Forbidden Door 2023 - Recap
photo courtesy of allelitewrestling.com
AEW x NJPW kick open the forbidden door once again! Championships will be decided, and ultimate bragging rights to the victors.
photo courtesy of njpw1972.com
The crowd fairly split between MJF and Tanahashi. MJF used every free moment to egg on the crowd making obscene gestures mocking Tanahashi's famous pose.
Tanahashi struggled on the top rope like he did against Swerve Strickland, struggling to find his footing on the AEW turnbuckles.
Tanahashi shrugs off MJF during a Heatseeker attempt and hurts his knee. Opening the door for Tanahashi to work on MJF's knee. GO ACE chants ring through the crowd as Tanahashi wraps MFJ in a deep Texas Cloverleaf but escapes.
High Fly Flow by the Ace is blocked by MJF's knees, leaving MJF hurting his knee again.
MJF hits Tanahashi with the Dynamite Diamond Ring after shoving Tanahashi into the ref giving him the opening he needs to steal the win,
MJF controversially retains the AEW Championship. An ok opening match to begin the PPV. MJF wins by cheating keeping Tanahashi looking strong in the process. AEW needs to do something with their World Title, as the title scene with MJF is not as appealing anymore.
photo courtesy of njpw1972.com
Last year CM Punk was slated to take on Hiroshi Tanahashi at Forbidden Door before his injury. This year he takes on another NJPW legend Satoshi Kojima in a first-round match of the Owen Hart Tournament.
Mixed crowd reaction in Toronto, CM Punk chants, and mostly boos colliding for the Second City Saint. Kojima has deep connections to the Hart family and helped Owen begin his journey in Japan.
The action moved to the outside, with Kojima chopping Punk so hard he flipped over the barricade.
Punk mocked Hulk Hogan hitting Kojima with the Leg Drop. Hogan is extremely popular in Canada, and Punk is playing up to the villain role. Punk mocks Kojima with standing Lariat attacks in the corner, screaming his name. Then teases Kojima with Mongolian Chops made famous by Kojima's long-time partner.
Kojim retaliates with machine gun chops on Punk and sets the crowd on fire. Kojima with a low blow elbow off the top rope on Punk.
Punk hits the top rope, followed by the Anaconda Vice, but Kojima fights it off with hits behind Punk's head. Punk counters the Lariat-o by Kojima with a neck breaker. Kojima counters the GTS with a brainbuster and almost scores the three.
Punk ducks another Lariat-o attempt, hits the GTS for the win, and moves on in the tournament.
Punk is a master of working the crowd. The crowd was mainly behind Kojima, with CM Punk chants immediately drowned out by boos. A month of Punk in Canada is going to be good for TV.
photo courtesy of njpw1972.com
Orange Cassidy has been the workhorse champion of AEW, defending the International Championship twenty-four times with multiple injuries and no breaks. He faces a dangerous situation and can lose the championship without being involved in the decision. Katsuyori Shibata and Zach Sabre Jr can out-wrestle most people on the planet. Daniel Garcia enters as the only man without a championship but looks to change that.
Cassidy finds himself in a Sharpshooter, a figure four leg lock, and a pretzel hold in under a minute by all the challengers.
Sabre, Shibata, and Garcia trade hard blows. Eventually, all four men trade standing kicks knocking each other down. Shibata and Sabre feud from NJPW taking center stage as they keep trying to one-up each other during the contest.
Garcia hits Shibata with the ROH Pure Title, which is legal, and almost scores the victory. But earns Shibata's anger taking a stiff beating in the corner.
Shibata trades blows with Cassidy next until Sabre enters the fray, taking out Shibata. Sabre with some devastating kicks to Cassidy's injured hand.
Shibata hits the PK on Garcia, but Cassidy knocks Shibata out of the ring and pins Garcia.
