‘AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door 3’ PPV Review
Welcome to this review of All Elite Wrestling’s most eagerly-awaited pay-per-views. Forbidden Door 3, which builds on the tremendous pay-per-views of the same name we’ve had over the past two years. This time round not only are AEW and NJPW involved but we’ve also got wrestlers from CMLL and Stardom! It’s a packed show and a BRILLIANT example of global wrestling talent.
ZERO HOUR
Match #1: Kyle Fletcher def. Serpentico
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Fletcher booted Serpentico in the face at the start of the match! Serpentico escaped a stalling suplex attempt and connected with a thrust kick. Fletcher grabbed Serpentico and stuck him with a tombstone piledriver. Fletcher hoisted up Serpentico on the top turnbuckle and then dropped him head first with a turnbuckle brain buster for the pin fall victory!
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #2: The House of Black (Brody King & Malakai Black) def. Kyle O’Reilly & Tomohiro Ishii, Private Pary (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) and Gabe Kidd & Roderick Strong
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Brody and Ishii traded some explosive blows. Ishii dodged a senton. Quen tagged in and dished out the shots to Gabe Kidd. Zay hit a diving cross body on Kidd. Kyle stole a pin from Zay. Kyle kicked Kidd but Kidd intercepted one and chopped Kyle. Ishii took down Kidd and Strong. The House of Black were looking for the Dante’s Inferno on Ishii, but Kyle prevented it. Ishii nailed Brody with a brain buster, but Quen was there to break up the pin. Private Party took flight over the top and wiped out a pile of competitors outside the ring. Private Party looked for the Silly Spring, but House of Black were waiting for them with a flurry of offense. Brody blasted Zay with the Gonzo Bomb and scored the pin.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: Willow Nightingale & Tam Nakano def. Kris Statlander & Momo Watanabe
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Willow leveled Momo with a shoulder tackle. Stokely distracted the ref while Momo blindsided Tam Nakano. Statlander used a delayed vertical suplex on Tam for a near fall. Tam cracked Kris with a back heel kick and tagged Willow. Willow punished Kris with a boot to the head. Willow planted Momo with a spinebuster. Kris connected with a discus lariat on Willow. Willow fired back with a dropkick. Nakano was looking for a big diving cross body, but Kris avoided it. Nakano nailed Kris with a German Suplex for a near fall. Willow drilled Momo with an avalanche Death Valley Driver, but Momo kicked out at the two-count! Willow pounced Momo! Willow dropkicked Kris, jumping off the apron. Tam had Momo all tied up and finished her off with a hammerlock German suplex for the pin!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #4: Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarterfinal – Mariah May def. Saraya
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Mariah planted Saraya with the Mariah-Go-Round. Mariah dropkicked Saraya from the top rope. Saraya escaped the hip attack. Hikaru Shida was watching the match backstage on a monitor. Mariah cracked Saraya with a headbutt. Mariah smashed Saraya with a hip attack in the corner. Harley Cameron jumped on the ring apron, but Toni Storm pulled Cameron back down. Saraya took advantage of the distraction and nailed Mariah with a neck breaker. Mariah grabbed the ropes to stop the pinfall before the ref could count to three. Mariah rolled up Saraya out of nowhere and pinned Saraya!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: Mistico & The Lucha Bros (Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix) def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Hiromu Takahashi, Titan & Yota Tsuji)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Titan and Rey Fenix went move for move and then had a standoff in the center of the ring. Yota Tsuji and Penta El Zero Miedo tagged in for their respective teams. Penta did a handstand on the top turnbuckle and then kicked Yota. Penta ate a knee strike from Yota. Mistico tagged in and called out Takahashi. Hiromu tagged in and took down Mistico with a thrust kick. LIJ ganged up on Mistico until the Lucha Bros ran in to even up the odds. The Lucha Bros hit a double splash on Tsuji and Titan. Mistico nailed Hiromu with a senton bomb. Hiromu power bombed Mistico off the apron and onto the arena floor! Titan splashed Mistico from the top rope, good for a near fall. Penta tagged in and served up sling blades. Rey Fenix jumped off Penta’s shoulders and splashed Titan for a near fall. Penta drilled Hiromu with a Destroyer. Mistico splashed Hiromu. Titan wiped out Rey Fenix with a flurry of offense, punctuated by a thrust kick. The Lucha Bros planted Hiromu with the Fear Factor! Mistico locked in La Mistica and forced Titan to tap out!
