOWS Papa Briscoe! Fans boo but Mark warns Karen. Sonjay runs in but into a REDNECK UPPERCUT! REDNECK PALM STRIKES for Jarrett! Mark reels Jarrett in, calls his shot, and underhooks the arms! JAY- NO, Jarrett fights it, and here comes SATNAM SINGH! The last, and biggest, piece of the Triple J puzzle is here, and he choke grips Mark! GIANT CHOKE SLAM!! Fans boo as Satnam kicks Mark around, but here comes CHRISTOPHER DANIELS! And BEST FRIENDS! They drag Satnam outta the ring and fifre hands, but Satnam shoves Daniels and CHOPS Chuck!

Satnam ROCKS Trent, picks Daniels up, but here comes PENTAGON! He KICKS Satnam’s leg! Fenix fires off on Satnam, too! UNO! DOS! TRES! QUADRUPLE SUPERKICK!!! Fans are thunderous as Fenix springboards to CROSSBODY Satnam down!! Penta aims at Jarrett, to ELBOW, SUPERKICK, and then Mark rolls Jarrett up! MARK WINS!

Winner: Mark Briscoe, by pinfall

Triple J just felt some karma right there! You can’t cheat a man who has REAL friends like these! Will this help Mark Briscoe finally move on and fulfill his destiny?

The Blackpool Combat Club speaks.

Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta are joined by Don Callis & Konosuke Takeshita backstage, and Moxley says, “AEW, NJPW, ROH, Forbidden Doors and all that. There’s only three letters that matter! Don Callis knows this, Takeshita knows this, and we know this. BCC, The Blackpool Combat Club, we define pro-wrestling in 2023. And before Forbidden Door, we have assembled a truly elite team. The BCC, tall, dark ‘n’ sexy Takeshita, and my friend, The Shooter, The Roughneck, Shota Umino. We challenge The Elite to a 5 on 5 match at Forbidden Door. What will be a celebration of wrestling, and we’ve got a treat for ya in Toronto. And the dream match becomes a nightmare when the Rainmaker meets the Best in the World.”

Bryan then speaks, telling Kazuchika Okada, “I’ve challenged you to a face to face tonight, but as far as I can tell, you’re not even here! You’re not even here! And I understand why. Because so many people call you ‘The Best Wrestler in the World.’ The best wrestler of a generation. But when you step in the ring with me, it’s gonna be clear to everybody that you’re nothing but an amateur. I’ll wait until the end of the night. And I’ll go out to the ring, and I’m gonna call you out, and you don’t show up, you’re going to prove to everyone what I just said: That you’re not the best, you’re not the best of a generation, that you’re an amateur and a coward.”

The BCC has thrown out strong words and big challenges, will The Elite be ready for a 5v5 when they’ve only got four? Will the Rainmaker surprise us al by showing up in the Windy City?

Six Man Tag: Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara & Minoru Suzuki VS Action Andretti, Darius Martin & AR Fox!

Fans sing Judas for The Wizard, and he’s feeling good having the Spanish God and the Meanest Man in the World on his side. But is Sammy still JAS 4 Life? Or is what Darby Allin said last week going to break Sammy free from Jericho’s hold?

The trios sort out and while fans chant for “A R FOX! A R FOX!” it is Action who steps up against Sammy. They circle, feel things out, and tie up. Sammy powers Action back, headlocks, but Action powers up and out. Sammy runs Action over! Cover, ONE! Action body scissors to roll Sammy to a cover, TWO! Action avoids a boot, but so does Sammy! Both men show superkick but hold back. Fans cheer the stalemate and the two reset. Sammy tags out to Suzuki, even though Jericho was offering. Jericho smirks, he doesn’t mind, and then Action tags Darius. Fans fire up for “SU-ZU-KI!’ as he circles with Air Wolf.

They talk some smack, Suzuki eggs Darius on, so Darius CHOPS! Suzuki doesn’t even budge! Suzuki smirks, Darius CHOPS again! Still nothing! Darius fires forearm after forearm but Suzuki just ROCKS Darius back! Suzuki eggs Darius on so Darius eggs Suzuki on. Suzuki DECKS Darius! Fans are thunderous, and Suzuki tags in Jericho. Jericho & Suzuki get Darius up, double whip, and double shoulder him over! Jericho spins and poses a la Sammy, and Suzuki poses with him! Sammy smirks and nods, and tells Jericho that was clever. Jericho smiles, but then turns around into a HAYMAKER! Darius tags Fox and fans fire up!

Fox fires off on Jericho, whips him out then back in, then A-LIST LARIATS! Fox skins the cat to SWINGING DROPKICK! And then he hurries up the corner as Jericho staggers. Fox leaps but Jericho gets under! Fox mule kicks, runs, but Jericho distracts and Sammy gets a cheap shot in! Jericho CLOBBERS Fox! Fans boo but Jericho drags Fox up and hits a BIG back suplex as Dynamite goes picture in picture.

Jericho soaks up the cheers and jeers, then brings Darius over to tag in Sammy. Le Sex Gods mug Fox, and Sammy CHOPS! Sammy soaks up the cheers and jeers, then brings Fox around to suplex. Sammy holds Fox up, walks around, and fans rally as the stall continues past a ten count! Sammy then brings Fox around to BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Fox survives, Sammy drags him up, and he tags in Jericho. They mug Fox, then Jericho brings Fox around to CHOP! Jericho brings Fox back around to CHOP again, but then Fox turns things around to CHOP and CHOP and CHOP! Fox runs, but Jericho BOOTS him!

