Join 411’s Live AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2026 Coverage

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Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage of AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door, I’m Robert Winfree and I’ll be your host. Forbidden Door is usually a fun enough event with some decent crossover matches so let’s see what’s on the docket. The main event is pure chaos as Mark Briscoe, Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly, Konosuke Takeshita, and Darby Allin team up to take on Maxwell Jacob Friedman, Kevin Knight, Kyle Fletcher, Jake Doyle, Kazuchika Okada, and Andrade El Idolo. The whole point there is if Briscoe’s team wins he’ll get a title shot for MJF’s AEW world title. As mentioned, expect lots of chaos there. We’ve also got the Owen Hart Cup final matches, Mercedes Mone takes on Maya World and Will Ospreay battles Swerve Strickland. Ospreay and Swerve should be a great match, with Swerve leaning heel these days and Ospreay throwing his lot in with the Death Riders in a bid to finally win the big one in Wembley. Jon Moxley defends the Continental title against Bandido, Pac gets a crack at the IWGP Global title held by Shota Umino, Thekla defends the AEW women’s title against Starlight Kid as well. There’s also a three way tag match with the Middle Aged Bucks taking on El Sky Team of Mistico and Mascara Dorada along with Shingo Takagi and Titan as the third team. Cope and Cage will defend the tag belts against The Dogs of David Finlay and Clark Connors. All in all it’s a solid card on paper, if maybe a little over stuffed. Forbidden Door tends to be a fun event though rarely sees major shifts in titles, so let’s see how tonight plays out.

Zero Hour results:
Dan Moloney defeated Daniel Garcia
Maika defeated Skye Blue
Divine Dominion (Megan Bayne and Lena Kross) defeated Thunder Rosa and Olympia to retain the AEW women’s tag team titles

Match #1 – Three Way Tag Team Match: Young Bucks (Nick and Matt Jackson) vs. El Sky Team (Mistico and Mascara Dorada) vs. Unbound Co. (Shingo Takagi and Titan)

OK we’re doing only two men in at a time but free for all tags. Titan and Mistico start, we get a hand shake then Titan with a dropkick and lays in kicks. Mistico with a springboard crossbody then a head scissors take over. Mistico to the apron, lands a gamen giri then a springboard hurricanrana. Dorada tags in, as does Nick. Dorada with some acrobatics early, Nick with a few of his own, both men miss kicks then kip up for a stare off. Both men shake hands then we get a tie up, Matt tags in and that sets up the Bucks to double team Dorada. Shingo shows up to take a dropkick. Matt with a buckle bomb as Nick lays in kicks, then a double stomp from Nick on top of it. Dorada tries a crossbody, he’s caught but fights out of that and hits a springboard arm drag on both men. Shingo tags in off of Matt and he bullies Dorada a bit with his size and power edge. Corkscrew head scissors from Dorada but Shingo then runs over him with a shoulder block. Titan tags in and boots Dorada in the ribs. Dorada takes chops then Shingo with a suplex and Titan follows with a springboard splash for a 2 count.

Dorada superkicks Titan then tags in Mistico who gets to run wild on Shingo and Titan. Nick and Matt show up to run through several of their usual spots. Titan avoids a double superkick and hits a double hurricanrana. Shingo holds Nick and Matt on the floor, Titan climbs up top but Dorada kicks him and climbs up. Mistico with a couple of kicks as well, then then kind of screw up Dorada using Mistico to jump up to the top and hurricanrana Titan onto the pile on the floor. That was almost quite nasty. Back in the ring Titan is isolated, Dorada tags in off of Mistico and Titan takes double team offense from Dorada and Mistico. Matt tags in off Titan, Dorada disposes of Nick then tries a twisting arm drag but Matt counters into the repeating Northern Lights suplexes. Shingo punches away at Matt then hits a DDT. Shingo tags in off of Dorada then he and Titan hit a Death Sentence for a 2 count. Titan tags in but Matt fights off both of them including a Shiranui to Titan and a DDT to Shingo.

Nick tags in and gets to hit the usual stuff on Shingo and Titan. Mistico tags off Nick and hits a few offensive spots on the Bucks, then he and Dorada with the double 619 to them. Superkicks to Titan and Shingo, that sets up mistico to springboard onto the pile, then Dorada follows with a second rope Shooting Star press to the floor. Back in the ring Dorada lines up Titan and tries a rolling Code Red, that’s countered and we get everyone throwing superkicks but Shingo cares not and lands a bunch of clotheslines. Eventually a quadruple superkick puts Shingo down, then on for Titan. Time for everyone to hit a Canadian Destroyer, because that’s cool and not played out at all. Eventually Shingo recovers and hits corner attacks for a bit before Mistico counters, gets him up top, and climbs up with him for a Spanish Fly but Matt flies in with an elbow drop to break it up. Double stomp from Titan, 450 Splash from Nick, and Dorada then hits a Shooting Star press onto a couple of guys. That leads to Shingo and Mistico squaring up, La Mistica locked in on Shingo but the Bucks break it up.

Shingo and Mistico trade strikes but Titan shows up to complicate things. Double team pop up knee from Unbound Company, Titan with a DDT to Mistico then Shingo follows with a slam and titan with a double stomp but Nick shows up to break up the pin. Nick with superkicks, then he tags in off of Mistico. Unbound and the Bucks square up with the Bucks landing kicks. Dorada kicks Shingo, then the Bucks with a double superkick to him. Titan fights from the apron but gets caught and takes a TK Driver for the predictable Bucks win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: The Young Bucks won in 17:43

Rating: 3 stars
Thoughts: This lost a bit of steam down the stretch as the spot fest nature really set in. The lack of actual cohesion hurt this, and we’ve just seen a million of these kinds of matches especially from the Bucks before. This was just another one, nothing really special or interesting here. Trim this down to 15 or a little under and the overall rating probably goes up and is a tad less silly.