My Score: 4 out of 5
FORBIDDEN DOOR 3
Match #1: MJF def. Hechicero
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Hechicero dropped MJF to one knee with a boot to the mid-section. Hechicero went for an arm bar right away, but MJF escaped. MJF poked Hechicero in the eyes. Hechicero grabbed a handful of tights and threw MJF to the outside. But MJF was playing possum. MJF whipped Hechicero into the guardrail. MJF charged at Hechicero and clobbered him with a charging boot. Hechicero blocked the Heat Seaker. Hechicero blasted MJF with the Mad Scientist Bomb for a near fall. Hechicero did some damage to MJF’s left arm. Hechicero applied a cross arm breaker, but MJF escaped and went for Salt of The Earth, until Hechicero rolled over and transitioned into a pin attempt. MJF kicked out at the two-count. MJF spiked Hechicero with the Long Island Sunrise, followed up by a brainbuster, and pinned Hechicero!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: The Elite (Kazuchika Okada & The Young Bucks – Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) def. Hiroshi Tanahashi & The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Tanahashi and Okada squared off for their respective teams. Okada was playing head games, though, and immediately tagged out to Nicholas Jackson. Tanahashi hit a cross body press on Nicholas. Bowens tagged in and cracked Nicholas with kicks and followed up with a deep arm drag. Bowens planted the Scissor Me Timbers on Matthew and Nicholas. Okada grabbed a blind tag and the Elite sandwiched Caster in the corner with triple kicks. Bowens tagged in and connected with a Fame Asser to Nicholas. Bowens dropped Okada with a big right hand shot. Bowens dodged a Stinger Splash from Matthew. Tanahashi body slammed Okada. Ace connected with a flipping senton to Okada for a near fall. Okada dropped Okada with a dragon screw leg whip. Bowens blasted Okada with the Arrival. Caster hit the Mic Drop. Tanahashi went for the High Fly Flow, but Okada countered by raising his knees. The Bucks pumped up their Reeboks. They superkicked Okada and then took out the Acclaimed on the outside with dives over the top rope! Okada jumped off the top rope with an elbow drop to the Ace! Okada went for the Rainmaker, but the Ace countered with a small package for a near fall. Okada smashed Tanahashi with a beautiful dropkick, followed up with the Rainmaker clothesline, and pinned Tanahashi!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarterfinal – Bryan Danielson def. Shingo Takagi
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Shingo hit a shoulder tackle and then a sit out senton on Danielson. Danielson retaliated with a dropkick. Danielson went for a tope, but his feet got caught up on the ropes. Shingo grabbed Danielson and planted him with a draping neck breaker onto the arena floor. Doc Sampson checked on Danielson’s neck outside the ring. Back in the ring, Shingo connected with a combo of jabs and then a clothesline on Danielson. Danielson drilled Shingo with a German Suplex and then a running kick in the corner. Danielson punished Shingo with hammer and anvil elbows and then back suplexed Shingo off the turnbuckles. Danielson applied a triangle sleeper. Shingo powered out and slammed Danielson onto the mat. Shingo superplexed Danielson! Shingo served up a running lariat for a near fall. Shingo walloped Danielson with the Made In Japan for a near fall! Shingo went for a running clothesline, but Danielson countered, grabbing Shingo’s arm and wrist. Shingo rolled free and headbutted Danielson. Bryan stunned Shingo with a roundhouse kick and then a shoulder capture suplex! Danielson clobbered Shingo with the running knee strike but Shingo kicked out! Danielson captured Shingo’s wrists and stomped Shingo’s head. Danielson wrenched back on Shingo’s arm and Shingo gave the verbal tap!
