AEW x NJPW - FORBIDDEN DOOR - 6/26/2022

[John from Cincinnati]

I find the FTR and Tony dynamic fascinating and would like to know more. Lots of respect with some of open acknowledgement of disagreements. I enjoy the three of them together, good energy. 

[BrianS81177]

I don't give a shit how old he is, I have a gigantic smile on my face whenever I see Sting in the ring. Or diving off balconys. Or doing other crazy old man shit. 

[J.T.]

Great show!  I'd have found a way to grind out a no contest between Claudio and ZSJ, unless ZSJ is going to get his win back on Dynamite.

Good to see PAC win a title.  I'm guessing at some point Black will lift the belt off of him.  I am happy with Miro not winning.  The AA title is slumming it.  He really should be killing Mox and winning the World Championship in a few weeks or wrecking Samoa Joe or Jonathan Gresham for an ROH title.

How long before Young Bucks vs FTR happens again and the Bucks go 0-Whatever against Dax & Cash?  FTR must have all of the belts.

Edited June 27, 2022 by J.T.

[eikerir]

13 minutes ago, J.T. said:

Great show!  I'd have found a way to grind out a no contest between Claudio and ZSJ, unless ZSJ is going to get his win back on Dynamite.

 

I can see SZJ beating Danielson in the eventual dream match, wouldn’t hurt Danielson one bit really.

[Brandon Bones]

Good times!  Great Memories!

I wonder if a show like this might ever curb the anxiety in the fans mind prior to the event.  Perhaps the build for the show isn’t everything (or maybe just not being up to snuff) in determining whether the individual decides the show itself would be worth the money.  
 

Dynamite has a very high standard it has aspired to and been held to in its short life.  But historically, I have watched so many WWE shows where the lead up was complete garbage but the big show ended up being pretty great.  So maybe there is something to that.
 

And it was really great last night.  I’m familiar with many of NJPWs roster.  There are a few I’d never seen before since I lost touch New Japan after The Elite jumped ship.  
 

It didn’t matter.  At all.

While I’m sure we’d all like a bunch of 1 on 1 matches.  The show that was put together more than compensated by injecting a lot of focused character and highlighting the motivation behind them even into the chaotic multi person formats.  
 

Finally!  “Billy Ass and the Ass Boys” makes its debut in AEW.  Now make it their permanent theme.  Gwarsenio Hall 4 life!

I love you AEW.

 

Edited June 27, 2022 by Brandon Bones

[For Great Justice]

So Blood and Guts has to end with BCC and Kingston’s crew successful, doing the TV signoff celebration and start filing out of the cage….Kingston and Claudio are the last two in the cage, Kingston rushes to re-lock the door and beat his ass to a bloody pulp while both factions try hopelessly to get back into the cage to stop it…right? 

[EVA]

2 hours ago, J.T. said:

 

How long before Young Bucks vs FTR happens?  FTR must have all of the belts.

At Grand Slam on 7/22, if I had to guess. They need big matches if they’re going to pack that place out again.

EDIT: Wait, was 7/22 just the on-sale date? Lol that would make a lot more sense. Thought that was going to be a mighty quick turnaround.

Edited June 27, 2022 by EVA

[EVA]

I really enjoyed Swerve/Keith vs. Despy/Kanemaru. This being a Buy-In match, they ver easily could’ve just done the standard Swerve FIP into Keith hot tag match and gotten out of there, but instead they did something pretty interesting with the fake FIP on Swerve into the real FIP on Keith, which we rarely see. Really appreciated Keith’s commitment to selling in front of a big, jacked crowd where it would be understandable to want to fly around and get your shit in. Also loved how the finish let Swerve have all the shine even though Keith got the pinfall, which will surely feed into that developing heel turn, but not in the obvious way that typically gets done.

[DEAN]

One Ace attempts to lardilize another Ace.