Match #2: Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Omega’s got a lot of energy early, Sabre is super calm. They fight over a tie up, Omega avoids a takedown but Sabre counters with a fat man roll then tries an arm attack but Omega counters into a roll up for 2. Test of strength spot, both men try outside reaps but neither goes down, then Sabre rolls into a wrist lock. Omega is able to spin out of that then Sabre with an uppercut that corners Omega. Neck wrench from Sabre then a dropkick and he might be aiming at the neck now. Corner uppercut from Sabre but then he runs into a boot from Omega. Omega with a hurricanrana and Sabre powders. Plancha from Omega connects then he rams Sabre into the ring steps. A bit of ringside brawling from Omega but Sabre counters into a finger yank, then a modified double wrist lock and he slams the arm of Omega over the barricade. The right arm of Omega is compromised now, he fires chops and seems to recover then bounces Sabre off the announce tables a few times. Omega can’t out wrestle Sabre but he might be able to out brawl him.

Omega drops the top of an announce table onto Sabre, then follows with a double stomp from the apron. Sabre gets put on the Spanish announce table, Omega tries to suplex him onto the other table but Sabre blocks that, Omega with elbows and a chop. Again Sabre blocks the suplex and grabs an Octopus Hold on the table, then pulls back into a wrestlers guillotine or a twister submission and both men tumble to the floor. That was a little awkward but they rolled with it. Sabre puts the sign top back on the announce table, because he’s a gentleman and a scholar. Omega on the apron, and Sabre with a stomp to the right arm again and Omega sells it like agony. Sabre now gets to isolate and attack the arm of Omega. Uppercuts from Sabre but Omega fires up and lands a left handed chop, Sabre just boots him a few times to corner him again then hit a Helluva Kick, but when trying to do it again Omega intercepts with a Helluva Kick of his own. Leaping leg drop from Omega, then a kick to the ribs.

Sabre rolls outside, Omega with the Terminator dive to wipe him out. Back in the ring Omega is slow to get up top, his right arm is still bothering him but he gets there and hits a dropkick for a 2 count. Michinoku Driver into a neckbreaker over the knee from Omega, more of a Quackendriver 3 there. Omega is slow to follow up and Sabre grabs the right arm then hits an armbreaker over the shoulder a few times. Elbow from Omega but that right arm doesn’t hurt Sabre now and Sabre just hits him back. Southpaw chop from Omega, that has an effect, but Sabre responds with a bevy of uppercuts only to turn into a knee strike. Sabre with a palm strike, Omega then hits a snap Dragon suplex and both men are down. Omega lines up another snap Dragon suplex, that connects. Knees to the body from Omega, he really has a lovely way of throwing those. Sabre counters a Dragon suplex into a roll up for 2, Omega then rolls through for an armbar. Sabre fights to keep the arm from extending then rolls free and kicks Omega in the teeth. Hard kick from Sabre, but Omega fires up and catches a second one then tries a snap Dragon suplex but Sabre counters into a Fujiwara armbar then transitions around into an armbar but Omega rolls into the ropes to break the hold.

Now Sabre goes after the arm again with a stomp. Omega with another left handed chop but Sabre laughs that off, so Omega hits him again but Sabre then kicks the arm of Omega, but Omega comes off the ropes with a V-Trigger. Omega can’t lift Sabre, his right arm is torn apart. Sabre with a couple boots but he runs into a lariat, Omega struggles to follow up though because his arm is still messed up. Corner V-Trigger from Omega, then he puts Sabre on his shoulders. Omega climbs up, he’s going for an avalanche Croyt’s Wrath but Sabre counters into a rear naked choke, Omega can only fall backwards to the mat to break it and both men are down.

It’s Omega up to his feet first, he hits a sick knee to the face of Sabre. Another knee from Omega, he wants a third one but Sabre catches that one into an Ankle Lock. Omega is able to kick free but Sabre punts him, Omega then comes back with a knee strike, a V-Trigger followed by a Poisoned Rana all get a 2 count on a bad cover from Omega. Sabre avoids a V-Trigger and with the European Clutch for a near fall. Cactus style piledriver from Omega stuns Sabre, then another V-Trigger. Sabre avoids a One Winged Angel with a pin for 2, then hits a Zack Driver but only finds a near fall. Really nice sequence there.

Sabre goes for the arm of Omega again then both men trade slaps. That devolves and Omega hits a snap Dragon suplex, a V-Trigger but Sabre counters a One Winged Angel into a triangle choke. Sabre switches towards an armbar, back to the triangle, but Omega powerbombs his way free. Wrist clutch knee strike from Omega, then finally hits the One Winged Angel to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Kenny Omega won in 26:26

Rating: 4.5 stars
Thoughts: Well that was a ton of fun. Sabre trying to keep things technical, having a plan of attack for the arm of Omega, but Omega being able to brawl early enough to get Sabre just a little compromised. Once the bombs started dropping Sabre just wasn’t equipped for that kind of fight, he’s better about being methodical and breaking you down then snatching a counter while Omega is happy to just see who’s got the heavier artillery. Nice blend of technical stuff and Omega’s more striking based stuff. It’s no surprise these two still work very well together.

Match #3 – AEW Continental Title Match: (c) Jon Moxley vs. Bandido

Tie up, Bandido goes to a front headlock but Mox counters into a top wrist lock. Bandido is able to flip free and make a gun point at Mox. Another tie up, Bandido with an arm wringer, Mox counters and flips off Bandido. Both men play to the crowd for a bit, then Bandido hits the ropes but can’t knock Mox over. Mox with a kick then hits the ropes for a brief sequence. Time to trade chops while toeing the line. That’s going to favor the bigger man in Mox as they trade back and forth. Bandido hits a dropkick to send Mox out of the ring, Mox avoids a dive then kicks the knee to send Bandido out of the ring and he follows with a suicide dive. Mox sends Bandido back into the ring and Bandido just hits the ropes then dives onto Mox.