Jericho tags Suzuki and they get Fox up to mug him. Suzuki CHOPS Fox, then CHOPS him again! Suzuki headlocks, snapmares, then chinlocks. Tag to Sammy and he stomps Fox down. Sammy drags Fox up, but Fox throws body shots! Fox backs Sammy down but Sammy kicks low! Sammy CHOPS, Dynamite returns to single picture, and Sammy whips. Fox reverses but Sammy KICKS Fox but Fox ENZIGURIS right after! Both men are down and fans fire up as they crawl! Hot tag to Jericho and he BLASTS Darius! Jericho rushes Fox, but Fox goes Matrix! Hot tag to Action! Fans fire up as Action fires off!

Action whips, Jericho reveres but Action CLOBBERS Jericho! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! And whips, but Jericho kicks back! Jericho CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Jericho whips, Action ducks ‘n’ dodges to DIVE onto Sammy! Action springboards to LARIAT Jericho down! Fans fire up, and Action runs in to SHOTGUN Jericho into a corner! Jericho is in the drop zone and Action goes up, SPLIT LEG- NO, Jericho moves and Suzuki catches Action for a SLEEPER! Action flails but Darius CLUBS Suzuki! Suzuki lets Action go to glare at Darius. Fans say “YOU F’D UP! YOU F’D UP!” Suzuki DECKS Darius!

Suzuki reels Action in, Gotch lift, but Action fights it! Darius ENZIGURIS Suzuki! Sammy goes up, DOUBLE FLYING CUTTER!! But Fox springboards in to SHOTGUN Sammy outta the ring! Jericho CHOPS Fox! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Jericho whips, Fox reverses, and Fox runs in. Jericho puts him on the apron, Fox ROCKS Jericho back, and Fox springboards to IMPLODER SENTON onto Sammy and Darius!! Fans are thunderous again as Action rolls Jericho up! TWO!! Action fires off forearms, whips Jericho, but Jericho reverses. Action springboards, FLYING CHUCK! Action then runs in to SHOOTING STAR! Cover, TWO!!

Jericho survives but fans rally behind Action. Action fireman’s carries but Jericho fights free! Jericho whips Action hard into buckles but Darius tags in! Darius LARIATS Jericho! And swings on Sammy, but Sammy spins him to a SPANISH FLY! Fox SUPERKICKS Sammy! And then ANARCHY SUPLEX! Fox kicks Suzuki, runs, but Suzuki follows to get around and SLEEPER! Then right into GOTCH STYLE PILEDRIVER!! Action BOOTS Suzuki! Jericho CODE BREAKERS Action! Darius waistlocks Jericho to O’Conner Roll, TWO!! Darius goes to the apron, slingshots in, COMPLETE SHOT!! Cover, TWO!!!

Chicago is electric as Darius runs and BULLDOGS Jericho onto ropes! And then GAMANGIRIS from the apron! Fans fire up as Darius climbs, and Darius SUPER- NO! Jericho catches the legs to have the WALLS OF JERICHO! Suzuki keeps Fox down with an ANKLE LOCK! Darius TAPS, #LeSuzukiGods win!!

Winners: Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara & Minoru Suzuki, by submission

Jericho promised a victory in their reunion and now Sammy sees it come true. Renee Paquette enters the ring to interview the winners, congratulating them on this victory. Speaking of legends, she takes us back to last week, the first time ever seeing Sting and Jericho nose to nose inside this ring. What was that moment like for Jericho? Jericho takes the mic from Renee to say, “Sting and Chris Jericho, in the ring, for the very first time ever, was a monumental moment in pro-wrestling history. Never been seen before! Everybody was so excited, except for me.”

Fans boo but Jericho tells Sting that he’s known Sting a long time, and he knows who Sting is. He knows how selfish Sting is, how egotistical he is, how he claims to be a hero to millions! Meanwhile, all Sting ever does is show up wherever the highest bidder is! Sting isn’t a harlequin, he’s a WHORE! Fans boo but Jericho says it all stops now! That is why #LeSuzukiGods, who are undefeated as a trio by the way, are challenging Sting and “that morose mutant, Darby Allin,” to find anyone willing to team with them to face Le Suzuki Gods in a Six Man Tag at Forbidden Door! Fans love that idea because as Jericho says, it will be Jericho and Sting in a match for the first time ever!

But Jericho wonders, will Sting accept? He doesn’t think so, because Sting is a coward, selfish, and nothing more than a sanctimonious son of a- Wait! Here comes STIIIIIING! And Darby, too! Fans fire up as the Relentless Icons go to the ring and Sting howls! Sting stares Jericho down and fans are losing their minds. Sting brings Jericho in close and asks him why he’s so uptight! He’s cussing and stuff under his breath now. They had a great moment last week, Sting agrees. But a moment is not long enough! Sting needs some real time with Jericho! Sting regrets not having some last week, but Sunday, Sting is planning on having some time.

In other words, CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! But you gotta remember Jericho, you made a lot of enemies in a lot of places. They’ve got the guy for Sunday. Darby smiles and Jericho dares him to say who it is! Who is it? Darby says we’ll all find out on Collision. Jericho is annoyed by that, but just who will be the third man, brother?

RJ City and Tony Schiavone are in the back.

RJ is rolling the lottery tumbler and Schiavone says that names will be chosen at random. Next week, the world will see the brackets for the AEW World Tag Team Championship Contenders BLIND Tournament! RJ draws for Schiavone, Schiavone takes note, and these two men will form a team. Well, that’s a wild one. The drawing will continue, but we’re going to see quite the tag match as Freshly Squeezed teams with The Wrestler against the Dragonslayer and The Frontman! Cassidy & Shibata VS Garcia & ZSJ happens after the break.

The Elite speak.