 

[The Natural]

7 minutes ago, EVA said:

At Grand Slam on 7/22, if I had to guess. They need big matches if they’re going to pack that place out again.

21st September. I think that'll be the location. If not there, All Out.

[DEAN]

6 minutes ago, EVA said:

I really enjoyed Swerve/Keith vs. Despy/Kanemaru. This being a Buy-In match, they ver easily could’ve just done the standard Swerve FIP into Keith hot tag match and gotten out of there, but instead they did something pretty interesting with the fake FIP on Swerve into the real FIP on Keith, which we rarely see. Really appreciated Keith’s commitment to selling in front of a big, jacked crowd where it would be understandable to want to fly around and get your shit in. Also loved how the finish let Swerve have all the shine even though Keith got the pinfall, which will surely feed into that developing heel turn, but not in the obvious way that typically gets done.

PLUS!  It had the spot of the night.

 

[Matt D]

There was a bit where Swerve and some guy on the other side were just hitting moves on each other back and forth and doing the stupid delayed selling thing, though. I do not like Strickland as a wrestler overall even if he'll have a very fun spot now and again.

[Wyld Samurai]

43 minutes ago, For Great Justice said:

So Blood and Guts has to end with BCC and Kingston’s crew successful, doing the TV signoff celebration and start filing out of the cage….Kingston and Claudio are the last two in the cage, Kingston rushes to re-lock the door and beat his ass to a bloody pulp while both factions try hopelessly to get back into the cage to stop it…right? 

That'd be a cool take on the Von Erich v Freebird War.

Edited June 27, 2022 by Wyld Samurai

[matwarz]

So Chicago is officially the pro-wrestling capital of the world right?

Only had time for two matches. Loved the shit out of Claudio and ZSJ. Zack’s stuff looks so good the crowd was biting on everything and Claudio looked a million bucks with the cuffs off. Just two great pro-wrestlers doing pro-wrestling stuff.

Oh look, it’s the flippy guy having another MOTY candidate. I finally think people are beginning to realise what an incredible worker Will Ospreay has become. He just knows how to mix the ingredients. The way the match switched into another level was masterful. Never enough to be hokey and edited perfectly to hit the climax. 

[(BP)]

Tay Conti is like if Minoru Suzuki, Sofia Vergara, and Sheri Martel were one person. Sorry Sammy, behind every strong pillar there’s a stronger pillar who should be the actual pillar, or something. 

[DEAN]

2 minutes ago, matwarz said:

So Chicago is officially the pro-wrestling capital of the world right?

I can't figure out which was cooler- the response for Shibata, the reaction to everything Okada did, or the reaction to Clark Conners directly after he went on offense after putting Miro through the table.  That was a smart, rabid crowd.

[(BP)]

Seeing Suzuki on an NJPW show clarified for me that he’s actually much easier to work with in foreign companies he’s passing through than in his home promotion. He spent the opening minutes of the six man just no selling Umino’s offense on the floor, like Brody/Luger style. But then he’ll earn it when he’s in there just eating heavy hands from Kingston and barely flinching. Murder Grandpa is a prick, but he’s also a BAMF. 

[J.T.]

The pop for Shibata was fucking nuts as was the pop for Okada's entrance.   Pro wrestling is so much better when it has an international feel to it.

I was just happy that Suzuki was on the winner's side of the fight purse this past weekend.  He has spent a lot of his street cred putting over AEW's guys.

Edited June 27, 2022 by J.T.

[Krone]

I'm glad everything worked out well. In a world full of politics, two wrestling promotions co-promoting a major PPV is absolutely awesome. Moxley touched on it in the post presser, but those old PWI's would put together dream WWF vs. WCW shows, but to actually follow through with something of that ilk, very impressive. Also was glad to hear Rocky Romero was a big reason for the relationship working so well. TK has no issues with giving flowers - just another reason to love that guy.

