AEW & NJPW Forbidden Door Review – June 25, 2023
8 Man Tag Team Match
Mogul Embassy (Swerve Strickland, Brian Cage, Toa Liona & Kaun) vs. Chaos (Chuck Taylor, Trent Beretta & Rocky Romero) & El Desperado (Pre Show)
Roppongi Vice with some double team moves on Kaun before Chuck Taylor jumps in & hits Toa Liona with Sole Food and a boot. Mogul Embassy were all sent to the floor as Romero, El Desperado & Taylor all took turns doing dives capped by a Beretta moonsault.
Back inside Liona flattens Beretta with a pop up Samoan Drop to gain an advantage as Beretta remained isolated. Brian Cage connects with a Death Valley Driver on the apron but Liona missed a leaping senton & that allows Beretta to counter a lariat into a half & half.
Beretta dodged a charging Liona and made the hot tag to Desperado & he ran wild on Swerve Strickland. Desperado went after Strickland but Romero had to stop him so they could group hug and give the people what they want.
Desperado ate a pop up triple powerbomb and House Call kick by Strickland. Romero & Strickland slugged it out before everyone started hitting high impact moves in succession. Strickland misses Swerve Stomp and collides with Cage leading to Strickland being planted with Strong Zero for a two count.
Romero tried Sliced Bread but was met with Cage & he & Strickland hits a F5/Cutter combo follow by Swerve Stomp gets the win.
Winners: Mogul Embassy (12:23)
Rate: 6
Quarter Final Match Of The 2023 Women’s Owen Hart Cup
Athena vs. Billie Starkz (Pre Show)
Billie Starkz connects with a thrust kick and neckbreaker over the knee but Athena comes back with a kip up headscissors into the corner and trash talks the crowd then a snap suplex into a front face slam kept Athena in control as Starkz was punted in the ribs and struggled getting up.
Athena took her time climbing the ropes and ate a thrust kick in mid air & Starkz nails a Death Valley Bomb for a two count. Starkz went up top herself but was crotched as both ladies slug it out on the ropes until Athena hit a hurricanrana and pop up powerbomb.
Both ladies traded dropkicks and Starkz wanted to hit a Swanton Bomb but Athena rolls to the ring apron. Starkz went for the dive but Athena moves out of the way then rolls her back in and hits a slam piledriver for the win.
Winner: Athena (7:49) (She will face Willow Nightingale in the Semi Finals)
Rate: 7
El Phantasmo vs. Stu Grayson (Pre Show)
Stu Grayson was relentless on his attack early but El Phantasmo does a double leg then uses his speed to take over. ELP tried his springing rope walk but dove into a waiting Grayson but he caught him with a slam then we get a chop exchange that turns into a slap battle and slug fest until ELP went for the purple nurple.
Grayson didn’t stand for the nonsense and hits a slingshot senton on the apron. ELP misses a Lionsault as Grayson bails to the outside only to get caught with an tope before a senton off the top rope back inside the ring got ELP a two count then he goes for CRII but Grayson fights out of it by hitting a spinning slam.
ELP cuts off Grayson in the ropes and hits a super hurricanrana followed by Thunder Kiss 86 for a two count. Grayson ducks Sudden Death by planting ELP and connected on a 450 splash for a near fall of his own. Grayson signaled for Nightfall but ELP escapes with a springboard spinning DDT followed by CRII for the win.
Winner: El Phantasmo (7:14)
Rate: 6
Trios Match
United Empire (Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion TJP, Kyle Fletcher & Jeff Cobb) vs. Los Ingobernables De Japon (Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi & Bushi) (Pre Show)
United Empire attacks LIJ at the bell and isolated Bushi almost immediately out of the gate. Jeff Cobb connects with a standing moonsault but Bushi dropkicks the leg out and tags in Hiromu Takahashi & he ran wild. A shotgun dropkick sent TJP into Cobb but he caught Takahashi in his clutches with an overhead belly 2 belly.