The most adrenaline-packed match of the night as the fans ate this one up. Garcia looked solid once again, and his future is a bright one. Orange Cassidy can do no more right now and continues to prove he is one of the very top stars in AEW.
photo courtesy of njpw1972.com
NJPW World Heavyweight Champion Sanada issued an open challenge, and "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry answered. Sanda feels slighted, wanting a more formidable opponent. The fans have been demanding more tenacity out of Jungle Boy. Jack Perry can shock the wrestling world with a victory over the man who defeated Kazuchika Okada for the title.
Hook is Jack Perry's corner tonight - Douki in Sanada's corner.
Perry secures the Snare Trap early, but Sanada escapes. Paradise Lock by Sanada for Perry's troubles.
Sanada with a teardrop neck breaker using the ropes for added impact. Both men on their feet trade hard chops. Their chests turning bright red.
Crucifix Bomb countered by Sanada into a TKO attempt by Sanada countered by the Skull End by Jack Jack Perry as Sanada gets to the ropes.
Poisonrana by Perry retaliated with one by Sanada, followed by a Shining Wizard, almost scoring the victory for Sanada. Moonsault by Sanada scores the win.
At the top of the ramp Jungle Boy out of nowhere, lays out Hook with a closeline. Perry mocks the fans with the wave and leaves Hook behind. Jack Perry exits through the "heel" entrance.
photo courtesy of njpw1972.com
The Blackpool Combat Club has laid claim as the dominant faction in AEW. A one-night alliance with bad boy Shota Umino and Konosuke Takeshita is a perfect match. The Elite, Eddie Kingston, and Tomohiro Ishii look to take the BCC down a peg in a surefire car crash of a match.
Hangman and Shoto start the match, and Hangman gets the early advantage. But Ishii and Takeshita's trade blows like madmen, with no man gaining an advantage. Some hard elbows and shoulder tackle between the two.
Mox and Kingston are the legal men; the crowd stands on their feet! The other wrestlers are on the floor giving the two men the state. Neither man flinches and begins trading chops. All hell breaks loose as everyone gets involved.
The Bucks and Hangman with planchas to the outside. Ishi and Claudio fight outside as Eddie and Mox continue to chop each other.
Takeshita walloped Ishii on the apron. He looked to be concussed as the BCC continued to hold Kingston in the corner. Umino works over Kingston as the Bucks check on Ishii.
Ishii is back and taking on everyone!
Umino and Takeshita double-team Ishii, but Ishii fights them all off and makes the hot tag to Hangman.
Fallaway Slam, plancha on Yuta, followed by an assisted shooting star press on Takeshita to almost score the victory. Takeshita dodges a BTE trigger and hits a double German on the Bucks. But the Bucks retaliate and begin the Super Kick Party.
Eddie Kingston saves Moxley from the party, showing his conflicted feelings about this fight.
Hart Attack closeline by Umino and Moxley on Matt Jackson into a giant swing by Claudio.
Super Stalling Brainbuster from Ishii on Yuta. Yuta survives the Buckshot from Hangman but can't dodge the sheer drop brainbuster from Ishii as he scores the victory for his team.
This match was a car crash and is what this group excels at. The crowd was hot for a fantastic match from beginning to end. The Elite wins with Eddie and Ishii, but the feud and storylines are far from concluded.
photo courtesy of njpw1972.com
The Outcasts are out with Toni Storm. Willow with the early advantage. Toni uses a ref distraction to allow Ruby and Saraya to help her gain the advantage.
Toni attempted a Storm Zero r on the apron but was countered by a Death Valley Driver by Willow. Willow hits a running DVD inside the ring to near fall. Willow ascends to the top rope but stops as the ref catches the Outcasts tossing Toni Storm a spray can.
Willow regains control but misses a moonsault press. Toni Storm scores a hip attack DDT combo for a near fall.
Spinebuster by Willow into an Indian Deathlock in the middle of the ring. Toni breaks the hold by biting Willow's knee.
Toni uses the ref as a human shield to rip at Willow's eyes and hit Storm Zero for the victory.