[Log]

Well, right as Orange/Osprey was getting under way, I heard a noise coming from my basement.  It was water pouring in from the windows.  It's happened before, but supposedly the problem was fixed.  Blah blah blah, construction on a new house behind us altered the runoff and caused my back and side yard to look like a lake.  Fun.

Anyhoo, up until that point, little man and I were having a blast with this show. He's a big Death Triangle fan, so he literally jumped up when Pac won. By the time I got the basement issue settled for the night, he had to go to bed. I watched the rest of the show.

I mean, other than the IWGP 4-way finish, as everyone has noted, this was just a stellar show.  There really wasn't a single result that had me disappointed. Well, I would've like to have seen Storm win the women's title, and I think a 20-minute draw might have been best for the Claudio/ZSJ match, but neither of those finishes really bugged me.

Like many of you have pointed out, that crowd was batshit. They popped huge for lots of stuff and stayed engaged the whole show. I really think that if that "Go Ace!" chant doesn't happen in the main, the finish would've been a bit anticlimactic. Also, the pop when Sting no-sold the superkicks from YB was HUGE.  There are plenty of examples of a dead crowd ruining a show, but Chicago may have made this one.

I'm not a guy who rewatches a lot of stuff. Not just wrestling, but movies, tv shows, whatever. I can't wait to rewatch some of this show with my son this evening, though.

[J.T.]

The only thing missing from Forbidden Door was Okada's full entrance.  I miss the golden dollars from the heavens raining on the crowd.  It's not that Okada has money, it's that Okada IS money.  Big matches need big entrances.

Edited June 27, 2022 by J.T.

[The Natural]

6 minutes ago, Log said:

Well, right as Orange/Osprey was getting under way, I heard a noise coming from my basement.  It was water pouring in from the windows.  It's happened before, but supposedly the problem was fixed.  Blah blah blah, construction on a new house behind us altered the runoff and caused my back and side yard to look like a lake.  Fun.

Anyhoo, up until that point, little man and I were having a blast with this show. He's a big Death Triangle fan, so he literally jumped up when Pac won. By the time I got the basement issue settled for the night, he had to go to bed. I watched the rest of the show.

I mean, other than the IWGP 4-way finish, as everyone has noted, this was just a stellar show.  There really wasn't a single result that had me disappointed. Well, I would've like to have seen Storm win the women's title, and I think a 20-minute draw might have been best for the Claudio/ZSJ match, but neither of those finishes really bugged me.

Like many of you have pointed out, that crowd was batshit. They popped huge for lots of stuff and stayed engaged the whole show. I really think that if that "Go Ace!" chant doesn't happen in the main, the finish would've been a bit anticlimactic. Also, the pop when Sting no-sold the superkicks from YB was HUGE.  There are plenty of examples of a dead crowd ruining a show, but Chicago may have made this one.

I'm not a guy who rewatches a lot of stuff. Not just wrestling, but movies, tv shows, whatever. I can't wait to rewatch some of this show with my son this evening, though.

Sorry to hear that, bud. Virtual hugs. I enjoy your posts about your viewing experiences with the wife and son.

[The Natural]

What a shot. Need more like it.

[Log]

It sure seems that this show was a success from a fan perspective.  I'm hoping that both companies feel the same way.  The only positive with all of the injuries is that it left a ton of great matchups on the table. 

Personally, while I loved this show, going forward I'd like to see the AEW/NJPW relationship bring us more one-off type matches on "normal" shows. Like, a couple NJ guys for All Out.  Maybe have Punk and Danielson on Wrestle Kingdom.  Stuff like that.  Don't get me wrong, I'd gladly take Forbidden Door II with healthy Punk, Danielson, Jungle Boy, Iishi, Hiromu, etc.

[Matt D]

Ok, I made it through the Claudio match. Quick thoughts.