Shingo Takagi made the tag and fired off forearms with Kyle Fletcher & he hits a half & half followed by a thrust kick before TJP hits Mamba Splash then goes for the cover but Takagi kicks out at two. Cobb & Takahashi and Fletcher & Bushi paired off outside as Takagi planted TJP with a pop up Death Valley Driver.
Takagi nails TJP with a Pumping Bomber then goes for the cover but Cobb broke the count. Takahashi & Bushi hit dueling dives as TJP avoids Last Of The Dragon but Takagi drills TJP to the mat with Made In Japan to get the win.
Winners: Los Ingobnrables De Japon (7:30)
Rate: 7
AEW World Title Match
MJF (c) vs. NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi
MJF mocks Hiroshi Tanahashi’s air guitar then he bails to the outside once Tanahashi took over and chants of coward reigned out with Tanahashi conducting the fans. MJF came back and wanted a handshake but Tanahashi didn’t fall for it so he slaps MJF silly.
MJF shielded himself with referee Bryce Remsburg and took control by draping Tanahashi over the top rope then Tanahashi rolls through a knee lift into a roll up but as he charges again but MJF locks in an abdominal stretch with the occasional hand on the top rope.
MJF finally got caught by trash talked Remsburg & he kicks the hand free to allow Tanahashi to build momentum & after hitting a somersault senton Tanahashi eventually hits Aces High as MJF tried a float over in the corner but was thrown off the top and followed by a Sling Blade.
Tanahashi again took too long trying to get his feet under him on the top rope allowing MJF to crotch him and follow with a superplex.
MJF going for Heat Seeker but Tanahashi fought out of it by landing right on his knee. MJF hit a double arm underhook shoulder breaker but did it on the bad knee & that hurts him in the process. MJF spat on and trash talk Tanahashi as he fired up only to be cut off with a poke to the eyes. MJF opted to flip off the crowd and turned into a dragon screw and Tanahashi Cloverleaf.
MJF got the ropes as Tanahashi responded with Twist & Shout and Sling Blade before going up top for High Fly Flow but MJF got the knees up. MJF rolls to the floor and wanted to use the AEW World Title but was caught by referee & Tanahashi had a visible pin on MJF, before MJF sends Tanahashi into the ref and hits a cheap shot with the Dynamite Diamond Ring to get the win.
Winner & Still AEW World Champion: MJF (15:46) (STILL CHAMPION!!!!)
Rate: 7
Quarter Final Match Of The 2023 Owen Hart Cup
CM Punk vs. Satoshi Kojima
Satoshi Kojima fired off shots in the corner & Punk charges at him but got hit with a hip toss & this allow Kojima to flex for the crowd. Punk fought back and mocks Kojima by sending him to the outside where both men traded chops.
Punk was sent over the ring attendant table and nearly took out ring announcer Dasha in the process. Back inside the ring a charging Kojima was caught by a leg lariat as Punk did the Hogan hand to the ear and a leg drop for a 2 count.
Punk hit 10 corner punches and very slowly picked Kojima apart by mocking him with corner lariats by yelling Kojima’s name. After throwing some chops & this woke up Kojima as he fired off Machine Gun Chops. Kojima nails Punk with an elbow drop off the top rope to the privates.
Punk blocks Koji Cutter as he hits a corner knee strike and hits a top rope elbow then Punk locks in Anaconda Vice but strikes to the head got Kojima free then more chops by Punk & he tried Go 2 Sleep but Kojima escaped into chops of his own leading to a Koji Cutter.
Punk countered the home run lariat into a neckbreaker & tries for Go 2 Sleep again but Kojima counters into a brainbuster. Kojima misses Lariat once more and Punk hits a high kick and Go 2 Sleep to get the victory.
