Latest on Low Buy Rate for AEW Forbidden Door

Full estimates aren’t yet in for AEW Forbidden Door buy rates, but according to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, preliminary figures make it look like the lowest pay-per-view numbers of the year for the company.

Forbidden Door typically appeals to a more hardcore wrestling fan, as it features interpromotional matches with New Japan talent that casual viewers may not be as familiar with. Meltzer notes that he would never have expected it to do the same numbers as something like Double or Nothing, and that being the lowest grosser in a very good year is less bad than it might sound. As for his thoughts on why it didn’t do better, he says:

“…my gut is the lack of an AEW world title match is the main culprit as MJF would have meant more in a singles match than in a 12-man match to build up a title match. It felt on paper like a super show, but didn’t have the world title match which most AEW shows are sold based on, or the IWGP title match that all previous Forbidden Doors had featured., although I don’t think the IWGP title and Yota Tsuji would have made any significant difference.”

The competing free NXT show might have hurt, but there was no major World Cup game, and the only major baseball game was initially set to be over by PPV time. Previous AEW events this year have all built to major World Title matches…and this show just didn’t have one. There were also several changes based on injuries and travel issues.