My Score: 4.5 out of 5
Match #4: AEW Women’s World Championship – Toni Storm def. Mina Shirakawa
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Mina dropkicked Toni in the knee. Mina stomped on the back of Toni’s knees. Mina hoisted up Toni and then dropped Toni straight on her knees. Mina wrapped Toni’s legs around the steel ring post and then applied the figure four. The champion rallied back with a hip attack, knocking Mina to the floor. Toni went for another hip attack, but Mina moved out of the way. Mina jumped off the top turnbuckle and wiped out Toni and Luther on the arena floor. Mina locked Toni in the figure four in the center of the ring. Toni reversed it, and then Mina reversed it back. Toni reached the ropes to force the ref to break the hold. Mina rocked Toni with a rolling elbow right on target! Mina drilled Toni with a diving DDT off the top rope for a near fall. Toni blocked the Glamourous Driver and countered with a reverse German Suplex. Toni smashed Mina with a hip attack in the corner, but Mina kicked out at the two-count! Mina cracked Toni with a back fist and rolling elbow. Mina planted Toni with the Glamourous Driver, but Toni kicked out at the two-count! Mina stunned Toni with a roundhouse kick. Toni fired back with two consecutive headbutts and then stuffed Mina with the Storm Zero, scoring the pin!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #5: Zack Sabre Jr. def. Orange Cassidy
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Sabre and Cassidy chain wrestled, countering one another. Sabre clubbed Orange with a European Uppercut. Zach began to bully Orange Cassidy. Zach walloped Orange with a thunderous kick to the midsection. Orange caught Sabre with a dragon screw leg whip. Orange followed up with a tope suicida. Orange hit another dragon screw leg whip, this time on the outside of the ring. Zach countered the Stun Dog Millionaire with a sleeper. Orange retaliated with a Michinoku driver. Orange pulped Zach with a diving DDT for a near fall. Zach intercepted the Orange Punch and then stomped on Orange’s elbow. Cassidy came back with a Texas Cloverleaf to Sabre. Orange blasted Sabre with the Beach Break for a near fall! Sabre applied a rear naked choke, but Orange escaped and cradled Sabre for a two-count. Sabre escaped the Mouse Trap from Orange. Sabre tied up Orange and forced Orange to submit!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #6: HOOK, Samoa Joe & Katsuyori Shibata def. Chris Jericho, Jeff Cobb & Big Bill
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Jericho chopped at Shibata and Shibata backed Jericho down with chops of his own. Shibata followed up with a snap mare. Hook tagged in. Jericho went from a cross body and Shibata and Hook simply walked out of the way, learning a trick from Samoa Joe. Jeff Cobb tagged in, as did Samoa Joe, wanting to mix it up with Cobb. Samoa Joe jabbed at Cobb. Samoa Joe connected with a heel kick. Samoa Joe charged at Cobb, but Cobb popped up Joe and planted him. Big Bill tagged in and grounded and pounded Samoa Joe. Jericho came in, waving to the crowd, and then slapped Samoa Joe. Jericho tagged back out to Cobb, but Samoa Joe hammered Cobb with a series of elbows. Samoa Joe tagged Hook and Hook lunged at Jericho. Bryan Keith jumped on the apron to distract Hook. Cobb bulldozed Hook, taking advantage of the distraction. Jeff Cobb splashed Hook with a standing moonsault press. Shibata got the tag and booted Cobb in the jaw. Shibata chopped down Cobb in the corner. Hook, Joe, and Shibata triple teamed Cobb with impressive, and effective, teamwork. Jericho went for a lionsault, but Shibata raised his knees to counter it. Hook jumped off the top turnbuckle with a double sledge to Big Bill outside the ring. Jericho hit Shibata with a low blow as Bryan Keith distracted the ref. Jericho put Shibata in the Walls, and Shibata kicked his way out of the hold. Hook avoided a splash from Cobb and then T-Boned Cobb. Jericho rocked Hook with the Code Breaker for a near fall. Hook sent Jericho for a ride with the T-bone suplex. Hook nailed Jericho with the Judas Effect elbow and pinned Jericho!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #7: Jack Perry def. Dante Martin, El Phantasmo, Konosuke Takeshita, Lio Rush & Mark Briscoe