Back in the ring Bandido runs into boots out of the corner that floors the leaping Bandido. Mox tosses Bandido out of the ring then follows him and pulls the ring steps into a better position. Both men climb the steps, Mox is after the piledriver on the steps and hits it. Mox gets back in the ring and will take a count out win if he can get it but the ref is still checking on Bandido. Bandido is cut just above his mask, so Mox bites it then tears at his mask a bit. Back into the ring Mox again tears the mask so we can actually see the blood. Some kicks from Mox, then a clothesline. Mounted punches from Mox then elbows as well. Bandido pulls himself up in the corner but Mox just goes for a 10 punch, he keeps trying but Bandido counters into a tossing powerbomb and both men are down.

Both men trade strikes again, Mox resorts to biting the head again. Bandido with a boot then a corkscrew press. Bandido is fired up now and unloads on Mox in the corner with a 10 punch. Shotgun dropkick from Bandido, then a Shining Wizard for a 2 count. Mox looks like he’s got a small cut around his right eyebrow, then he runs into a one armed Military Press from Bandido, Bandido up top and tries a Frog Splash but Mox gets the knees up to block. Both men trade boots now, Bandido misses one but Mox sells anyway. Rotating German suplex from Bandido, he wants the 21 Plex but runs into a lariat. Death Rider connects but only a near fall. Mox pulls Bandido up top, he wants an avalanche Death Rider, might have been aiming to the floor, but Bandido fights back and bites Mox then hits a lovely Revolution Fly for his own near fall.

Bandido tries a 21 Plex but Mox counters into a Sleeper, Bandido tries to counter into a pin but Mox gets the Bulldog Choke. Mox switches to landing blows then grabs a rear naked choke, Bandido bases up with Mox on his back and stands then tries to slam free but this time it doesn’t work and Mox keeps the choke to put Bandido out.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Jon Moxley retained the title in 18:10

Rating: 3.5 stars
Thoughts: Fun little match, Bandido was never winning but he put up a heck of a fight. Mox got to be a bully but also succeeded at sucking Bandido into his kind of match where Bandido was never going to thrive.

Post match Mox puts down the belt and offers Bandido a handshake, Bandido accepts and Mox gives respect before heading out with the belt.

Match #4 – IWGP Global Heavyweight Title Match: (c) Shota Umino vs. Pac

Pac attacks right away and stomps on Shota in the corner. They head out of the ring and Pac tosses Shota around the barricades for a bit then hits a scoop slam on the floor. Again Shota is sent into the barricades by Pac. Back in the ring Pac goes up top for a dropkick then a kip up, that leads to Pac finding barely a 2 count. Pac grabs a chin lock, then hits the ropes and lands a boot but Shota seems only a little annoyed by this. Pac then runs into a dropkick. Shota tries to rally the crowd, not really a thing, but he starts unloading in the corner. Pag fights back with chops, Shota cares not for Pac’s strikes and resumes abusing him with elbows and chops. Uppercut from Shota then a bridging Fisherman’s Suplex for a 2 count. Sunset flip from Shota then he hits a lovely diving DDT over the ropes to spike Pac on the apron.

The ref is counting and Shota takes his time sending Pac back into the ring, Pac rolls all the way across and back to the floor. Shota runs around the ring for a vicious shotgun dropkick to launch Pac into the barricade, then he follows up with a draping DDT on the floor that would make Randy Orton proud. Back in the ring now and Shota with a release powerbomb, that was mean, but only a 2 count on the cover. Again Shota tries to rally the crowd, a little more success this time, but he runs into an overhead belly to belly into the corner from Pac. Pac stomps away on the downed Shota then goes under the ring to find a table. Shota rolls out and attacks Pac to stop him from setting up the table. Oh no, Shota picks up the table and sets it up which means he’s the one going through it. Pac superkicks Shota once the table is set up, then he climbs to the apron, kicks Shota again then hits a gorgeous top rope springboard moonsault.

Back in the ring Pac stalks Shota then puts him up top, climbs up with him and hits an avalanche belly to belly suplex for a 2 count. Pac mocks Shota for a bit then they trade elbows, Pac seems to have more firepower right now. Shota gets rocked by an elbow and drops, Pac then plays with the crowd. Some kicks to the head from Pac, Shota gets annoyed by this and we get back to trading elbows. Shota seems more steady now and removes his elbow pad as they keep battering each other. Back kick from Pac but Shota then drops Pac with a hard elbow. Rebound German suplex from Pac, then another one and Pac then powerbbombs Shota over the top rope and through Chekov’s table on the floor Awesome Bomb style. As usual, he who sets it gets it.

Back in the ring Pac up top, 450 Splash but only a near fall. Pac immediately into a Brutalizer off that kick out. Shota struggles, he wont give up but he’s really stuck. Eventually Shota rolls and gets a foot on the ropes to force the break. Pac goes up top again, he misses a flying nothing then Shota cleans his clock with a rolling elbow and a headbutt to set up a running knee strike for his own near fall. Pac with a Poisoned Rana, then a thrust kick but Shota pops him up then comes off the ropes with a lariat for another near fall. Paradigm Shift from Shota, then a Second Chapter to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Shota Umino retained the title in 18:11

Rating: 3 stars
Thoughts: A little overlong and a tad spotty in lay out. The lack of investment by the crowd in Shota hurt this too, it’s to his and Pac’s credit that they got the crowd with them by the end of it. I’m also not the biggest fan of wrestlers just kind of recovering from some of the spots these two pulled out. The other major knock would be the lack of drama, Shota was pretty much never losing this match.