Brandon Cutler lets them know they’re live, and Hangman Page says the “Scuttlebutt going around” is that the BCC want to fight The Elite to 5v5. And like always, they use the numbers game to their advantage, cuz everyone knows Kenny Omega has to face Will Ospreay that same night, leaving just three Elite. But uh, correct Hangman if he’s wrong, but they have friends all over, don’t they? Yes, whether it be the Blackpool Combat Club, Don Callis, or Will Ospreay, or even Konosuke Takeshita, Kenny Omega admits that sometimes, it feels like the whole world is against them.

But believe it when Omega says, a LOT of people hate those guys. And it isn’t just The Elite. When the chips were down and they needed a friend, they found one in an unexpected place. In walks Eddie Kingston! But number one, he’s not their friend. After all, they tried running him over and blowing up his face. No, yeah, forget the past, Eddie tried to do just as bad. Yeah, world’s smallest violin for that. But the deal is, while Eddie doesn’t like The Elite, and doesn’t respect the Elite, he hates Bryan and Claudio more. So he’ll team up with them to make four. But then the fifth is someone EDDIE finds. Eddie may not trust this guy, but he trusts them more than The Elite.

So uh, Eddie will make the announcement. Eddie heads out, and Nick says this is that whole enemy of my enemy thing. The Elite is good with that, but then who will The Mad King call on as their fifth?

Adam Cole heads to the ring!

Chicago cheers as the Undisputed One is here, coming off of a time limit draw that kept him from becoming #1 contender. After the “BOOM!” and “ADAM COLE, BAYBAY!” the fans chant “ADAM COLE! ADAM COLE!” Cole gets the mic to say, “Chicago, I think I know the answer, but who’s ready for story time with Adam Cole, baybay?” Now he hates to admit this, but he has to give the devil his due. MJF gave Cole one of the toughest matches of his entire career last week. He was put through a table, given a piledriver on the apron, he fought, kicked, scratched, clawed and did everything in his power to win the match, but he didn’t.

“However, MJF didn’t win, either!” And Cole understands, it was the smart thing to do for MJF to not accept an extra five minutes. But it was also a cowardly thing to do. So let’s get real. If Max wants to be the greatest AEW World Champion ever, he has to take on all comers. He has to fight every single person who gets in his way. And the fact is, MJF has never beaten Adam Cole Baybay! So listen, MJF tends to run his mouth a little too long, so Cole will get to the point. Max, bring your ass out here so you and Cole can talk rematch! MJF actually walks out! MJF smirks and has a mic in hand as he heads down the ring.

MJF has the music cut and he says that he knows the midwestern mouth breathers aren’t very bright, but when the world champion’s holding a mic, you keep your poor mouths shut. Fans boo and chant “SHUT THE F UP!” at MJF but MJF says no. MJF tells Cole that he wants to say, believe it or not, congratulations. “Last week, for the first time in a very long time, someone came out to play. The same guy that I studied, the Panama City Playboy, ADAM COLE BAYBAY, came back and better than ever!” And MJF is the one who got it out of him, so you’re welcome. Not that Cole will say thanks but that’s fine.

Fans continue to jeer MJF but MJF continues to say he’s worried. Cole’s suffered a lot of blows to the head, and last week, Cole lost track of time. To make things even worse, MJF knows it, Cole knows it, everyone in the audience knows it, had time not run out, MJF had Cole beat. Cole laughs at that while fans boo, but MJF says it’s all true. Fans even call BS. But MJF says let’s live in an imaginary world where he didn’t have Cole dead to rights. Here’s what not BS: as far as a rematch goes, allow MJF to say as a fan of his, and after having earned each other’s respect through the war they went through, MJF even says this as a friend…

Because MJF cares about Cole’s health and well-being, as far as a rematch goes… No. Fans boo but Cole figured as much. This is of course what MJF is going to do. So Cole had an idea that might change MJF’s mind. Let’s just fight and Cole whoops some ass here in Chicago! Fans cheer but Schiavone gets on the mic. Schiavone has an announcement. BOTH MJF and Cole shout, “SHUT UP, SCHIAVONE!” They’re surprised the other did that. But even so, Schiavone has to say this. As part of the drawing for the Blind Eliminator Tournament, the first name was Adam Cole. And then the second name was… MJF.

WHAT?! They’re a team now?! Cole does NOT want that! He is NOT teaming with MJF! MJF is furious that he’d have to wrestle every week! Are you outta his mind? Are you some kinda pervert!? Schiavone shrugs that off to wish this team the best of luck. MJF and Cole say they are NOT teaming up for this, but the fans are loving it! “HUG IT OUT! HUG IT OUT!” But then HIROSHI TANAHASHI is on the tron! And he tells MJF that he’s a coward! “What kind of champion are you? I dare you to show up at Forbidden Door so I can show you the strength of NJPW, and of The Ace!” Fans love that idea, too!

MJF says he doesn’t know what kinda dog ‘n’ pony show Tony Khan is running here, but for the millionth time, Tanahashi! HE- But then Cole tells MJF to wait! Really think about the answer here. Cole knows MJF is trying to prove he’s not a coward, but… Oh, oh, wait. Wait, wait, wait! Cole hopes this isn’t because MJF thinks Tanahashi’s better than him. NO! MJF is the WORLD CHAMP! No one is better than him! But that’s what it sounds like, cuz otherwise MJF would just accept the match. MJF clearly thinks Tanahashi is better than him. MJF tells Cole to listen and listen good. No one on this planet is on the level of the Devil!