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Jack Perry left the ring right away. Everyone surrounded him, forcing him back into the ring and a wicked elbow strike from Takeshita. The ladders were quickly brought into the ring. Briscoe hit Rush with Redneck Kung Fu. Mark brought a table out from beneath the ring. As everyone brawled outside the ring, Jack Perry began to climb the ladder. Lio saw Perry attempting to grab the title and quickly climbed the ladder to know Jack Perry down. Jack Perry charged at Lio, but Lio moved out of the way, sending Perry colliding into a ladder that was set up between two turnbuckles. El Phantasmo hoisted up Lio and planted Lio hard onto a ladder that was resting against the turnbuckles. Takeshita drilled Dante with a brain buster onto the side of a ladder! Mark Briscoe hurled a ladder into Lio Rush’s face. Briscoe catapulted himself off a chair, launching himself over the top rope and crashing outside the ring onto a ladder that was on top of Takeshita! Jack Perry, ever the opportunist, climbed back up the ladder, but Lio Rush was there to prevent him from grabbing the title yet again. Phantasmo knocked Perry off the ladder. Dante jumped over Perry and he and El Phantasmo battled it out on top of the ladder. Jack Perry shoved the ladder, knocking Dante and El-P to the mat. Dante immediately clutched his surgically repaired ankle. Out of nowhere, Dante dropkicked Jack Perry through the corner. Briscoe and Takeshita traded forearms outside the ring. Lio Rush jumped through the ropes like a torpedo at Takeshita. Briscoe climbed to the top of the ladder in the ring and jumped to the outside, splashing Jack Perry on a table on the arena floor. Dante Martin and Lio Rush were each reaching for the title, but Takeshita grabbed Dante and power bombed him. Takeshita power bombed Lio Rush onto a ladder that was propped on the corner turnbuckles. Takeshita climbed the ladder, but El-P knocked him down. Takeshita grabbed Phantasmo and rocked him with a knee strike. Phantasmo scored with two thrust kicks. Takeshita scored with a power drive knee strike on the apron. Takeshita smashed El-P with a Blue Thunder Bomb off the apron and through two tables on the floor. Takeshita climbed the ladder, but Briscoe stopped him in his tracks with a chair shot to the back. Mark Briscoe blasted Takeshita with a Jay Driller onto a ladder in the corner! Briscoe climbed toward the title, but Jack Perry hit Briscoe in the ribs with another ladder! Jack Perry bludgeoned Briscoe with a steel chair. Jack Perry climbed up to the TNT title and pulled it down!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #8: Title vs. Title – Mercedes Moné def. Stephanie Vaquer
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Vaquer headbutted Mercedes as the ref was going over the rules. Mercedes monkey flipped Vaquer and grounded and pounded Vaquer. Both women collided with lariats, thinking alike. Mercedes used an arm drag off the middle rope to take down Stephanie. Mercedes connected with a meteora for a near fall on Vaquer. Mercedes tried to launch off the apron for a DDT, but Vaquer countered and blocked it. Vaquer nailed Mercedes with a diving knee, followed up by a big cross body to Mercedes on the arena floor. Back in the ring, Vaquer had Mercedes all tied up with a submission. Mercedes pushed her way out of it but was immediately clutching her leg. Vaquer drove Mercedes’ head into the mat repeatedly. Vaquer jumped off the top turnbuckle, looking for a dropkick, but Mercedes countered with a dropkick of her own. Mercedes stunned Vaquer with a DDT off the ropes for a near fall. Vaquer intercepted a lariat from Mercedes with a DDT. Both women lunged at one another with lariats. They both popped back up to their feet at the same time. Vaquer applied the cross face and Vaquer had to abandon it as Mercedes rolled her up. Mercedes locked on a cross face, but Vaquer tried to power her way out, standing to her feet. Vaquer hoisted up Mercedes and dropped Mercedes against her knees. Mercedes nailed Vaquer with two consecutive back stabbers. Mercedes jumped off the top rope, but Vaquer blocked her and then countered with a dragon screw. Vaquer charged at Mercedes and landed a knee strike for a near fall. Mercedes locked in the cross face again, but Vaquer escaped. Mercedes managed to find the Moné Maker, applied the cross face submission, and forced Vaquer to tap!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #9: IWGP World Heavyweight Championship – Tetsuya Naito def. Jon Moxley
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Moxley stomped on Naito in the corner, gaining the early advantage. Naito spat in Moxley’s face. Moxley, frustrated, threw a chair into the ring. Moxley landed a knee breaker. Moxley wrapped Naito’s leg around the steel ring post, trying to cut his legs out. Moxley back dropped Naito onto the Spanish announce desk. Moxley clubbed Naito with big right hands. Moxley spiked Naito with a stalling piledriver for a near fall. Moxley planted Naito with a high angle back drop driver. Moxley slipped between Moxley’s legs and shoved Moxley off the top turnbuckle and down to the arena floor. Naito speared Moxley beside the broadcast booth. Back in the ring, Moxley mauled Naito with a running knee to the side of the head. Moxley power bombed Naito off the turnbuckles, but Naito kicked out at the two-count. Naito stunned Moxley out of nowhere with the Destino! Moxley fired back with the Paradigm Shift. Moxley drilled Naito with the Death Rider, but Naito kicked out at two! Moxley left the ring and grabbed a steel chair. The ref removed the chair from the ring. Moxley’s frustrations were starting to boil over. Naito nailed Mox with back elbows and then planted Moxley head first. Naito followed up with Destino and pinned Moxley!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #10: AEW World Championship – Swerve Strickland def. Will Ospreay