Post match Mox and Marina Shafir come down, Mox gets face to face with Shota but then down comes Hiroshi Tanahashi of all people. Mox doesn’t seem interested and disengages from the ring while Tanahashi gets to the ring. Tanahashi puts the belt on Shota and celebrates with him.

Match #5 – AEW Women’s World Title Match: (c) Thekla vs. Starlight Kid

Stardom President Taro Okada is ringside in the crowd for this one, he and Thekla have a ton of dislike for each other. Some slow circling to start, Starlight then hits the ropes and lands a dropkick to send Thekla to the floor. Thekla takes her time getting back into the ring then misdirects to kick Starlight. Some stomps from Thekla then she tears at the mask of Starlight. Starlight gets pissed and lays in mounted elbows to Thekla. Thekla with a kick through the ropes then a pose but Starlight dropkicks her to the floor. Thekla yanks Starlight off the apron to block an asai moonsault. Now Thekla rams Starlight into the barricade beside the announce tables. Punches from Thekla then she rams Starlight into the barricade again. Thekla mocks Taro and goes to hit him but Starlight blocks that and slap Thekla. That annoys Thekla and she kicks away at Starlight before sending things back into the ring.

Thekla plays with the crowd then she tosses Starlight around for a bit. Seated superkick from Thekla gets a 2 count. Starlight fights back with a springboard crossbody. Standing moonsault from Starlight gets a 2 count. Starlight goes after the knee of Thekla with a leg drop then a few attacks through the ropes including a reverse Dragon Screw. Stretch Muffler attempt from Starlight but Thekla attacks the eyes to save herself. Thekla gets a reverse headscissors hanging over the ropes for a bit, then she heads up top but Starlight jumps up with her for an arm drag. Starlight goes up top, Thekla whacks her then climbs up top and hits the Spider superplex. Starlight pops up and dropkicks Thekla as Thekla was hanging out on the top rope. Both women move to the apron, she wants a Tiger suplex but Thekla fights free only to run into a gorgeous knee strike. Next a Black Tiger’s Divine Punishment, it’s a Northern Lights Bomb, on the apron.

Back in the ring Starlight with a cross legged bridging Fisherman’s suplex for a near fall. Starlight goes up top but misses a moonsault. Thekla with a Spear, but misses a Stomp and Starlight follows up with a running dropkick to the back. They go face to face on their knees and star trading elbows as both women fight up to their feet. A few more elbows from Starlight, she gets Thekla down to a knee then slaps her but runs into a hard elbow from Thekla. Thekla with a knee in the ropes, then a running knee through the ropes. Thekla up top, crossbody for a 2 count. Time for the bridge pose from Thekla, then she charges into a dropkick to the knee from Starlight.

Starlight into a Stretch Muffler Dos, she starts swinging with the hold to tighten it up. Thekla is able to scramble to the ropes and save herself from that hold. Thekla’s right knee should be toast, Starlight hits Divine Punishment again this time more of a Tombstone version, but only a near fall. Starlight up top, moonsault connects but still only a near fall. Thekla avoids a Tiger Suplex and does a bridging O’Connor Roll for her own near fall. Both women trade elbows, Thekla then hits another Spear but again only a near fall. Stomp from Thekla, but no cover and she yells at Starlight then Stomps again to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Thekla retained the title in 18:42

Rating: 4 stars
Thoughts: These two worked their butts off and really got the crowd into this by the end of it. The biggest thing holding the match back was again the obvious outcome, this was another match with a very obvious outcome. Starlight still delivered despite never really having a prayer of winning. Thekla’s character work is top notch as usual.

Post match Skye Blue and Julia Hart come down, they give Thekla scissors and she unmasks Starlight then hits Taro with it.

Match #6 – AEW Tag Team Title Match: (c) Cope and Cage (Adam Copeland and Christian Cage) vs. The Dogs (David Finlay and Clark Connors)

Cage is still rocking the brace on his left forearm. Clark and Cage start things off, they tie up then break without incident. Another tie up, they hit the corner and Clark misses a cheap shot on the break as Cage just walks away from him. Knee from Clark then he starts laying in strikes. Back kick from Cage then a diving Sunset Flip for a 2 count and we get a stare off. Both men tag out so Finlay and Cope can square up. They tie up, Cope corners Finlay for a bit but they then break clean. Another tie up, Cope grabs a side headlock then shoulder blocks Finlay down and grabs another headlock. Finlay is able to switch into his own headlock then hits a shoulder block but misses an elbow drop. Drop toe hold from Cope then he tags in Cage. Classic double team from Cope and Cage, then Cage slams Clark’s head into Finlay’s crotch. Cage with a 10 punch in the corner on Clark. Finlay tries to beg off and asks for a hand shake, Cage reads the attack from behind but winds up posting himself and his left arm is messed up now.

Clark attacks the arm of Cage on the floor. Finlay sends Cage back into the ring and starts dropping knees to the back arm. More arm work from Finlay. Finlay corners Cage in the heel corner and stomps on him, then he asks for heat and gets a bit of it. Clark tags in and resumes attacking the bad arm of Cage. Cage with some punches but he runs into a Divorce Court from Clark. Finlay tags in but runs into a back body drop. Cage tries to tag out but Finlay still blocks it and does an arm wrench takedown. Some elbows from Finlay then Clark with a lit match to grind into Cage’s face as the ref wasn’t looking. Well that got some heat at least as the crowd is a little quiet. Cage fights out of the heel corner but Clark yanks Cope off the apron to prevent the tag.