Winner: CM Punk (13:40)
Rate: 7
International Title Fatal 4 Way Match
Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Television Champion Zack Sabre Jr vs. Katsuyori Shibata vs. Daniel Garica
After Orange Cassidy try his little kicks on everyone ZSJ Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garica plays hot potato with Cassidy’s leg. ZSJ & Shibata found themselves sent outside and Cassidy hits a dive as back inside everyone took turns trying submissions on Cassidy.
Garcia & ZSJ were about to fight when Shibata decided to take them both on. Garcia was getting shoved away until he opted to dance resulting in ZSJ & Shibata beating him down. All 4 men clocked each other with a series of big boots resulting in a 4 way big boot into the quadruple down.
Dueling Cobra Twists by ZSJ & Shibata then they opted to slap each other instead of holding on as Garcia & Cassidy got double sleepers then everyone took turns with suplexes, until Cassidy hits a Stundog Millionaire and spinning DDT on Garcia for a two count.
ZSJ wrenches at Cassidy’s wrist but was thrown into the ring post, as back inside Garcia clocks Shibata with the ROH Pure Title then goes for the cover but Shibata kicks out then Shibata started no selling forearms and nails Garcia with one of his own to set up the corner stalling dropkick.
Cassidy & Shibata faced off as they both sitting down and trading slaps. Shibata went for a home run shot but Cassidy faked the hands in the pockets and hits Orange Punch. Shibata flew at him with a strike. Cassidy hits Beach Break but ZSJ jumps in to stomp on the wrist.
ZSJ counters the Mouse Trap and a Stundog Millionaire but as ZSJ went for a submission as Shibata locks in a rear naked choke. Garcia distracted long enough to get booted to the outside and ZSJ to get the European Clutch but Garcia broke it up. Garcia plants ZSJ with a piledriver but Shibata nails with a PK then Cassidy appeared & he sends Shibata to the floor and got a crucifix pin on Garcia to get the victory.
Winner & Still International Champion: Orange Cassidy (11:27) (STILL CHAMPION!!!!!)
Rate: 7
IWGP World Heavyweight Title Match
Sanada (c) vs. Jack Perry
Jack Perry got a quick takedown and locks in a Snare Trap but Sanada got the rope break. Sanada tried regrouping outside but Perry hits a tope. Back inside both men tried the Paradise Lock with Sanada winning the exchange. Once free Perry tried a strike exchange but crumbled off a chop.
Perry nails Sanada with a lariat and Tiger Driver for a two count but Sanada responded with a neckbreaker into the double down then both men traded strikes again with Perry trying a crucifix but Sanada getting a fireman’s carry which Perry countered into Skull End but Sanada got the rope break and caught a charging Perry with a TKO for a two count.
Sanada misses the moonsault but lands on his feet then briefly got Skull End but Perry hits a poisonrana. Perry tried for the home run shot but Sanada ducks and got the swinging Skull End before Sanada spikes Perry with a poisonrana of his own followed by a Shining Wizard for a near fall then the moonsault to put Perry away.
Winner & Still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion: Sanada (10:49) (STILL CHAMPION!!!!)
Rate: 6
After the match FTW Champion HOOK helps Perry up the ramp and Hook held up Perry’s hand & he hits him with a lariat. Perry drops to his knees as he soaks in the boos and mocks the crowd waving their hands. Perry held up the FTW Title and tossed it at Hook. Perry stops at the top of the ramp and went the heel side to the back.
10 Man Tag Team Match
NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Champion Tomohiro Ishii, The Elite (Hangman Page, Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) & Eddie Kingston vs. Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta), Shota Umino & Konosuke Takeshita
Claudio Castagnoli bails from Eddie Kingston so Shota Umino & Hangman Page had a fast opening sequence then Tomohiro Ishii & Konosuke Takeshita jumps in and had an extended forearm battle and traded a series of shoulder blocks that neither sold until both men finally collapsed.
Young Bucks unleashed fast offense on everyone until it was Kingston & Jon Moxley standing face 2 face before Moxley threw the first forearm as Kingston lowered the straps and we had a chop battle. The exchange continued even when everyone else started brawling on the outside including a moonsault to the floor by Page.
