Backstage Details From AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2026, Note on Likely Main Event, Update on Willow Nightingale’s Return

– Fightful Select has some new backstage details for today’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2026 event, including the expected main event. According to the report, the internal belief in AEW is that Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland in the finals of the men’s Owen Hart Tournament will be the main event.

Fightful also notes that the plans for the men’s Owen Hart Tournament have been planned out “for months.”

– Earlier this month, Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that former Knockouts World Champion Toni Storm was originally planned to win the women’s tournament and go on to challenge for the World Title at AEW All In London. Fightful Select is also reporting that Toni Storm was the originally planned tournament winner.

After Storm took her hiatus from AEW recently, AEW reportedly pivoted to Willow Nightingale to win the tournament instead. However, Nightingale was sidelined with an injury and was forced to relinquish her TBS Title and drop out of the tournament. Plans changed again, reportedly causing “massive changes” to all of the singles plans in the AEW women’s division.

– Additionally, Fightful reports that Willow Nightingale is planned to come back next month. It’s also said there were “always big plans for her this year.”