Finlay tosses Cage out of the ring and rams his bad arm into the ring steps, then the heels put the bad arm under the steps and Clark comes running but Cope cuts him off. Cope snaps Finlay over the ropes then helps Cage back into the ring. Cope back up and wants the hot tag, Finlay tries to stop Cage but Cage with a thumb to the eyes then tags Cope. Now Cope gets to run wild with his usual offense including an Impaler DDT to Finlay for a 2 count. Cope lines up a Spear, but Finlay hops over him then Clark and Finlay with a double shoulder block to floor Cope. Cage yanks Clark out of the ring to block a double team, Cope then boots Finlay. Cage gets his rope spot in, Cope follows with a splash but Clark then yanks Cage down and rams him into the barricade. Cope menaces Clark but Clark lures him into a High Low which only gets a 2 count. Clark goes up top, they want the Full Clip but Cope suplexes Finlay who winds up knocking Clark off the top and to the floor. Cope runs into a knee but then Finlay runs into a pop up Spear as Cage came running over but Clark shoves Cage into the ref to give us a ref bump.

Clark and Cope stare down across the ring, both men want the Spear and they just run into each other to put themselves down. Finlay gets a shillelagh and wallops Cage with it. Shillelagh shot for Cope is lined up, but the lights go out and when they come back on the second most obnoxious group is here of the Bang Bang Gang. Also here’s Jay White in the ring to drill Finlay with a Blade Runner. Cope is happy to take that assist, then kills Finlay with a Spear and that’ll do it.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Cope and Cage retained the titles in 16:46

Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: I appreciate the work here but for the first time we’ve reached a match I don’t think needed to be here. They could have had this same match on TV and likely had a better crowd that hadn’t been half burned out, also this could have been shorter without losing a whole lot. The finish was our first bit of overbooking that kind of made my eyes roll as well.

Match #7 – Women’s Owen Hart Cup Finals Match: Mercedes Mone vs. Maya World

Some early pie faces from Mone, Maya shoves her back then grabs a backslide for 2. More roll ups from Maya but she can’t find more than a loose 2 count. They trade counters for a bit then hit the ropes with Maya cartwheeling over Mone. Maya cartwheels out of a headsicssors and does the stupid Mone dance. Drop toe hold from Maya then a kick. Misdirection from Maya sends Mone out of the ring then Maya with a cannonball senton to the floor. Mone with a kick when trying to be sent back into the ring. Back in the ring Maya avoids a clothesline then does the arm drag into an attempted Statement Maker but Mone counters that to stay safe. Mone is flustered by Maya’s constant counters but we get something of a break as Maya fixes her top before Mone kicks her out of the ring. Back in the ring Maya bridges out of a cover but Mone just yanks her back down by the hair. Maya blocks a corner knee attack then tries a Small Package but rolls through into a suplex.

Looks like Maya fixed whatever was up with her wardrobe. Maya heads up top, Mone attacks her and climbs up there, after some jockeying Mone drops Maya across the top then hits a Meteora onto the apron. Another Meteora from Mone, this time to the floor. Back in the ring Mone with another Meteora into a rana pin for a 2 count. Some snapmares from Mone then a running Meteora for a 2 count. Is it Maya’s hair that’s a problem now? She’s holding it like she’s trying to keep it in place. Mone tosses Maya out of the ring again. Yeah something feels off here, either injury or wardrobe or something. Mone does her own count to almost 10 before getting Maya back in the ring. Now Mone salts again by running around the ring flipping off the crowd. Cutthroat Backstabber from Mone. Mone with some corner work but Maya counters a kick then grabs a Sunset Flip for a 2 count. Mone out of the corner with a Tombstone attempt, Maya counters then Mone counters back, they go around a bit before Mone rolls through and hits a double stomp.

Something still feels very off here with what’s happening, if Maya is working something she’s doing a heck of a job. Maya with some elbows then an up kick and a roll through into a double stomp. They keep showing close ups of Mone but never Maya, which also makes me think something’s off. Back kick from Maya then an enziguri and a running single leg kick. Slingshot Cutter from Maya gets a 2 count. Sort of a Shining Wizard from Maya, that was super awkward. Mone drops Maya across the middle rope then goes for the 3 Amigos which connects. Some awkward positioning from Mone now, she has to step over Maya twice, then heads up top but Maya gets the knees up to block the Frog Splash. Small Package from Maya gets 2, then Mone counters an elbow into a Statement Maker. Again Maya has to try and fix her top while fighting the hold, she is able to get to the ropes then kicks off into a pin for 2.

Rolling elbow from Maya floors Mone then a bridging fall away suplex, she rolls through to do it again, then goes for a third but winds up sending Mone through the ropes and to the floor. Maya with a suicide dive, yeah her gear is coming apart at this point. Maya heads up top back in the ring and hits a Swanton Bomb for a near fall. Up kick from Mone then she rams Maya into the middle buckle, but when trying to do it again Maya blocks and hits a tied up superkick. Mone blocks a powerbomb then they have to redo a bucklebomb spot but Mone can’t do it and just bails to ram Maya into the corner. Bayley running Sunset Bomb into the corner from Mone, then a corner Meteora for a near fall. Some real time killing from Mone while Maya fixes her gear again, she tries a Tombstone but Maya counters then tries a Gannosuke Clutch, loses it and Mone is able eventually hit a Money Maker for another near fall.

