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Forbidden Door Pay Per View
Our commentary team is Excalibur, Taz, and Nigel McGuinness
MJF vs. Hechicero
MJF is getting cheers as Hechicero is in the ring for his entrance, and a huge pop for MJF when his music hits. MJF then crowd surfs before getting in the ring. Not well, but at least the crowd doesn’t drop him.
Hechicero is able to get a couple of quick moves in on MJF as the match starts, and MJF does a great job of looking surprised. MJF plays to the crowd, using Rick Rude’s swivel and Randy Savage’s spin after big moves. MJF is playing to the crowd through the match and Hechicero is using a power based style as MJF is showboating and going for moves that play big.
Hechicero starts working the arm, starting with the Mad Scientist Bomb. Once MJF shows the weakness, Hechicero focuses on it. MJF uses moves one armed, and Taz puts over shoulder injuries and how someone wrestles with one. MJF hits a vertical stalling brain buster for the pin and the win.
Winner: MJF
There is a video putting over the Young Bucks as the creators of the Forbidden Door and how great they are for doing so. The video heels the Acclaimed as miscreants and sociopaths.
The Elite (The Young Bucks & Kazuchika Okada) vs. The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) & Hiroshi Tanahashi
Yes, Tanahashi can’t move as well as he used to, but he still has undeniable charisma, so having him in tag team and other multiman matches lets US fans see him live. Max gets to rap and steals Okada’s “bitch” by using it repeatedly.
We get to start with Okada and Tanahashi, but Okada dumps out of the ring before they lock up. The Acclaimed get a scissor me timbers on both of the Bucks. After that, Max is the babyface in peril and the Bucks start messing with the crowd. Matt wears headphones so he doesn’t hear the crowd booing. Caster finally tags in Bowens after Bowens stops Matt from knocking him off the apron.
The Bucks and the Acclaimed take each other out and we get Tanahashi and Okada tagging in. Bowens hits the arrival, Caster hits the mic drop and Tanahashi goes to the top and the Bucks try to take him out, but he is able to get a high fly flow, and Oakada gets his knees up. After the Bucks have a superkick party, Okada gets an elbow drop from the top and gives a rainmaker middle finger, allowing Tanahashi to recover. After a couple of quick moves, Okada gets a drop kick and a rainmaker on Tanahashi for the pin and the win.
Winners: The Elite
Billy Gunn gets in the ring to keep The Elite from attacking Tanahashi.
The right finish to a good match.
Owen Hart Cup Tournament First-Round Match: Bryan Danielson vs. Shingo Takagi
The announcers are putting over that Bryan isn’t at 100% due to neck issues.
They work arm bars and move to mat wrestling. And Nigel works in a “hawk thua” reference at the start of the match to which Excalibur says “There it is.” Bryan is in control when he uses technical holds and moves, and Shingo is in control when he can use his power moves and strikes. Bryan takes a DDT on the floor, and he is checked out by the ref and the ringside doctor.
The ref says he needs to get back in the ring and starts the count.
When Bryan gets back in the ring, Shingo dominates. Bryan keeps trying to slow down Shingo, but Shingo is able to over power him more often than not. Bryan is able to get the hammer and anvil elbows on the top and then a back suplex, and both men are down. Bryan is grabbing his neck in pain and Shingo is nearly out.
Bryan is able to get to his feet and get in the Yes kicks, but Shingo takes them and fires back. Bryan gets the jugi gitame to the triangle choke with elbows. Shingo lifts him and gets a power slam while in the sleeper hold. After this, the match moves to near falls, and again, it’s Shingo’s power against Bryan’s mat skills. Bryan is able to kick out of Made in Japan.
Shingo keeps hitting big moves and Bryan powers out at the last second. Bryan fires the crowd up before the psycho knee, and the kick and two count is LOUD. Nigel is extra hard on Bryan tonight, and makes me wonder if they might build to something between the two.
Bryan stomps in Shingo’s head in and locks in the triangle choke with elbow strikes. Shingo is able to lift Bryan, but he falls to the mat. Bryan switches it to the arm bar and Shingo has to tap out, verbally.
Winner and moving on to face Pac in the tournament: Bryan Danielson
Shingo and Danielson show respect after the match.
We get the hype video for the next match.
Toni Storm (AEW Women’s Champion) w/Luther vs Mina Shirakawa
Mariah May is in the ring before the match with flowers to present to both Mina and Toni.
Toni comes to the ring as the Statue of Liberty.
Mina is showboating when she gets a chance, and Toni is fighting from a place of anger. MIna then starts working over the knee, wrapping it into the ring post and then a figure four around the ringpost. She slams Toni’s knee into the steel steps and then the floor. When the fight goes to the outside of the ring, Mariah starts to go to comfort Mina, but a look from Toni stops her.
Toni takes control after they fight on the floor until Mina is able to drop kick Toni’s knee. The story becomes that Mina is able to cut off Toni, but Toni keeps trying to get a big move. Mina starts hitting her own big moves, including a DDT off the top rope, but Toni keeps kicking out at two. Mina looks really good here as she gets two counts and looks much stronger than Toni with lifts and strikes.
Toni finally wins after a release German suplex followed by Storm Zero for the pin and the win.
Winner and still AEW Women's champion: Toni Storm
Mariah May gets into the ring to sit with Toni, but keeps looking over at Mina. Toni picks up Mina and Mina calls for a handshake, which Toni gives. Mariah calls for a hug, which they finally do. Then all three kiss, and Excalibur says “How did they know what we did at our pre-show meeting?”
Another hype video before the match. Tony Schiavone is stating he lost his voice this weekend, and that’s why he’s not on tonight’s show.
Zack Sabre Jr. vs Orange Cassidy
Now HERE is a clash of styles. They have a great sequence where they use arm bars and takedown until Cassidy rolls out of the ring. Sabre is mocking Cassidy when he gets a chance. They then both work crossed arm holds and showing how many things you can do with it. Cassidy then ties Sabre up after Sabre mocked Cassidy by telling him to put his hands in his pockets.
Cassidy’s “sloth style” usually belies a strong use of mat work, and this match shows Cassidy able to counter some of Sabre’s stuff. Sabre does the soft kicks followed by a big kick to mock Cassidy. This fires Cassidy up and he goes to work on the taped knee of Sabre. Sabre is able to get a stomp on Cassidy’s arm and then goes to work on Cassidy’s wrist.
The match then becomes each taking turns working on the other’s weakness. Cassidy shows real fire when Sabre does disrespectful moves toward him. Sabre is able to withstand the Orange Punch due to Cassidy’s injured wrist. They trade quick tow counts and counterholds. Sabre wraps Cassidy in a modified Rings of Saturn with his legs, wrapping Cassidy’s legs with his arms and Cassidy has to submit.
Winner: Zach Sabre Jr.
Much better match than I expected as Cassidy matched Sabre’s style. An excellent mat wrestling match that told a solid story.
Coverage Continues on Next Page
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