It was the kind of thing we used to argue about on old message boards in 2005. You’d sit there, typing away about whether Mitsuharu Misawa could handle Samoa Joe, knowing full well it would never happen. Then Tony Khan walked out and actually made it a reality. Basically, the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door concept stopped being a pipe dream and turned into the most profitable crossover in the history of the business.
Look, we've seen talent exchanges before. WCW had the cruiserweights from AAA and New Japan in the 90s. TNA had that weird, often rocky relationship with the Tokyo Dome crowd. But this is different. This is a co-promoted, high-stakes collision that usually leaves both rosters looking like they’ve been through a car crash.
The thing people often get wrong is thinking this is just a "supercard." It’s not. It’s a logistical nightmare that somehow works. You have two different ring styles, two different philosophies on how a referee should count, and two massive egos in the front offices trying to make sure their guys don't look weak. Honestly, it’s a miracle we get these shows at all.
The Wrestling Politics Behind the Curtain
You’ve gotta understand how weird the NJPW and AEW relationship was at the start. When Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks left Japan to start AEW, New Japan was, let’s say, less than thrilled. They felt burned. For a couple of years, the "Forbidden Door" was actually slammed shut and double-locked.
It took Hiroshi Tanahashi—the "Ace" himself—basically demanding to work with Chris Jericho to crack it open. Then, the pandemic happened. Suddenly, the world got smaller, and the need for fresh matchups outweighed old grudges. When Jay White showed up on AEW Dynamite, the collective gasp from the crowd wasn't just about a surprise appearance; it was the realization that the landscape of the industry had fundamentally shifted.
Why the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door Concept is Built Different
Most crossovers feel like an exhibition. Think back to those old WWF vs. WCW dreams that turned into the lackluster "Invasion" angle. That failed because one side had to win and the other had to look like losers. AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door avoids this by leaning into the "dream match" aesthetic rather than a hostile takeover.
Take the first show in Chicago at the United Center. You had Jon Moxley vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the Interim AEW World Championship. That’s a match that, five years ago, you’d only see in a video game with community-created CAWs. The crowd wasn't cheering for one company to "beat" the other. They were cheering for the sheer audacity of the spectacle.
It’s about the clashing of worlds. You take the high-flying, television-paced "American" style and smash it against the "Strong Style" of Japan, where guys like Tomohiro Ishii will literally let you chop them in the throat just to show they can take it. It’s brutal. It’s loud. It’s exactly what the hardcore fans want.
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The Bryan Danielson Factor
We have to talk about Danielson vs. Okada. If you want to understand why this pay-per-view matters, look at that match. Bryan Danielson is arguably the greatest technical wrestler of his generation. Kazuchika Okada is the "Rainmaker," the man who defined New Japan’s modern era.
When they met at Forbidden Door 2023, Danielson broke his arm. He literally finished the match with a fractured bone, taping it up mentally and forcing Okada to tap out to a modified LeBell Lock. That wasn't just a match; it was a statement. It proved that these guys aren't just doing "guest spots." They are out there trying to prove which promotion has the better athletes.
The Economic Reality of the Crossover
Money talks. Usually, it shouts.
The first Forbidden Door did over 100,000 buys on PPV and a $1.1 million gate. For a show where half the audience might not even know who every Japanese wrestler is, those are staggering numbers. It proved there is a massive, hungry market for "workrate" wrestling that doesn't rely on soap opera storylines.
- Gate Revenue: The shows consistently sell out large arenas in minutes.
- Merchandise: The "crossover" shirts are some of the highest-selling items on ShopAEW and the NJPW Global store.
- Subscription Spikes: NJPW World usually sees a massive influx of Western subscribers right before and after these events.
It’s a win-win, but it’s a delicate balance. If AEW wins too many matches, the Japanese fans get annoyed. If New Japan dominates, the AEW "home" crowd feels slighted. The booking is a tightrope walk over a pit of angry Twitter fans.
Misconceptions About the "Forbidden Door"
People think anyone can just show up anywhere. That’s not how it works. Contracts are still a thing. You aren't going to see a contracted WWE star show up at Forbidden Door anytime soon, no matter how much fans scream about it online.
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Also, there’s this idea that New Japan is the "junior partner" because AEW is the bigger American TV entity. If you think that, you don't know Gedo (NJPW’s head booker). New Japan is fiercely protective of their stars. They don't send Hiroshi Tanahashi or Will Ospreay (back when he was NJPW) across the ocean just to lose in ten minutes. Every finish is negotiated like a nuclear arms treaty.
The Cultural Bridge
There is something cool about seeing a guy like Orange Cassidy in the ring with Zack Sabre Jr. It shouldn't work. One guy is a comedy act who puts his hands in his pockets; the other is a human pretzel-maker from England who represents the technical peak of the Japanese system.
But it does work.
The Forbidden Door has allowed Western fans to see that Japanese wrestling isn't just one thing. It’s not all "Strong Style" or "King’s Road." There’s comedy, there’s high-flying, and there’s incredible character work. It’s widened the lens of what pro wrestling is allowed to be in the United States.
What Really Happened with the Ospreay vs. Omega Saga
The peak of this partnership, for many, wasn't even a Forbidden Door show, but the matches that led through it. The Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay rivalry is the gold standard. When they met at Wrestle Kingdom and then later at Forbidden Door in Toronto, they produced matches that critics like Dave Meltzer were giving 6 or 7 stars.
The storytelling was dense. It wasn't just "I’m better than you." It was about the legacy of the "foreigner" in Japan. Omega was the guy who stayed and became a legend. Ospreay was the guy trying to fill those shoes. When they collided on AEW turf, the atmosphere was electric. It felt like a heavyweight title fight in Vegas.
The Future: Is the Door Still Open?
The landscape has changed recently. With WWE becoming more "open" to collaborations (like their recent work with TNA and NOAH), the AEW x NJPW relationship has to evolve. It can't just be "here is a match you never thought you'd see." It has to have stakes.
We are starting to see more long-term excursions. Young stars from Japan are coming to AEW to learn the American television style, and AEW talent are heading to the G1 Climax tournament to test their mettle in the toughest tournament in the world.
Real-World Impact for the Fans
If you’re a fan trying to keep up with all this, it’s a lot. You’ve got to watch Dynamite, Collision, and keep an eye on NJPW World. But the payoff is a richer experience. You aren't just watching a show; you’re watching a global narrative.
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When Forbidden Door rolls around each year, the energy in the host city is different. It’s not just a wrestling show; it’s a convention of the "sickos"—the fans who live and breathe the art form.
How to Follow the Forbidden Door Narrative
If you want to actually get the most out of these shows, don't just show up for the PPV. You have to understand the history.
- Watch the G1 Climax: This is where the New Japan stars earn their stripes. If a guy wins the G1, he’s a god in Japan. When he shows up at Forbidden Door, he should be treated as such.
- Follow the Excursions: Watch for the "Young Lions." These are the New Japan trainees. When they go on excursion to AEW (like Jack Perry did to Japan), it changes their character.
- Ignore the Tribalism: The internet loves to pick sides. Don't. The whole point of the Forbidden Door is that we all win because the talent is allowed to mix.
- Check the English Commentary: Kevin Kelly and Chris Charlton do an incredible job of explaining the Japanese backstories for Western audiences. Listen to them.
The next step for any serious fan is to look past the marquee names. Don't just wait for the main event. Look at the opening six-man tags. Look at the way the Stardom women are now being integrated into the show. That’s where the real growth is happening. The door isn't just open; the walls are starting to come down entirely.