Mone tries that again, but Maya counters then gets a roll up for 2. Knee from Mone, she tries a Backstabber but Maya stalls on the ropes then slings Mone to the apron and follows up with a sickening Sunset Bomb to the floor. Next Maya with a slightly botched asai moonsault but she saved it by the end. Back in the ring Maya goes up and hits a second rope moonsault for a near fall. Mone counters a Shining Wizard and tries her own Gannosuke Clutch but Maya goes into a Statement Maker from it. Mone panics and scrambles, but does get to the ropes only for Maya to kick off them and roll back to the ring only for Mone to counter the roll into her own Statement Maker. Mone yanks back on the hold, Maya tries to get to the ropes, Money switches to a Crippler Crossface but loses it and they wind up trading roll ups again. Super awkward Backstabber from Mone back into the Statement Maker and now Maya has to tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Mercedes Mone won in 24:51

Rating: 3.5 stars
Thoughts: The version of this match without the super awkward 10 minutes is maybe a full star higher, but I can’t pretend it didn’t happen. This didn’t need 25 minutes and got a tad indulgent down the stretch. They got the crowd to bite on a few of the near falls but again this is a match hurt by a fairly obvious outcome. Maya made for a good underdog story but was never getting the win here.

Post match Renee gives Athena mic time to say the same thing she’s been saying for years at this point. Yawn.

Match #8 – 6 on 6 Steel Cage Match: Mark Briscoe, Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly, Darby Allin, and Konosuke Takeshita vs. Maxwell Jacob Friedman, Kevin Knight, Kyle Fletcher, Jake Doyle, Andrade El Idolo, and Kazuchika Okada

Our cage set up is a big circle that encompasses pretty much the whole ringside area so there’s lots of space for this many wrestlers. Darby starts by climbing the cage and hanging out, several of the faces have backpacks full of plunder. OK, Darby climbed down so we can get the big brawl to start. The heels are all wearing white t-shirts, so you know la sangra is going to flow. Takeshita bounces Fletcher off the cage a few times. In the ring Mark charges but MJF avoids him, so Mark with a diving dropkick through the ropes to knock Knight into the cage. Mark then eats a clothesline from MJF who poses. Andrade drops Kyle across the apron, then Jake powerbombs Darby onto the apron then into the cage because Darby has no spine. Strong and Okada trade some offense. Jake and Knight get a table. Lots of tables being set up around the ringside area now. Eventually Jake and Knight find a heel branded table. Jake keeps bouncing Mark off the cage for a bit while everyone keeps doing construction. MJF and Andrade pose, and fight over who gets to be in front of the other. Andrade wants to take off his pants, MJF stops that and they shove so the rest of the team have to play peacekeepers for them. Strong shows up with a hockey bag and hits everyone with it before Okada boots him down.

Mark and Kyle show up to attack Okada, both have packs and open them. Kyle has an old NES and controllers, he and Kyle whip heels with the controllers. Fletcher shows up but gets clotheslined by the wire of a controller. Kyle gets a cartridge into the console, then brains Fletcher with it. Mark goes into his pack and pours out thumbtacks. Fletcher, now bleeding from the NES shot, has to be saved by Jake from eating the tacks. Mark tosses Jake out and Strong dives onto him, but Jake picks up Strong and slings him into the steel a few times. Mark with a suicide dive onto Jake. Kyle chokes out Fletcher with the cord, but Fletcher recovers and lawn darts Kyle into the middle buckle. Mark heads up top, Fletcher with a kick to him, then the shirt comes off and he tosses Mark into the tacks. As usual, whoever sets it get it. Darby shows up and abuses Fletcher with his skateboard before MJF shows up to attack Darby. Darby tries to knock MJF into the tacks, MJF stays upright though and back drops Darby all the way around and Darby goes face first into the tacks because he’s insane. That leads to a 2 count for MJF. MJF, heel that he is, gets a push broom and sweeps out the tacks. Now the tacks are all over the floor in front of the announce teams.

Cassidy shows up and hits MJF in the crotch with the broom as MJF was posing. Now Cassidy opens his back and pulls out a good luck note from Willow, and a bag of orange slices. The faces each eat an orange slice to recover, then Fletcher slaps the bag away. Kyle grabs Fletcher and everyone squeezes orange juice into the open wound of Fletcher. The heels all show up to save Fletcher. Cassidy and Andrade fall to the floor, Kyle got cut open somewhere. Takeshita and Okada go face to face now and start elbowing the crap out of each other. Uppercut from Okada, Takeshita fires up with more elbows to drop Okada. Oh, Takeshita gets into his backpack now and finds a middle finger for Okada. OK, that was clever. Hard elbow from Takeshita, then Fletcher hits him with a half and half suplex. Running kick from Fletcher, but Takeshita avoids a Brainbuster and Rainmaker, then shoves Okada into Fletcher. Okada and Takeshtia trade counters but Fletcher superkicks Okada, then Takeshita with a gorgeous double German suplex to Okada and Fletcher. Knight and Darby square off in the ring now and we’ve got a hockey fight. Knight goes to the eyes then stomps away at Darby in the corner. Boots from Darby then a shotgun dropkick to corner Knight and a Code Red but no cover.

Darby goes up top but Jake crotches him and then cracks him with a chair into the tree of woe position. Jake hold a chair for Knight to do a Van Terminator, Knight had room to spare on that leap but Mark breaks up the follow up pin. Mark with attacks to Knight then a Sambo suplex. MJF just LAUNCHES a chair into Mark’s head then poses. Mark is bleeding now and MJF rakes at the wound. Now MJF dons the diamond ring, but gets distracted by Okada attacking Cassidy on the floor. Okada opens that hockey bag from earlier and finds Leo Rush. Rush bites Okada, then kicks him off the apron. Knight misses a flying nothing and Rush with misdirection then a low spinning kick. Andrade shows up and is confused by Rush, Rush hits a springboard Stunner on him then a low suicide dive onto Knight. Now Rush menaces MJF, he wants the ring because he needs his shiny precious. MJF distracts Rush with the ring until Okada shows up to kill Rush with a Rainmaker. Jake stuffs Rush back into the hockey bag then chain it shut and stuff it under the ring. Well that was quite the random interlude.

