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WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN TONIGHT: THE AEW FORBIDDEN DOOR TIP SHEET

AEW will present the 2024 Forbidden Door PPV tonight from Belmont, Long Island, NY at the UBS Arena.  Here are our thoughts on what should go down!

AEW Champion Swerve Strickland vs. AEW International Champion Will Ospreay.

Mike: This show looks like it will run six hours, so let's do a ONE HOUR DRAW.  Just Kidding!  To me, it comes down to this - if Bryan Danielson is going to win the Owen tournament, he's challenging for the belt.  Danielson vs. Ospreay based on the last match and the story that Ospreay has retired the Tiger Driver, seems a lot more valuable to me in terms of trying to draw a massive crowd at Wembley.  We've seen them tease the return of Hangman Page - what if he's coming for Swerve and interferes?  I am leaning towards Ospreay here but I think Swerve has tried really hard to overcome some early sputters out of the gate as champ and I'd hate to see the title change.  Swerve deserves a strong, long reign.

Cory: This one is a tough call for me.  I can see why they would want to have Ospreay as the world champion for All In, however, Swerve has not held the title very long and AEW likes having title reigns that last more than a couple of months.  In their face offs, they are making it seem like Ospreay has Swerve’s number, and the commentary puts over Ospreay as the best wrestler on the roster.  Swerve, on the other hand, is over with the fans.  I am going to say that they put the belt on Ospreay for All In, but it wouldn't shock me if Swerve squeaks it out.

Ladder Match to determine the new AEW TNT Champion: Mark Briscoe vs. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Jack Perry vs. Dante Martin vs. Lio Rush vs. El Phantasmo

Mike: I always want to say Mark Briscoe over everyone but the reality is that unless they are going to surprise everyone with Takeshita, Perry has been the hardest pushed out of the contingent fighting it out here.  We know what to expect - a lot of crazy dives and bumps so if you are an adrenaline junkie, this one will certainly be for you.  Like Cory, I am leaning towards Perry, unless they swerve us with a big Ricochet debut or something.

Cory: All signs point to Perry getting the title so that The Elite can have All The Belts for the storyline of them having all of the power in the company.  Personally, I’d like to see Dante get it for all he’s done for the company in the last few years, and he is good enough to carry the secondary belt, but storyline will trump that. 

AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone vs. NJPW Strong Women’s Openweight Champion Stephanie Vaquer.

Mike: I like Vaquer, but no shot Mone loses.

Cory: Two belt Mone coming out of this show.  Not only is she the biggest talen in the women’s division, but we have only seen video of Vaquer in this feud.  NJPW was going to put the belt on Mone before she was injured, so I say they do it here. 

IWGP World Champion Jon Moxley vs. Tetsuya Naito

Mike: I don't see AEW sending Moxley to the G1.  I am all but expecting Naito to regain the title here.

Cory: Will we get a IWGP title change at an AEW PPV?  It’s pretty clear that Mox loves working in Japan, but his time as IWGP champion has meant he has fewer matches and storylines in AEW.  Naito has held the title before and did a great job as champion, so I see a title change here, and Mox returning to AEW storylines for All In. 

AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm vs. Mina Shirakawa.

Mike: This is all about the loyalty and admiration of Mariah May.  At the end of the day, May will be loyal to Storm.  This will be fun, but I don't see a title change here.

Cory: Mina has made an impression in her time in AEW, and her chemistry with Mariah May is fun to watch, but this is Toni Storm’s run, and they aren’t going to end it to someone who has just come in for the Forbidden Door show.  With Hikaru Shida returning, I have to think they want her in the title picture.  Toni wins. 

Orange Cassidy vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Mike: I think NJPW is going to need some wins, so I am going with Zack.

Cory: It seems that Cassidy always wins at the PPVs, even if it makes sense for him to lose.  

Owen Hart Foundation Tournament: Bryan Danielson vs. Shigo Takagi.

Mike: Danielson all the way here.

Cory: I have to think that Danielson will be in the mix for the title at All In, since he’s on his way to retiring from full-time competition. Takai has been shown to be a monster and a threat to Danielson, but Danielson should be in the final against Jeff Jarrett. I see him winning this one. 

Hechicero vs. MJF.

Mike: MJF is not losing.

Cory: MJF is not going to lose his first PPV match back in Long Island. 

The Young Bucks & Kazuchika Okada vs. The Acclaimed & Hiroshi Tanahashi.

Mike: Well, who would have guessed we would get Tanahashi vs. Okada again? I love the Acclaimed and would love to see them on top, so I am hoping they get the win, but my guy is Okada gets the pin as it makes more sense for the heels to get the win.

Cory: This continues a few feuds, and the Bucks’s title isn’t on the line, so I see them winning to keep the feud with The Acclaimed hot.  They lost one match to them, and they can’t look weak with Okada, so I look for a cheating victory.

Kris Statlander & Momo Watanabe vs. Willow Nightingale & Tam Nakano.

Mike: It makes the most sense for Stokely's team to get the victory.

Cory: This is another easy one. Kris has just turned heel and needs to build up some heat, so beating Willow will do more to cement her new status. 

Saraya vs. Mariah May - Owen Hart Foundation Tournament.

Mike: I don't see any reason for May to lose here but there is probably equity in Saraya challenging for the title at Wembley.   My gut is May.

Cory: Saraya has not won a match in a while and has moved into the person who puts over people on the way up.  May has a huge upside at this point, and it’s clear we are going to get May vs Storm at All In.  May wins.

Lucha Brothers & Mistico vs. Titan & Yota Tsuji & Hiromu Takahashi.

Mike: Like Doc Brown once said, "When this baby gets to 88 mph, you're going to see some serious sh**!"  I expect all out wacky lucha madness and crazy dives here.  Lucha Brothers over.

Cory: Here’s a match with NO buildup.  I have no doubt I will like it since all 6 men can put on a show.  The Lucha Brothers will be going for the Trios titles soon with Pac, so they need the win.

House of Black (Malakai Black and Brody King) vs. Tomohiro Ishii and Kyle O'Reilly vs. Roderick Strong and Gabriel Kidd vs. Private Party (Zay and Quen)

Mike: I will go with House of Black here.  King and Ishii going at it should be a lot of fun.

Cory: Another match out of nowhere. The only two teams who will be in AEW going forward are Private Party and House of Black, and Private Party is in a program with Jericho’s group.  I see House of Black winning, but since there are no stakes or build up, I can see one of the improvised teams winning. 

The Learning Tree (Chris Jericho and Big Bill) and Jeff Cobb (with Bryan Keith) vs. Samoa Joe, Hook, and Katsuyori Shibata

Mike: My gut is Shibata takes the loss here and this will be the New Jack style brawl all over match.

Cory: I think think that Joe, Hook and Shibata have become an entertaining team.  Joe’s team has handed Jericho’s team their behinds every time they have met, so this will be the time The Learning Tree gets one up on Joe’s team.  

 

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