In the past, wrestling promotions operated in isolation, with talent confined to their own organizations, save for a few exceptional crossovers.
Today, inter-promotional matches occur regularly, with even WWE embracing collaboration that once seemed unthinkable.
Tonight’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door event, initially created in 2022 as a response to the perceived “forbidden” nature of cross-promotion, has become a major success. The inaugural event drew nearly 17,000 attendees and approximately 125,000 pay-per-view purchases, signaling a significant shift in the wrestling landscape.
The inaugural event featured multiple AEW vs. NJPW bouts, including Jon Moxley vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Orange Cassidy vs. Will Ospreay, and a multi-man match featuring Jay White vs. Kazuchika Okada vs. Hangman Page vs. Adam Cole. Additionally, Thunder Rosa defended her Women’s World title against Toni Storm in a standard AEW match.
Currently, only three NJPW wrestlers—Zack Sabre Jr., Shingo Takagi, and Shota Umino—are scheduled for this Sunday’s event, despite NJPW being the primary partner. The card also includes one Stardom wrestler (Starlight Kid) and four CMLL wrestlers (Mistico, Mascara Dorada, Titan, and Olympia). Five matches, including the main event, are inter-AEW bouts.
The card offers no exclusivity. It is simply an AEW event, reflecting a shift in focus toward AEW’s own programming.
AEW signed a number of NJPW free agents
Some NJPW fans believe Tony Khan damaged NJPW by signing several of its free agents, though they overlook that these wrestlers exercised their free will to sign with AEW, unless compelled otherwise.
The addition of talents such as Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, Jay White, Katsuyori Shibata, Gabe Kidd, David Finlay, and Clark Connors in recent years has impacted the ability to create dream matches between AEW and NJPW, particularly affecting high-profile bouts like Okada vs. Ospreay. A January 2025 Wrestle Dynasty rematch between Kenny Omega and Gabe Kidd now feels like an AEW event due to their compensation structures.
There may be some overanalysis, but the dynamic between AEW and NJPW appears to have cooled somewhat, possibly due to uncertainty regarding new ownership’s intentions. It’s challenging to distinguish between shoot and scripted content as NJPW wrestlers occasionally critique AEW, while Ospreay recently made remarks in the opposite direction. Khan praised his Japanese partner but emphasized his CMLL relationship during a recent media call. This warrants close observation.
Excessive cross-promotion in wrestling
Outside of WWE and AEW, there are virtually no “forbidden” matches anymore. The fluid exchange of talent has benefited wrestlers and, for a time, fans, but it has diminished the excitement of witnessing a first-time matchup between two top stars from different promotions, which now often occurs on standard television.
This trend also affects CMLL. Although visa issues disrupted the card, several wrestlers mentioned by Khan (Hechicero, Komander, Beast Mortos) hold dual contracts. Despite his status and status as Khan’s favorite wrestler, Mistico is not a major AEW attraction, and CMLL Women’s Champion Persephone made her first post-injury appearance in AEW.
While the walls around wrestling promotions may never return, a temporary resurgence could be beneficial for all involved.
AEW must manage booking across multiple promotions
Previously, scheduling conflicts arose due to NJPW’s calendar, which restricted talent availability and risked revealing results prematurely for Forbidden Door. Khan must also consider CMLL, Stardom, and AEW’s own schedule. It’s simpler when focusing solely on one promotion, which is evident in Sunday’s card: a standalone AEW event. While this focus is understandable, the current lineup underscores this shift.
It’s unclear how this issue can be resolved other than pausing the Forbidden Door concept for several years and reviving it only when it becomes viable for all parties. In 2026, that moment may have passed. Wrestling has evolved significantly in the past four years, and more surprises are likely in the future.
The Forbidden Door concept was once compelling, but as Marc Maron noted when ending his podcast, “It’s okay to end things.” Unless all parties wish to revive the spirit of Forbidden Door, it’s time to conclude it.
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Josh Nason
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He graduated from the University of Maine in 2000, worked in pro sports, and once served as an indie ring announcer.