Cole counters with “COW~ARD! COW~ARD!” and the fans echo it. MJF gets frustrated, and he says FINE! TANAHASHI? You want MJF at Forbidden Door? YOU’RE ON!! There we go! That’s what Cole is looking for! the match is on! MJF VS Tanahashi for the AEW World Championship at Forbidden Door. And Cole will leave MJF with this: “Good luck, partner.” Cole goaded MJF into another match he didn’t want! Will the Ace of the Universe take that title away from Maxwell Jacob Friedman? And what about the chances of Cole & MJF in the Blind Eliminator Tournament?

AEW announces the Owen Hart Cup brackets!

In the men’s tournament, Forbidden Door will feature… Satoshi Kojima VS CM PUNK! Then all on June 29th, on a special Thursday Night Collision, we will see Roderick Strong VS Samoa Joe, Dustin Rhodes VS “Powerhouse” Hobbs, and Juice Robinson VS Ricky Starks! And then the women’s tournament starts with Friday Night Rampage on June 23rd as part of Forbidden Door Weekend, Skye Blue VS Anna Jay! Then, Forbidden Door sees Athena VS Billie Starkz, Collision in Toronto sees Nyla Rose VS Willow Nightingale, and next week’s Dynamite in Hamilton, Ontario sees Ruby Soho VS last year’s winner, Britt Baker!

Orange Cassidy & Katsuyori Shibata VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Daniel Garcia!

Freshly Squeezed is the AEW International Champion. The Wrestler is ROH Pure Champion. The Frontman is the NJPW World Television Champion. And the Dragonslayer is hungry to be a champion! Will Cassidy & Shibata knock down their would-be contenders? Or will ZSJ & Garcia make them #JustTapOut?

The teams sort out and Shibata starts against ZSJ. Fans rally as the two circle and feel things out. They knuckle lock and the fans are already losing their minds seeing this dream showdown. They both go around, switch back and forth, and Shibata goes for a leg. Shibata trips ZSJ but ZSJ headscissor counters! Shibata fights up, pries free, but ZSJ dodges a Penalty Kick! ZSJ gets up to shoulder bump Shibata, then Garcia and Cassidy get in. The ref tells things to calm down and get back to 1v1. Cassidy has Shibata stand down, and Garcia exits. Things settle down as Dynamite goes picture in picture.

Cassidy tags in, so ZSJ tags Garcia. Garcia and Cassidy approach, stare down, and fans rally up. Garcia puts up his dukes, but Cassidy raises his hands. To reach for his pockets! Garcia headlocks first! Cassidy pries at the hold but Garcia holds on tight. Cassidy throws Garcia down and has the legs! Cassidy is showing off his technical ability, but Garcia still powers him back to a cover, ONE! Garcia mounts Cassidy to slap him around, then he soaks up the heat. Garcia tells Shibata off, too, then eggs on Cassidy. Cassidy stands, and calls for a test of strength. Garcia obliges with the knuckle locks, and then Cassidy breaks one!

Cassidy CHOPS, but he shakes out that beat up hand of his. Cassidy goes to the corner, climbs up, and tightrope walks, but then Garcia yanks him down! Waistlock, SLAM, and Garcia floats all over Cassidy! Garcia then taunts the fans with that dance of his, only for Cassidy to roll him up! TWO!! Garcia escapes, and he ROCKS Cassidy in a corner! Garcia climbs up, taunts with that dance, then rains down fists! Garcia stops at five, soaks up more heat, then brings Cassidy up. Garcia headlocks, but Cassidy pries at the hold again. Cassidy brings Garcia down to a knee, wrenches and steps over, and chinbars to a cradle, TWO!

Garcia rushes in but backs off as Cassidy is ready to punch! Garcia tags ZSJ, so Cassidy backs up to tag Shibata! Dynamite returns to single picture as the fans fire up! Shibata and ZSJ tie up, ZSJ headlocks, and Shibata powers out. Shibata headlocks, hits a takeover, but ZSJ headscissors. Shibata moves around, headstands, and pops free to get a leg for a standing toehold. ZSJ rolls, reels Shibata in to cravat, then shifts to a cobra twist! Shibata switches it onto ZSJ! ZSJ wrenches to shift and IRON OCTOPUS! But Shibata powers out to have a leg! ANKLE LOCK, but ZSJ rolls free! The two stand off and fans cheer!

Garcia tags himself in and he gets in Shibata’s face. But Shibata ROCKS him again and again and again! Shibata UPPERCUTS Garcia, then looms over him. Garcia comes back to ROCK Shibata with a haymaker! Garcia headlocks, to then rake the eyes! The ref reprimands, Garcia says he didn’t do that, but Shibata staggers away and Cassidy tags back in. Garcia does his dance again, but Cassidy raises his hands. To then mock the dance! Garcia shoots in, but Cassidy switches and rolls Garcia, TWO! Cassidy waistlocks again, Garcia switches, but Cassidy reaches around. Cassidy raises his hands, and puts them in his pockets!

Fans cheer as Cassidy uses that to get free and KANGAROO KICK! Then SHOTGUN! Kip up! Fans fire up but Garcia tags ZSJ in. ZSJ steps to Cassidy with mocking applauds. “Where’s your tricks? Huh? C’mon! C’mon!” ZSJ puts his hands behind his back, and Cassidy fires those “devastating” shin kicks! But ZSJ blocks one! ZSJ spins Cassidy, full nelsons, cravats, but Cassidy spins out! Cassidy knuckle locks, reels ZSJ in but ZSJ fights it. Cassidy wrenches, spins, wrenches, and WRINGS ZSJ! But ZSJ kips up to cravat, snapmare, and NECK TWIST! Fans cheer and Garcia soaks up the heat for ZSJ while he flexes.