Castagnoli finally got a cheap shot on Kingston to end the chop war with Wheeler Yuta picking up the pieces. Moxley had an open cheap shot on Kingston but just stared as it was Castagnoli following through with a boot.
Takeshita locks Kingston in a Camel Clutch and Ishii tried to break it up but Takeshita knocks Ishii out as a result. Kingston remained isolated until he blocks a boot from Castagnoli then hits a lariat and was about to make the tag when Moxley stood in front of him. The chop battle continued before both collided with lariats.
Ishii recovered and ran wild, countering a Castagnoli suplex into a brainbuster. Takeshita jumped in and hits a Helluva Kick then Umino hits a pop up knee but Ishii sent Moxley into Umino and plants him with a back suplex into the double down.
Page & Takeshita collided when Takeshita went for a Takeshita line and was caught with a roaring elbow. Page cleans house outside the ring and sent Takeshita into the awaiting arms of Young Bucks before hitting a running shooting star press off the apron. Page hits an top rope clothesline back inside on Takeshita for a two count.
Takeshita escapes Dead Eye but ate a triple kick by The Hung Bucks as Young Bucks misses BTE Trigger and clunked knees. Takeshita hits a double German suplex on Young Bucks & they recovered long enough for a Superkick Party. Moxley was about to be hit but Kingston took the bullet for his friend as Matt Jackson was planted by a Takeshita Blue Thunder Bomb for two count.
Takeshita nails Matt with a Cazadora suplex before Moxley & Umino hits Hart Attack then a Giant Swing by Castagnoli as Yuta hit the dropkick.
Castagnoli & Yuta went for the Rocket Launcher but Nick Jackson got just enough of Yuta in mid air to stop the move. Ishii made the tag and hit Yuta with a superplex as Kingston & Ishii sandwiched Yuta with lariats. Everyone started wiping each other out with moves ending in Castagnoli eating a spinning back fist from Kingston.
He gets hit with a Moxley Cutter then Yuta avoids a Buckshot Lariat from Page but was turn inside out by an lariat from Ishii then a Brainbuster on Yuta for the win.
Winners: NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Champion Tomohiro Ishii, The Elite & Eddie Kingston (21:29)
Rate: 9 (Recommend)
Women’s Title Match
Toni Storm (c) vs. Strong Women’s Champion Willow Nightingale
Toni Storm tried a sneak attack but Willow Nightingale hits a shotgun dropkick to send Storm outside where Ruby Soho & Saraya ran distraction. Nightingale was having none of it and sent both women into each other only for Storm to fly in with a hip attack.
Saraya & Soho got in their cheap shots as Storm took control back inside with a snap suplex. Nightingale fought out of a full nelson into a spinning slam to create some distance to recover & while on the apron Storm tried for Storm Zero but Nightingale counters into a Death Valley Driver on the apron.
Back inside the ring Nightingale hit a running Death Valley Driver but as she went for a moonsault as the referee saw The Outcasts throw Storm a spray paint can so he tosses both ladies but Nightingale misses the moonsault then a snap DDT, Sweet Cheeks Music and another DDT connected for Storm then goes for the pin but Nightingale kicks out.
Nightingale started hulking up and drops Storm with a spinebuster before locking in a Figure 4. Storm escapes & wanted Sweet Cheeks Music again but Nightingale Pounced her to the floor. Back inside the ring Nightingale hits a series of corner lariats but Storm pulls the ref in front of her. Storm got an eye rake then hits Storm Zero to put Nightingale away.
Winner & Still Women’s Champion: Toni Storm (10:27) (STILL CHAMPION!!!!!)
Rate: 6
IWGP United States Title Match
Kenny Omega (c) vs. Will Ospreay
Will Ospreay was warned early about high chops to the throat as each man countered One Winged Angel & OsCutter into the stalemate. Thumb to the eye and chops by Ospreay & he plays to the crowd and allows Kenny Omega to hit a hurricanrana and You Can’t Escape.