• You knew the crowd was going to be great when QT got so much heat. The Solo spin kick into the diamond cutter was a very believable nearfall. QT's missed 450 was nuts. He should never hit that but he can miss a hubris splash now and again.
• I had no idea that Archer vs Comoroto was on this card but it was awesome. I would have liked to see him go back for the gorilla press again. I know some people who never saw Comoroto before that came off as impressed. Even Kelly was like "hey, this guy should be in next year's G1."
• Swerve/Lee tag had some good stuff and less good stuff. I still think Lee is wrestling pretty much exactly as he should for this roster, whether it's due to physical limitations or choice.
• Gunn Club match was weird. I half thought Bowens was going to get up and do something. Billy came off like a huge star and world beater. They could do Mox vs Gunn tomorrow and no one would blink (or at least they shouldn't). Nice to get Danhausen a moment.
• I'll write up the opener for tonight but I loved the set up/payoff for the machine gun chops with Suzuki no selling them and Jericho getting destroyed by them. Suzuki as the answer to Kingston was pretty great. Wish we had longer heat on Kingston instead of everything breaking down so early. Spots were good but it got to be a bit too much and choreographed by the time Yuta hit his splash. He had an otherwise great performance. It's obvious the BCC guys train together because he's an entirely different wrestler than a few months ago.
• I liked how in the triple threat tag, the two teams (or 1.5 teams) had to work together to take out the monsters. Little moments like Cash having to make the tag were good. Weird to have multiple Germans two matches in a row. Camera work on the finish was a little weird as they usually hide the big rig set up more. Bring on the AEW titles.
• I was kind of exhausted by the 4 way since it was multiman after multi man spot after spot all action so far, so it was a nice breather as they beat on Connors. Black and Miro interaction was fun. It was nice how the crowd got behind Connors in the end. PAC won to set up the UK show obviously but the crowd wanted Miro.
• I'll write up the Darby match tonight but by this point it was way too many multi-mans in a row. Way, way too many. And while this should have been a palette cleaner, it was an all action, spot-spot-spot one so it was just too much. Sting was great in it and everyone fed him well.
• Rosa vs Storm was ok. The final reckoning might be my favorite move in wrestling so nice to see Rosa take it on. She could do worse than be a Dustin tribute act. I'm starting to think she needs a heel turn too. It might have been Storm's moment but that's the problem with heating up a challenger in AEW. It almost always feels like the challenger should win.
• I quite liked Ospreay vs Cassidy, actually. I was a little bemused early that they left the antics so soon because Ospreay's reactions to them was something I was really looking forward to. Plus, it was Cassidy sort of turning them up from the get go. BUT they went back to it mid-match and Ospreay's face as he was getting weak-kicked was amazing. His kickout surprise face later, less so. Cassidy was so quick when it mattered and maybe i would have rather they dialed it back 5-10% it still worked for what they were doing. I used to say I had no time for Ospreay but I'd watch him against the right opponent now, especially a base. This should have been moved up three slots on the card to break things up though.
• The Claudio pop was amazing. Most people live their whole lives without having people cheer like that. I can't imagine he's going to look back in decades with any regrets for his decision to sign with AEW, even if he is a new father and is coming to the back part of his career. Just that pop. And you knew he knew it. Match was excellent. Claudio's selling was excellent. His basing so that ZSJ could put on his holds (especially that octopus on the top but not just) was excellent. He put the match over the moment by cutting the giant swing short which was a very mature decision. The moment with the cameraman was awesome. I wish we had heard what he had to say on the way out and they didn't have the announcers talk over it. There are ~50 people on the AEW roster I want to see Claudio wrestle. I counted. That's not even an exaggeration.

All that said, this was definitely not a show for me. I'd say that AEW shows usually have a lot more variety and this, either due to the need to fit so many people on the roster by forcing multi-mans or due to some aspect of the NJPW style that they were celebrating, was just spot after spot after spot after spot and while I appreciate it WAS for a lot of people, the first half really got old for me quickly, even if I'm not going to argue with the quality of what was being presented. Just not for me. I enjoyed the two singles at the end of what I saw though.