ZSJ stalks Cassidy to the ropes, drags him into a headscissor, and thrashes him around! Cassidy gets the ROPEBREAK, but ZSJ holds on as he tags Garcia. Garcia taunts the fans and drags Cassidy up. Snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Garcia hooks up the legs, soaks up the heat, and STOMPS the knees! Cassidy writhes but Garcia drags him over to tag ZSJ. ZSJ gets a standing toehold while Garcia has a wristlock! Then they shift to both have wristlocks! And then ZSJ has an arm while Garcia has a leg! Then Garcia sucker punches Shibata while ZSJ has another toehold! Fans boo but ZSJ stomps the knee!

Fans rally for Cassidy but ZSJ goes out after him. ZSJ UPPERCUTS Cassidy down, and Dynamite goes picture in picture.

ZSJ stands Cassidy up to put him in the ring. ZSJ drags Cassidy to the corner, tags in Garcia, and Garcia stomps Cassidy. Garcia drags Cassidy around by his arm, to then put it on the ropes. Garcia stands on the arm! The ref counts, Garcia steps off, and the ref reprimands. Garcia drags Cassidy up, brings him around, and tags in ZSJ. They mug Cassidy, then ZSJ UPPERCUTS! ZSJ UPPERCUTS again, and he keeps Cassidy up, to UPEPRCUT again! Cassidy falls into the corner, ZSJ tags in Garcia. Garcia drags Cassidy up, snapmares, and wraps on a chinlock. Garcia grinds Cassidy down but Cassidy endures.

Garcia shifts position to put more pressure on Cassidy but Cassidy fights up. Fans rally but Garcia throws Cassidy by his hair! Garcia soaks up the heat, then tags in ZSJ. Garcia stands on the bad hand so ZSJ can isolate the other arm and STOMP IT! ZSJ sits Cassidy up to tear away the tape! ZSJ straitjackets Cassidy and pulls him back. Cassidy endures, fans rally up, and Cassidy fights to his feet! Cassidy powers out of the straitjacket, but ZSJ puts it back on him! ZSJ pulls Cassidy back onto his knees for a straitjacket rack! Cassidy endures, ZSJ keeps his shoulders up, and Dynamite returns to single picture.

Cassidy rolls up and over to put the straitjacket on ZSJ! ZSJ arm-drags free, RAMS into Cassidy, and has a facelock! ZSJ then suplexes, but STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE hits! Fans fire up, hot tag to Shibata! Shibata BOOTS ZSJ! And fires off forearm after forearm! Shibata UPPERCUTS, snapmares, and KICKS ZSJ in the back! Shibata sits ZSJ up, runs, but Garcia gets a cheap shot in! Shibata DECKS Garcia for that! ZSJ UPPERCUTS, Shibata UPPERCUTS and UPPERCUTS and UPPERCUTS! ZSJ catches one but Shibata blocks the backslide, so ZSJ wrenches to PELE the arm! Tag to Garcia and he kicks Shibata around!

Shibata clutches the arm as Garcia kicks it, and he even eggs Garcia on! Garcia kicks and kicks and throws hands, but Shibata ROCKS him! And ROCKS him again! And again! And then UPPERCUTS! And CLUBS him! Shibata snapmares Garcia, and KICKS him in the back! Fans fire up as Shibata paces around. But Garcia sits up and mocks Shibata with the crossed legs and crossed arms! Shibata sighs, but Cassidy slides up behind. Cassidy has Shibata hold on. They both fire off “devastating” shin kicks! Garcia is confused by this, gets to his feet in frustration, and ZSJ runs in! Shibata ROCKS Garcia while Cassidy SUPERKICKS ZSJ!

Shibata puts Garcia in a corner to BOOT him! Cassidy fires off forearms on ZSJ! Shibata does the same to Garcia! Fans fire up as ZSJ and Garcia sit down! Shibata and Cassidy trade, DOUBLE HYDRAULIC DROPKICKS! ZSJ flops out, Cassidy DIVES to take him out! Shibata runs in at Garcia, HYDRAULIC DROPKICK!! Fans fire up for the HALF HATCH! Cover, TWO! Garcia survives and shakes his head, but Shibata clamps on a SLEEPER! Garcia fights up, to ELBOW BREAKER! Then victory roll, step through, DRAGONTAMER!! Fans boo while ZSJ keeps Cassidy out of the ring! Shibata powers his way out to drag Garcia down to a KNEEBAR!!

Garcia reaches out for ropes, but Shibata drags him back! ZSJ gets in to NECK TWIST Shibata! ZSJ talks smack on the fans, but Cassidy runs in! Cassidy ducks ‘n’ dodges and tilt-o-whirls to DDT! And kip up! But Garcia BOOTS Cassidy! And BOOTS Shibata! Garcia runs, to LARIAT! Shibata stays up!? Shibata roars, runs, BOOTS! Garcia roars, pie faces, runs, but into a BOOT! SLEEPER!! Shibata has Garcia caught, but ZSJ runs in! Shibata BOOTS ZSJ first! Garcia swings, but into the SLEEPER! But he shoots through to waistlock! Shibata switches, Garcia fights the lift, but Cassidy runs in! Garcia ducks, ORANGE PUNCH hits Shibata!!

ZSJ trips Cassidy into a KNEEBAR! Garcia stacks Shibata, Garcia & ZSJ win!!

Winners: Zack Sabre Jr. & Daniel Garcia, by pinfall

Cassidy took out his own tag partner by accident, and that allows The Frontman & Dragonslayer to win! Garcia picks up the International Championship, but ZSJ also grabs hold of it. Shibata stands back up, and he glares at each man while grabbing at the belt, too. Cassidy returns, he grabs at his belt, but no one lets go. ZSJ and Garcia decide to go, but Shibata still holds on. Cassidy yanks the belt away! Everyone wants gold, and BREAKING NEWS! There will be a FATAL 4 WAY for the International Championship at Forbidden Door! Will we see a double champion crowned? Will Red Death defeat everyone? Or will Freshly Squeezed still be golden?