Ospreay bails and Omega wanted his Terminator Dive but Don Callis hooks the leg and the security stepped in front of him. The referee ejected Callis as Ospreay hit a slingshot dive and drove Omega knee first into the steps. Back inside the ring a spinning backbreaker led to a delayed vertical suplex to keep Ospreay in control.
A counter of an Omega hip toss into the Cobra Twist led to a misdirect dropkick to the knee of Ospreay followed by the Kotaro Crusher. Ospreay exploded out with a wall walk enzuigiri as he drapes Omega on the top rope and hits a Shooting Star followed by an OsCutter onto the apron.
Ospreay wants revenge for Omega driving his head through the table at Wrestle Kingdom, so Ospreay did the same thing by violently slamming Omega into it & it busted him open in the process. Back inside the ring Ospreay was relentless by licking Omega’s blood off his forearm. Omega tried to fight back but collapsed thanks to a roaring elbow. Ospreay connected with V Trigger then grabs the Canadian flag and wipes his ass with the flag before Omega fired off a lariat then chokes Ospreay over the top with the flag.
A running start V Trigger nearly sent Omega himself over the barricade leading to Omega slamming Ospreay repeatedly head first into the steps causing Ospreay to bleed . Omega followed with a DDT on the steps as back inside Omega tries a triangle choke but Ospreay powers up into a powerbomb.
Both men trade a series of release German suplexes with Omega hitting a V Trigger but Ospreay answering with a Spanish Fly for a two count then Ospreay locks on the Sharpshooter but transitioned into a crossface but Omega got a rope break as Ospreay delivered Kawada Kicks and chops until Omega tried to fire back but had nothing behind his strikes.
Violent thrust kicks from Ospreay then he tries OsCutter but was caught with a knee in mid air. Snap Dragons, knee strike to the back, poisonrana and spike piledriver combo got Omega a two count. Omega connects with the leg trapped neckbreaker and V Trigger to the corner as they went up the ropes where Omega wanted an Avalanche One Winged Angel but Ospreay escaped into the Cheeky Nandos. Omega rolls to the outside where Ospreay immediately hits Sky Twister Press.
Back inside, Ospreay hit a springboard forearm to the back, as Ospreay wanted Hidden Blade but Omega ducks it & tried a lariat but Ospreay floated over into a Liger Bomb. Top rope OsCutter connected for a two count as Omega counters Storm Breaker into almost a Dead Eye. Don Callis came back to the ring.
Omega hit repeated knees, as Callis clutched Ospreay and there was a tug of war with him between Callis & Omega then the referee steps in as Callis handed Ospreay the screwdriver and Ospreay nails Omega with it before hitting Hidden Blade and Storm Breaker for a two count Omega got a foot on the rope. Ospreay hits V Trigger and One Winged Angel but Omega kicks out at 1.
A slugfest ensued with Ospreay hitting a hook kick but Omega answers with a brainbuster. Omega hits Croyts Wrath then goes for a pin but it gets a two count then both men countered each others finishers, as Ospreay hit a ripcord Hidden Blade and a Tiger Driver 91 followed by another Hidden Blade and Storm Breaker for the win.
Winner & New United States Champion: Will Ospreay (39:50) (NEW CHAMPION!!!!!)
Rate: 20 (Recommend)
Trios Match
La Suzuki Gods (Chris Jericho, Minoru Suzuki & Sammy Guevara) vs. Sting, Darby Allin & Tetsuya Naito
Tetsuya Naito did some stalling but Sammy Guevara responded with a dropkick then a kip up and pose. Naito chucks Guevara to the floor and answered with his Tranquillo pose. Both men turned on the speed briefly before Darby Allin & Minoru Suzuki tags in. Allin dared Suzuki to hit him & Suzuki did hit him. Allin nearly got a pin off a Rear Naked Choke before Sting made the tag and Chris Jericho screamed for a tag.