A good match that kept the fans involved as the women had to follow a banger. Can't wait to see what becomes of Willow Nightingale; every time we see her, she just gets better.
photo courtesy of njpw1972.com
Ospreay enters, bringing back the Aerial Assassin moniker flanked by Don Callis and hired security.
Ground wrestling was controlled by Omega early on. A One Winged Angel and Oscutter attempted early by both men. Ospreay tries to take control of the match, but Omega stays one step ahead, hitting You Can't Escape. Ospreay retreats to the floor but opens the door for Omega's Terminator leap but is tripped up by Callis. Referee Paul Turner throws out Don Callis from ringside, but the hired security stays.
Spinning backbreaker on Omega followed by a brainbuster for a near fall for Ospreay. Omega fights, hitting a Dunk, but Ospreay stalls his comeback, hitting an enziguri and dumped on the top rope. Ospready with a shooting star press with Omega dangling on the top rope. Ospreay hits an Oscutter on the apron.
Ospready drives Omega's head into the announcer's table repeatedly, like how Omega drove Ospreay through a table at Wrestle Kingdom. Omega is busted open. Still a Wanker chant by the fans toward Ospreay. Omega's blood on Ospreay's arms.
Omega attempts to fight back but is knocked down by a roaring elbow by Ospreay. A V-Trigger by Ospreay sends Omega to the outside. Ospreay mocks the Canadian flag but, in doing so, awakens Omega. Omega hangs Ospreay with the flag.
Ospreay is now busted open as Omega bangs Ospreay's head into the steel steps. Omega stands up the steel steps and delivers a spine-shattering DDT on it. Open-hand palm strikes by Omega into an armbar attempt transitioning into a triangle choke on Ospreay. Ospreay deadlifts Omega into a sit-out powerbomb.
Ospreay and Omega begin to trade German suplexes on each other. A V-Trigger by Omega is followed by a standing Spanish Fly by Ospready for a near fall.
Ospreay transitions from a Sharpshooter to a cross-face, but Omega makes it to the ropes. Kawada kicks mixed with chops by Ospreay, with Omega struggling to stand. Omega's strikes lack any power behind them to fight back. Oscutter countered mid-air with a V-Trigger.
Two snap dragon suplexes by Omega followed by a poison-rana and stump piledriver for a near fall.
Omega attempted an avalanche One Winged Angel, but Ospreay fought it off to hit a sky twister press from the top rope to the floor on Omega. We are thirty minutes in!
Top rope Oscutter for the near fall! Stormbreaker by Ospreay countered into a Dead Eye by Omega. Don Callis has come back down to ringside.
Three standing V-Triggers by Omega. Omega hits the V-Trigger, and Callis pulls Ospreay outside, handing him the screwdriver. Ospreay hits Omega with the screwdriver during a One Winged Angel attempt, followed by The Hidden Blade and Stormbreaker. Omega puts his foot on the bottom rope saving him from defeat.
Ospreay hits the One Winged Angel on Omega, but Omega kicks out at one! The crowd has come unglued as Omega and Ospreay trade palm strikes.
Omega survives a vicious Tiger Driver 91’ on his head but does not survive another hidden blade, and Stormbreaker - Ospreay is once again the IWGP US Champion.
Ospreay and Omega are now 1-1 in 2023. In the end, it was Ospreay defeating Omega. The trilogy will end in a NJPW ring and will surely be a banger. This match was everything we could have hoped for and more.
photo courtesy of njpw1972.com
A match put together at the last minute and just as quickly canceled as Adam Cole is pulled an hour before Zero Hour started. An undisclosed illness, the reason given. A shame as Filthy Tom Lawlor could have made a name for himself against Adam Cole with a stellar showing, even more with a win.
photo courtesy of njpw1972.com
The Ocho finds himself in a potential no-win situation with high tensions with fellow JAS member Sammy Guevara. Even with Minoru Suzuki on his side, Jericho faces stiff competition against The Icon Sting, Darby Allin, and old nemesis Tetsuya Naito.