Backstage interview with Will Ospreay.

Alex Marvez was just waiting for a scoop, and here it is! Ospreay asks how Marvez is doing. Perhaps a bit better than Ospreay. Ospreay was on social media, disparages Canada, and yet his match with Kenny Omega at Forbidden Door is in Canada. What is he thinking? Aw mate, nothing keeps Ospreay up at night more than hearing “Ospreay Away.” The worst thing is, Ospreay is used to performing in civilized countries. England, Japan, but now he has to go to Canada? Have you seen what some of the fans are saying? They’re gonna bum rush the airport. AEW needs to get some serious security for him.

But in walks Don Callis. He tells “Sir William” that he hears him loud and clear. As a Canadian, Callis actually agrees with Will! Canada is dangerous, but AEW isn’t gonna help with security. Ospreay has so much heat in Canada because Omega has been inciting his fanbase towards violence. Ospreay needs special security in Toronto, “where people are violent, entitled cowards, just like Americans.” So when Callis goes to Canada, he isn’t the most popular chap, but he has his own military grade private security, which he will make available to Ospreay to see him to and from Toronto. Just Callis’ own personal favor.

And what’s in it for Callis? He just wants to see a fair fight. Good luck, get that 1-2-3. Dirty Don is helping the Commonwealth Kingpin, but are there really no strings attached?

AEW hears from Toni Storm and Willow Nightingale.

The AEW Women’s World Champion says, “Believe it or not, I do think that Willow Nightingale deserves to be the champion that she is. And the fans adore her for it, they love her. But I can see why: she’s commonfolk, she’s just like everyone else. She represents those people that I don’t. I don’t care about any of these people.” But the NJPW Strong Women’s Champion says, “Toni Storm is someone I’ve admired before I even came to All Elite Wrestling. I can’t say I love Toni’s character. I don’t think that I love her attitude. I don’t even think I like her work ethic and the way that she goes about professional wrestling. But I do respect the fight that she has in her.”

So if Toni wants to challenge Willow, Willow will meet Toni out there with honor and respect. Toni says she isn’t worried about what people have to say, especially not the likes of Willow. Toni doesn’t respect her opinion. And Willow should worry about what Toni is going to do to her. Don’t worry about attitude, worry about what happens at Forbidden Door. It will be Storm VS Willow for the AEW Women’s World Champion at Forbidden Door, will we see a double champion crowned here? Or will AEW still be on #ToniTime?

AEW TBS Championship: Kris Statlander VS Taya Valkyrie!

Speaking of titles, the Galaxy’s Greatest has the one La Wera Loca wants! It isn’t Kris’ fault Taya couldn’t beat Jade Cargill at Double or Nothing, and it isn’t Kris’ fault that Jade wanted another match. But will it be Kris’ fault when Taya strikes out 0-3 for this title? Or will Taya make the third time the charm?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if Mama Statlander is still the Galaxy’s Greatest!

The bell rings, the two circle, Kris avoids Taya’s leg takedown, and her boot, and her lariat! Fans rally and duel while Taya is annoyed. They both run in, and Kris runs Taya over! Fans fire up while Kris flexes and Taya goes to a corner. Kris runs in to CHOP, then CHOPS again! And again and again! Kris stands Taya up to DOUBLE CHOP! Kris bumps Taya off buckles, fires off forearm after forearm, the ref counts, and Taya shoves Kris away. Kris comes back to UPPERCUT! Kris runs, into a SLAP! Taya swaggers, then brings Kris around to CHOP! Kris is stinging, but she comes back, and Taya CHOPS her again!

Taya eggs Kris on and Kris CHOPS! Kris eggs Taya on, Taya CHOPS again! Kris CHOPS, fires off forearms, then sweeps the leg! Handstand LEG DROP! Cover, TWO! Kris keeps on Taya but Taya ROCKS Kris! Mule kick, knee lift! Kris wobbles, Taya runs in but Kris dumps her out! Taya gets up, kris is on the apron, and Kris avoids the sweep to SUPERKICK! Kris then takes aim to MOONSAULT and take Taya down! Fans fire up, Kris high-fives the front row, and she goes back for Taya. Kris puts Taya in, fans rally behind her, and Kris hurries back up. Taya SHOTGUNS Kris off the apron! Kris crashes, Taya soaks up the heat, and Dynamite goes picture in picture.

Taya grins while the fans boo, and she goes out to fetch Kris. Taya KICKS Kris in the butt! Taya drags Kris up to SMACK her off the apron! Taya mocks the fans, then grins as she stalks Kris. Taya drags Kris up to put her in and stalk her to ropes. Taya BOOTS Kris down, then stalks her to a corner. Taya CHOKES Kris, the ref counts, and Taya lets off. Kris staggers up, but Taya bumps her off buckles! Taya CHOPS Kris in the corner, then brings her up again. Taya KICKS the leg, then ELBOWS Kris, and spins to clothesline! Kris sits down, Taya swaggers all the way to the far side, and aims at Kris.

Taya runs in corner to corner, to METEORA! Taya drags Kris into a cover, TWO! Kris is still in this but Taya grins. Taya drags Kris around, grabs the arms and pulls on a motorcycle stretch. Kris endures, fights up to her feet, and throws body shots! Taya throws Kris by her hair! High stack, TWO! Kris escapes but Taya is having fun now. Taya pie faces Kris around, but Kris shoves back! Taya pie faces again, but Kris throws a forearm! Taya gives it back, so Kris throws another! Taya fires off a flurry, but then Kris ducks the haymaker! Taya ducks the roundhouse, both women ROUNDHOUSE, and both women fall!