Suzuki reluctantly did, thus robbing us of a Suzuki & Sting face off as Suzuki attacks from behind and everyone brawled. Sting & Jericho slug it out in the ring before Jericho mocks a Sting howl and ended in a Scorpion Death Lock as a result. Guevara came flying in with a cutter off the top and really folded Sting up then Le Suzuki Gods did a trio pose.
Sting fought back and tags in Allin & he ran wild with a Code Red on Guevara for a two count. Jericho distracted long enough for Guevara to hit a top rope Spanish Fly as both Allin & Guevara clonked heads into the double down. Naito & Jericho are in & Jericho counters Gloria into a sleeper as Guevara & Suzuki locked in sleepers of their own on Allin & Sting.
Everyone spilled outside where Allin hit a fast dive on Suzuki but when he went at Jericho, he ate a mid air Judas Effect. We missed Sting crashing into the barricade as Jericho pull a table from under the ring then sets Sting on the table. Jericho demanded Guevara put Sting through it and he reluctantly obliged with a 630 Splash on Sting through the table.
Naito got knees up to avoid a Lionsault but Jericho countered Destino into a Walls Of Jericho. Sting rose from in a Scorpion Death Lock until Suzuki appears and traps Sting in a Rear Naked Choke. Naito broke it up but gets hit with Codebreaker for a two count. Suzuki & Naito went at it until Sting & Naito work together to lead to a Naito roll up on Suzuki for the win.
Winners: Sting, Darby Allin & Tetsuya Naito (15:09)
Rate: 6
NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Champion Kazuchika Okada vs. Bryan Danielson
Bryan Danielson escaped the grips of Kazuchika Okada early and tried for the Romero Special but stomps on the knees instead then the match spilled outside where Okada hits a big boot that sent Danielson into the crowd. Danielson anticipated the draping DDT and posted Okada. Danielson hit a running dropkick through the ropes and follow up diving knee off the apron.
Danielson zoned in on the right shoulder, then opted for chops which just woke Okada up as he no sold leading to a huge flapjack as a big boot drops Danielson as Okada hit a leaping corner splash and DDT for a two count. Danielson was placed in the corner and Okada dropkicks him to the outside where Danielson reversed a whip into the railing. Danielson misses a charge into the crowd and Okada hits a charging crossbody over the barricade.
Back inside Okada locks in Money Clip and turned it into a Air Raid Crash. Okada wants an avalanche Landslide but Danielson fought out and hits a missile dropkick. Both men trade a long series of uppercuts that get more intense as it goes on until Okada fired off a shotgun dropkick.
Danielson answered with a release German suplex and hit a series of running boots in the corner with the 3rd Okada answering with a dropkick. Danielson ducks a Rainmaker but Okada hits another dropkick. Okada wanted a top rope elbow drop but Danielson caught him with a Disarmer into the LeBell Lock.
Okada used his height to get the rope break as Danielson punts him to the floor. Danielson nearly dove into the clutches of a Rainmaker but instead hit a charging dropkick and Yes Kicks. Okada caught the home run shot and connected with a Tombstone on the ramp.
Okada brought Danielson back to the ring, as this time Okada hit the top rope elbow and did his Rainmaker pose. Danielson went dead weight as referee Bryce Remsburg calls the doctor in the ring as Danielson is convulsing but the doctor just leaves as Okada tried to go to Danielson, who was playing possum and hits Busaiku Knee into the double down.
Danielson flips out of a German suplex and hits another Busaiku Knee before opting to kick Okada’s head in then tries to apply a LeBell Lock with one arm but he couldn’t get it so a head kick connects as Danielson did the Yes Chants but ran into an dropkick from Okada then he nails Landslide & Rainmaker for a two count.
Both men ducked a finisher attempt as Danielson got the LeBell Lock is in & Danielson used his legs to wrap up Okada in such a crazy way that Okada had no choice but to tap out.
Winner By Submission: Bryan Danielson (27:47)
Rate: 10 (Recommend)