Naito and Sammy start the match with some back and forth until Darby and Suzuki are tagged in. Darby and Minoru trade blows as Murder Grandpa chants ring through the crowd. Minoru lays out Darby. Darby tags in Sting. The crowd erupts for this standoff, Jericho screams for the tag, and Minoru reluctantly tags him in. The six men begin to brawl.
Sting locks in the Scorpion Death Drop on Jericho, but Jericho is saved by a diving cutter by Guevara. Le Suzuki Gods pose for the crowd.
Naito and Jericho are in. Gloria attempt by Naito but is countered. Rear naked chokes on all the heroes. But they fight back as Darby launches himself at Minoru. He launches at Jericho but is nailed with the Judas Effect. Jericho takes out a table and places Sting on it, pressuring Sammy to dive into Sting. Sammy, with a 630 splash putting Sting through the table.
Jericho and Naito trade counters of the Lionsault and Destino. Sting is back in the ring! But he is caught off by Minoru. Code Breaker by Jericho on Naito, but only for a two-count.
Sting and Naito double-team Minoru to score the victory on Minoru with a roll-up.
This match should be lower on the card. Only a little clean movement and the fans lost interest pretty early. Sadly the worst match of the night, considering the talent in the ring.
photo courtesy of njpw1972.com
The Main Event Dream Match
Two of the greatest to ever step foot in the ring will battle for the ultimate bragging rights of the greatest in-ring performers of our time.
Danielson comes out to the Final Countdown! Okada is out, and he is making it rain!
Here we go!
Danielson, early on, attempts his top rope backflip into a closeline but is caught off by Okada. A baseball dropkick by Okada sends Bryan to the outside.
Danielson rebounds hits a running knee off the apron, and begins focusing his attacks on Okada's arm. Throwing Okada into the ring post shoulder post followed with a top rope knee strike to Okada's shoulder.
Danielson, with kicks and chops in the corner, only has awakened Okada, but Okada can't hold the retaliation selling the work done by Danielson early on his shoulder.
Okada uses a standing flapjack and DDT combo to get back into the match.
The fight goes to the outside, and Okada showcases his high jump skills and launches himself into Danielson, who he flipped into the crowd.
Moneyclip by Okada looking for the tap out or pass out. Danielson pushes Okada into the turnbuckle to break the hold. Okada hits a stiff air-raid neck breaker on Danielson for a two-count.
Top rope shotgun dropkick by Danielson but no hip-up follow-up like he does in the past selling the neck breaker by Okada earlier. Europenan uppercuts by Daniel and Okada, with both men looking for an advantage.
Top rope elbow by Okada countered by armbar submission transitioned into the cross-face. Tope suicida by Danielson dodged by Danielson, but Danielson still scored a dropkick to maintain control. Ground kicks by Danielson on Okada on the outside. Danielson misses the knockout kick and hits Danielson with a Tombstone on the ramp.
The second time is the charm as Okada scores with the top rope elbow and calls for the Rainmaker!
Danielson fakes convulsing to get the Doctor involved for a stoppage. Okada is not fooled and gets hit with a running knee for his troubles.
Psycho knee by Danielson after flipping through a German Suplex attempt. Danielson attempted to kick Okada's head in with one arm and score a victory with a cross-face but couldn't lock the hold. Not sure when Danielson's right arm got injured. There is no life in his arm.
Danielson is favoring his right shoulder; he Attempts another Psycho Knee but is cut off by a dropkick by Okada. Okada with a Landslide, Rainmaker combo for two!
Danielson attempts the cross-face and powers through the pain to secure the hold. Danielson uses his leg to help bridge Okada's arm for more leverage. Danielson ties up Okada, and Okada taps!
Bryan Danielson has tapped out The Rainmaker! I can't imagine this is a one-and-done, as a re-match has to happen.
Forbidden Door was a good show. But it isn't worth a full re-watch. The matches of the night were Ospreay vs. Omega and the Four Way for the International Championship. The rest were ok, but you can watch the highlights and still get their full effect.
Comments
Post a Comment