Fans fire up while the ref checks both Kris and Taya. A standing count begins, Dynamite returns to single picture and Taya rises first. Kris stirs, Taya brings her up at 5, but Kris throws a forearm! Taya forearms in return! Kris hits Taya, and hits her again! And again! And again! Taya wobbles, Kris puts her in a corner. Kris runs corner to corner to UPPERCUT! Kris goes side to side to KNEE LIFT! Kris then brings Taya around, hooks a leg, SPINNING FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Taya survives but Kris pounds the mat. Fans rally with Kris and she drags Taya back up. Gut wrench, but Taya fights it with elbows!

Taya wrenches to reel Taya in, underhooks and a lift, SIT OUT BUTTERFLY BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Taya is shocked! Taya gets the legs, turns Kris over, but fans rally up. Kris kicks free, ducks the Penalty Kick and rolls Taya up, TWO! DISCUS LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!! Taya survives and now Kris is frustrated! But the fans continue to rally, and Kris watches a dazed Taya sit up. Kris reels Taya back in, ROCKS her with forearms, then whips. Taya reverses, Kris dodges, both women run and Taya SPEARS!! Fans fire up as Kris goes to a corner. Taya ELBOWS her, puts her in the ropes, and runs to SLIDING GERMAN!

Taya soaks up all the cheers and jeers and then goes up the corner. Taya aims, but Kris springs up to UPPERCUT! And forearm! Kris climbs, brings Taya up, but Taya fights it! Kris CLUBS away on Taya, to then SUPERPLEX!! Kris then hurries to gut wrench, tuck in and WEDNESDAY NIGHT FEVER! Cover, Kris wins!!

Winner: Kris Statlander, by pinfall (still AEW TBS Champion)

La Wera Loca put up another hard fought match, but it was another hard loss! Kris stands tall, #MoreThanAWoman, she’s a champion! Who will be next to step to the Galaxy’s Greatest?

BREAKING NEWS for Rampage!

As part of Forbidden Door Weekend, we see a huge 8 Man Tag! The United Empire joins forces with Swerve Strickland to take on an even bigger Chaos team as Rocky Romero & Best Friends call upon Mr. Direct Drive, Yoh! Will the Chaos refuse to be conquered? Plus, given everything going on, MJF finally makes his first appearance on Rampage! What will the AEW World Champion have to say about both Forbidden Door and the Blind Eliminator Tournament? In fact, Adam Cole will make an appearance, too! What will he have to say about the Blind Eliminator Tournament?

Then, The Acclaimed are back in action, will they build momentum towards a title opportunity? And in another Forbidden Door appetizer, “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry prepares for Sanada and the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship by taking on Just5Guys’ Douki! Will Japones Del Mal help give Cold Skull some ideas on how to handle Tarzan Life?

BREAKING NEWS for Collision!

On top of the 8 Man Tag, #BulletClubGunns VS #AbsoluteCMFTR, as well as learning who the third man is in Relentless Icons VS Le Suzuki Gods, we will see Hiroshi Tanahashi in action against Swerve Strickland! Will the Ace be right at home inside whose house? SWERVE’S HOUSE! Also, Christian Cage will address the TNT Championship victory he and his Right Hand of Destruction pulled off last week! How will Captain Charisma spin what he and Luchasaurus did? Plus, after defeating Buddy Matthews but being beaten down by the House of Black, Andrade El Idolo is back in action against Brody King! Will Andrade take down another member of the House?

Eddie Kingston is in the ring.

Fans cheer the Mad King as he gets a mic to say, “Yo! Thank you, thank you, thank you, I love it, I love it. But I gotta put a shirt on, folks, I just had surgery and I ate a lot of ice cream, so forgive me.” But he is out here because the Bucks & Omega decided to leave cuz he told them he doesn’t respect ’em. But c’mon, they’re cute, good guys, Eddie isn’t really sure. Anyway, there’s been a lot going on that Eddie doesn’t like and doesn’t agree with. Especially a certain somebody that’s supposed to be his homeboy who is a little mad that he’s teaming with The Bucks, who he doesn’t like nor respect.

But understand, Eddie just can’t stand Claudio at all. Fans cheer that! Eddie doesn’t care if he and Jon have a problem, cuz they- Wait! Here comes Moxley! The Maniac wants to hear this from his friend in person. Moxley gets in the ring, gets in Eddie’s face, and Eddie politely hands over the mic. Moxley says Eddie knows how this goes. “If they stand behind you, protect them. If they stand beside you, respect them. If they stand against you, destroy them!” Eddie is drawing a line at Forbidden Door. Eddie says MOX drew that line the minute he started teaming up with that scumbag! Moxley did that, not Eddie!

Eddie loves Moxley as a brother but Moxley decided to do that, not Eddie. Moxley says, “Every time…” Every time what?! Say it, Moxley! Say it! Every time what?! Moxley lowers the mic, fans chant for Eddie, but then Moxley puts his hands on Eddie’s shoulders. Eddie takes the mic back and says if Moxley ain’t gonna say it, fine, we ain’t got time for it. “Ladies and gentlemen, the fifth man is Ishii!” WHOA! The Stone Pitbull is joining the Mad King and the #HungBucks! And he’s here tonight!! Fans fire up, but then the BCC attacks Eddie! Claudio & Wheeler beat down Eddie while Moxley intercepts Ishii!