Mark then attacks all the heels and Cassidy tosses him a ladder for the classic Terry Funk spot. Everyone but MJF is down now, Mark calls MJF into the ring and they get to brawling. Mark of course out punches MJF but Jake breaks up the Jay Driller. Kyle shows up to handle Jake, Strong shows up and between the two of them we get an ugly Angle Slam from the apron through a table to take out Jake and Strong. Andrade punches down Kyle into a corner, then wedges a chair against his face and hits the double knees into the chair into Kyle. Takeshita with a Poisoned Rana to Andrade. Okada dropkicks Takeshita, oh those two branded tables are part of a double stack. On the other side Okada and Takeshita fight on the apron, Takeshita with a back body drop on the apron then a power drive knee. Fletcher with a thrust kick to Takeshita, then he wants a Brainbuster but Takeshita with a gorgeous Blue Thunder Bomb counter off the apron and through the table.

In the ring MJF fights off a Jay Driller and takes Mark to dick kick city. MJF wants the ring shot but here’s Cassidy to put his hands in the pockets. Hard ring punch from MJF to Cassidy but Darby shows up to hit MJF with a Scorpion Death Drop, then a Coffin Drop follow up. Knight breaks up the pin with a UFO that almost only hits MJF. Darby fights on the ropes with Knight, Knight knocks him down but Darby shoves him to the fence which Knight grabs. Knight pulls himself to the top of the cage, Darby happily climbs up with him. There’s a bag up there, Knight opens it but it explodes because I assume Danhausen cursed it, and Knight falls through the double stack of tables. Darby then shrugs and Coffin Drops onto a whole pile of bodies. We’re left with Mark and MJF in the ring, Jay Driller connects but Jake breaks up the pin. Jake attacks Mark, Andrade has shown up as well as Jake bludgeons Mark with a chair.

Jake holds up Mark for MJF, MFJ directs Andrade to hold Mark instead of Jake. Andrade isn’t really down with that and argues with MJF. The crowd want Andrade to remove his pants, but he reluctantly holds up Mark for MJF’s ring shot, and of course Andrade counters that into his sick back elbow to KO MJF. Andrade yells with Jake, Jake shoves Andrade so Andrade takes Jake to dick kick city then removes his shirt to reveal “Fuck Don fuck MJF” shirt. Mark spikes Jake with a Jay Driller and pins to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Mark Briscoe, Orange Cassidy, Darby Allin, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong, and Konosuke Takeshita won in 30:48

Rating: 4 stars
Thoughts: Some fun stuff here, they did a good job of blending comedy with the more gruesome stuff so it never got fully into stomach churning territory. Jake came out looking like a monster here, Takeshita is still a beast, Darby is insane as well. This maybe could have had a few minutes shaved in a perfect world, but the other thing holding this back was the obvious outcome. With nothing on the line for MJF to win it was pretty clear he was going to lose. Still if you like wild brawls, a bit of comedy, and a bit of blood along with some fun twists with the Andrade turn this is for you.

In the back Lexi talks with a bloody Mark. Mark mocks MJF’s lack of friends and yells a bit, some audio issues hurt this but the upshot is Mark wanting his title shot Wednesday on Dynamite.

Will Ospreay enters our main event dressed as the Tom Hardy version of Bane. Swerve Strickland counters entering on a motorcycle rocking a Lobo fit.

Match #9 – Men’s Owen Hart Cup Finals: Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland w/ Prince Nana

Immediate hockey fight to start, Swerve with the better hands early but Ospreay fires back. Boots from Swerve but Ospreay counters. Both men with counters then each man avoids a finisher from the other leading to a stare off. Swerve slithers out of the ring to put his hair up. Some powdering from Swerve, Ospreay pulls him back into the ring but Swerve attacks with strikes. Running hurricanrana from Ospreay then a corner chop. Running uppercut from Swerve, but he goes up top too early and Ospreay sweeps him down then hits a dropkick to send him out of the ring. Ospreay with a plancha onto Swerve. Back in the ring Ospreay keeps control, Swerve is selling his left leg after that earlier corner spot. Kawada kicks from Ospreay then a chop. Swerve fights back with chops of his own but Ospreay chops him down in response. Ospreay with a Snake Eyes but then he runs into a boot and Swerve follows up with a rolling Flatliner for a 1 count. Now Swerve starts aiming at the back of Ospreay’s neck with his attack.

Swerve with a neckbreaker, then he rolls through into another one, holds on and then tries a third but Ospreay fights out of that and lands elbows only for Swerve to counter into the Canadian neckbreaker. Neck crank from Swerve then he slams Ospreay down but Ospreay kips up and hits an enziguri to stun Swerve. Red Dot kick from Ospreay connects then a Phenomenal Forearm for a 2 count. Corner Helluva Kick from Ospreay then a top rope Phenomenal Forearm to the back of Swerve’s neck. Ospreay lines up a Hidden Blade but Swerve counters into an up kick then we get a cradle backbreaker from Swerve. Swerve with some trash talk to Ospreay and slaps, Ospreay then levels him with an elbow. Another wicked elbow from Ospreay, Swerve wants a third which Ospreay gives. Enziguri from Ospreay then the float over into the Styles Clash but Swerve counters into the powerbomb into a power slam for a 2 count. Great sequence there.