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Swerve and Ospreay exchanged elbow strikes in the center of the ring. Ospreay and Swerve were looking for kill shots early on. Ospreay grabbed the ropes, elevated over the top and landed onto Swerve on the arena floor. Ospreay dropkicked Swerve on the side of the head. Swerve fired back with a diving uppercut in between Will’s shoulder blades. Swerve cracked Will with a draping neck breaker. Swerve popped Will in the mouth with a left hand strike. Outside the ring, both men jockeyed for position on the barricade. Ospreay took Swerve down with a hurracanrana off the barricade onto the floor. Ospreay began to build momentum until Swerve intercepted a kick from Will and then planted Will with a back breaker. Swerve applied short arm scissors to Ospreay. Ospreay managed to reach the ropes with his boots to force the ref to break the hold. Ospreay and Swerve slugged it out in the center of the ring. Ospreay planted Swerve with the Styles Clash for a near fall! Ospreay was looking for the Os Cutter, but Swerve countered with the Swerve Stomp. Swerve hoisted up Ospreay on the top turnbuckle and fell backwards, planting Ospreay onto the mat. Ospreay connected with a back heel kick. Ospreay went for the Os Cutter, but Swerve dodged it! Swerve decimated Ospreay with a Swerve Stomp from the top to the outside onto the Spanish announce desk. Swerve spiked Ospreay with a piledriver onto the top of the barricade. Swerve followed up in the ring, planting Ospreay for a near fall. Swerve was looking for another stomp, but Ospreay got to his feet and hit the ropes, causing Swerve to lose his balance. Ospreay nailed Swerve with an avalanche Os Cutter and then a springboard Os Cutter for a near fall on Swerve! Swerve blocked the Hidden Blade! Will went for another Os Cutter, but Swerve countered, grabbing Will’s arm. Will escaped and spiked Swerve with another Os Cutter! Ospreay smashed Swerve with the Storm Breaker for a near fall! Ospreay headbutted Swerve right between the eyes. Ospreay called for the Tiger Driver. Swerve countered and nailed Will with the Hidden Blade! Ospreay avoided the Swerve Stomp! Ospreay tried for the Hidden Blade, but Swerve ducked it which caused Ospreay to inadvertently hit ref Paul Turner. Swerve was quick to take down Will with a rana, but Will answered with a Hidden Blade! Ospreay covered Swerve but there was no ref to make the count. Don Callis appeared at ringside with a screwdriver, trying to hand it to Will. Prince Nana shoved Callis to the arena floor, but Will had the screwdriver in his hands. Ospreay was reluctant to use the screwdriver until he saw Prince Nana shove Don Callis. Ospreay jumped out of the ring and put his hands on Prince Nana, threatening to use the screwdriver on Nana! Will Ospreay backed away, collected his thoughts, and tossed the screwdriver down. Will Ospreay returned to the ring, but Swerve was waiting for him with a skull cracking House Call kick! Swerve tried to finish things with the Swerve Stomp! Ref Aubrey Edwards jumped into the ring to count the pin, but Ospreay kicked out at the two-count! Swerve transitioned quickly, stepping down on Will’s arm with his boot! Swerve hit the House Call again, right on Ospreay’s temple! Swerve covered Ospreay and Ospreay kicked out again! Ospreay staggered on his feet, falling at Swerve’s feet. Swerve smashed Ospreay with another House Call. Swerve spiked Ospreay with the Big Pressure and pinned Ospreay!
My Score: 5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4.5/5
I said it last year and I’ll repeat it again this year. Forbidden Door is THE best pay-per-view not only of this year (so far) from any wrestling company. ANY. But of all of AEW’s pay-per-views too. Without a shadow of a doubt. Packed with dream matches, matches that went for the fun angle, matches that went for serious drama and matches that just thrilled; Forbidden Door 3 eventually culminated in one of, if not THE, best match in AEW’s history. A match that put anything the other US promotions have given us this year, to shame. This is one PPV where you should sit and watch every match, from the opening of Zero Hour to the final seconds of the show… Unmissable is an understatement.