Ishii gets in, but Bryan gets after him now! The American Dragon was gonna call out Okada but he’s beating down one of Okada’s buddies instead! The brawl is going on, and Bryan gets the mic! “He’s not coming out! Okada, where are you!? Do you know what? If he’s not gonna come out, I’m gonna stomp Ishii’s face in!” Bryan gets the arms, but then the coin drops! Chicago erupts as the Rainmaker IS here!! And he goes right for Bryan! Everyone else clears out so that the two icons can stare down. Chicago is losing its mind, but we still have to wait for Forbidden Door. But then Yuta attacks Okada!

Fans boo and Bryan just soaks it up. Bryan tells Yuta to set Okada up for him and Yuta obliges. Bryan aims, runs in, but Okada moves and the BUSAIKU KNEE hits Yuta! Ripcord, RAIN- NO, Bryan dodges and then retreats! Bryan wags his finger, we still have to wait. Or do we? Okada hears the fans chanting his name, and he drags up Yuta! Ripcord and RAINMAKER for Yuta!! Okada stares down Bryan, the dream match is coming, but who comes out truly the best wrestler in the world?

My Thoughts:

A great episode for Dynamite that was just one of three go-homes going into Forbidden Door 2023. Great opener from Hardys VS Gunns that of course brought Bullet Club Gold and many others into this. Bullet Club Gold might as well make Gunns members at this rate, and they’re going to have a great match with Starks, Punk & FTR. I would think #AbsoluteCMFTR wins because duh, Punk. And great Concession Stand Brawl, but of course Triple J cheats. But I also like that it got even more overbooked with Papa Briscoe and the various Faces with ROH history helped Mark win and hopefully put this one away for good.

Great Six Man from “Le Suzuki Gods,” and I figured with them going up against Action, Fox & Darius, they would win. No real dissention between Sammy & Jericho here, maybe they save that for Forbidden Door. And as for who the third man for the other team, at this point it has to be Tetsuya Naito. LIJ was to team with Darby & Sting last time but COVID kinda messed some of that up, and also Naito has had feuds with Jericho and Suzuki, so he’s the perfect choice. That on top of Sammy breaking away from JAS, I would think Naito helps Sting & Darby win.

Great promo bit from MJF and Cole that also ties into the Blind Eliminator Tournament. MJF and Cole hate each other, and the easy solution is that they throw a match, but they don’t wanna do that because then it’d give someone a claim to MJF’s title. Though at the same time, Cole clearly doesn’t mind if Tanahashi takes that title since he suckered MJF into that match. MJF VS Tanahashi will be really good stuff, though I feel like MJF retains so that he and Cole can struggle through the tag tournament and lose at some point when MJF ditches Cole or Cole knocks out MJF so the other team can win big.

Awesome tag team match of Cassidy & Shibata VS ZSJ & Garcia, and what a big surprise that ZSJ & Garcia actually make it work so they win. And then a Fatal 4 Way for the International Championship is huge! I don’t know if we get a double champion, and I would say this is how they can get the belt off Cassidy, but I thought that with the Blackjack 21 Battle Royal. If nothing else, ZSJ isn’t going to move forward from this, he’s got Samoa Joe and the ROH World Television Championship to think about. Maybe it’ll be Garcia VS Cassidy in AEW and Garcia VS Shibata in ROH, and we see if Garcia stays a sports… enner-tay-ner through the Summer.

Great TBS Championship of Kris VS Taya, but I figured Kris would retain. A little surprised no one new showed up to call out Kris, even with just a stare down. But it’s AEW, they don’t do as much with the Women’s Division as they could, and they’re not bringing in Stardom wrestlers for Forbidden Door so Kris can just wait it out a few days. Good promo from Storm and Willow to hype up their match, and Storm will surely have Ruby Soho help her cheat to retain. Willow doesn’t need to be double champion, she has her belt and plenty of challengers waiting in Stardom to show up on NJPW Strong, or for her to show up on their events.

Great promos to help hype Forbidden Door, such as Blackpool Combat Club wanting a 5v5. This is almost a teaser for Blood & Guts, but we’re getting great team-ups between AEW and NJPW. Shota Umino has been more or less Face in NJPW but he’ll come into Forbidden Door as a Heel since he’s on Team BCC. Also good promo from Ospreay with Callis to form a loose alliance. United Empire & Swerve VS Chaos will be a good tune-up match that I would think the Heels win.

Eddie bringing in Ishii is a great move, and we got a great transition from Eddie announcing that to having Bryan call out Okada and Okada showing up for a show closing brawl. Okada stands tall here, but I can’t be sure he wins. Bryan could easily cheat and take that win so he can just inflate his ego all summer. As for BCC, Konosuke & Shota VS Eddie, Ishii & Hung Bucks, that could also go either way, but feels like if Bryan wins, BCC loses. If Bryan loses, BCC wins.

And great brackets for the Owen Hart Cup. Punk VS Kojima on Forbidden Door will be good but it’s a bit of a throwaway just so Punk moves ahead. Starks VS Juice, I feel like Starks overcomes that to meet old rival Hobbs. Then Strong VS Joe, that’s going to be awesome, and as much as I’d love to see Roddy get ahead, it feels like Punk VS Joe is happening. The women’s tournament has a good bracket, too, but Britt being back in it, possibly going back to back as Queen of Harts… Though at the same time, she’s taking on Ruby and the Outcasts could cheat her all the way to the finals.

Willow and Athena are also strong choices, but putting the Queen of Harts belt on someone who is already champion feels like a waste, because such a prize should be used as a springboard towards a title shot for like the AEW Women’s World or TBS title. The way AEW and ROH have been pushing Skye, she might be the one, winning it as the “underdog/dark horse” choice.

My Score: 8.8/10