Ospreay powders, Swerve then boots him from the apron. Swerve removes the padding on the metal connector of the bottom rope, not the buckle part but the big metal piece holding the buckle to the post. Ospreay is able to ram Swerve arm first into the exposed metal, then hits an arm breaker and a double stomp to the arm all on the floor. Flying Armbar from Ospreay, Swerve immediately taps but they’re on the floor so it doesn’t count. Ospreay holds the armbar for a while before breaking, Nana objects and throws coffee into Ospreay’s face behind the refs back. That delay allows Swerve to recover and he then hits the returning Ospreay with a gnarly powerbomb onto the edge of the ring. Now Swerve with the Catapult into the open metal in the corner to further mess with the neck of Ospreay. Ospreay is bleeding now, he’s got a good flow going early with it. Swerve returns to pull Ospreay into the ring and reminds Ospreay he warned him about this. Kick from Swerve while the ref checks on Ospreay. Hard right hand from Swerve drops Ospreay again.

Ospreay is still leaking blood as Swerve goes face to face with him, Ospreay tries to fight back with punches but Swerve then drops him with a deadlift suplex. Swerve charges but Ospreay catches him with a standing Spanish Fly and both men are down. Ospreay starts firing punches, but Swerve yanks him down by the hair only for Ospreay to hit a Stunner into a Styles Clash for a near fall. Weak kick out from Swerve there, he just rolled his right shoulder up. Ospreay lines up a Hidden Blade, connects but Swerve just eats it then LEVELS Ospreay with a Hidden Blade of his own. Swerve slowly climbs the ropes, but Ospreay hits the ropes to crotch Swerve. Ospreay climbs up with Swerve, both men are all the way up top and fight for position. Ultimately Ospreay counters an avalanche powerbomb with a hurricanrana then a tornado kick to the downed Swerve but only a near fall again. Buzzsaw kick from Ospreay, he tries an Oscutter but Swerve counters into a Dead Eye for a near fall.

Ospreay rolls to the apron, Swerve climbs up top and tries an apron Swerve Stomp but Ospreay avoids it then tries a dive, goes for a Styles Clash but settles for just swinging Swerve into the ring steps. Swerve will likely be bleeding now given that bump. Oh yeah, he’s trying to hit the Muta scale I think. Punches from Ospreay then he bounces Swerve’s head into the ring steps repeatedly. Ospreay moves the ring steps next to an announce table then takes the table apart. Ospreay drags Swerve to the stairs, pulls him up and Nana distracts Ospreay behind the refs back. Nana escapes and lures Ospreay into a lovely House Call from Swerve who came leaping off the steps. Swerve pulls Ospreay onto the steps, and then tries a Vertebreaker but Ospreay fights that off with elbows and a headbutt. Ospreay now grabs Swerve, and we get a Styles Clash from the stairs onto the table which did not break. Frankly I don’t think it even budged.

Both men are still bleeding as they slowly crawl back to the ring. Ospreay gets in at 6, Swerve is the one barely making it in just before 10 and Ospreay greets him with a dropkick then an Oscutter for a near fall. Another weak kick out from Swerve. Ospreay, who doesn’t seem to be bleeding anymore but his skin is stained, lands a series of hook kicks then a rolling elbow. Elbow to the back of the head from Ospreay, then another on the mat because he’s a jerk. The ref starts counting Swerve down, he barely gets up and Ospreay lays him out with a Hidden Blade but yet again he can only find a near fall. Swerve just will not go away. Ospreay pulls Swerve up and sets him on the top rope. Hard right from Ospreay then he climbs up and looks for an avalanche move, Swerve fights free though and lays in punches to the back of the neck, hanging Will in the ropes then hits a Swerve Stomp to the back of the neck. Swerve pulls Ospreay up, Ospreay avoids a Vertebreaker and tries a Gedo Clutch for a 2 but Swerve hits a House Call, Ospreay kicks at 1 then hits a Hidden Blade and Swerve kicks at 1, then a double clothesline spot and both men are down.

Both men very slowly stir, yeah Swerve is still visibly dripping blood, and both men do get up before the 10 count. A bloody stare down, but it’s Swerve who seems to blink and change his expression first. He points at Ospreay as though he’s realized something. Both men remove some equipment, Ospreay his elbow pad and Swerve his gloves. They both take an opposite corner, time for a quick draw and it’s Ospreay who lands the Hidden Blade, Stormbreaker follows but again Swerve kicks before 3! Man Ospreay just can’t buy a win with the Stormbreaker. Swerve avoids a Hidden Blade, distracts the ref and kicks Ospreay squarely in the dick. Vertebreaker from Swerve follows but again this isn’t over as Ospreay wont stay down. Hidden Blade from Swerve, then Big Pressure but Ospreay still kicks at 2.9! Oh man, Moxley and the Death Riders run down to ringside, they’re cheering Ospreay on but let’s see if that sticks. Ospreay looks out on his knees, Swerve with a House Call but Ospreay no sells and fires up, hits a Hidden Blade then follows with a Buckshot Hidden Blade only find yet another near fall!

Paradigm Shift from Ospreay, then a Death Rider, he rolls through with that and follows with a grotesque Tiger Driver 91 to finally end things.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Will Ospreay won in 35:06

Rating: 5 stars
Thoughts: You’ve got to have a feel for matches designed to be uncomfortable to get through the middle portion of this match but if you do it’s glorious. Blood, guts, heart, Swerve finally realizing at one point he’s probably losing but still making Ospreay dig even deeper to finally put him down. Great stuff, if a little indulgent for a few stretches but it all built to the proper crescendo in a way that paid it off. Heck of an effort from both men with the right outcome.

Post match Ospreay and Swerve share words and Swerve seems to acknowledge Ospreay as the better man tonight.

The Death Riders celebrate with Ospreay, then Alex Windsor comes down to hug her husband while the Death Riders exit through the crowd. Ospreay gets one more pose at the top of the ramp to end the show.

Well that ends AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door. Thank you all for being here, live or after the fact. We had a really solid show overall with two stand out matches which is going to wrap things up here. Thanks again people, stay safe out there and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.