AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door was a huge success for both promotions, but the event won’t be travelling overseas according to Tony Khan himself.
From the moment it was announced to the pay-per-view going off-air, Forbidden Door was one of the most anticipated pro wrestling cards ever. Combining the vastly different rosters of AEW and NJPW was always going to be a recipe for success, as it proved through its multi-million dollar income.
Speculation is already spiralling with regards to a second Forbidden Door. NJPW President Takumi Ohbari has commented on the matter, stating that he hopes the second outing will occur in Japan. He cited the lack of numerous New Japan performers as the reason for this wish following Tetsuya Naito, KENTA, and EVIL being conspicuous by their absence.
Tony Khan, however, isn’t as keen. The AEW CEO spoke with the New York Post’s Joseph Staszewski, who posed the possibility of a second interpromotional pay-per-view being held in ‘The Land of the Rising Sun’. Khan was quick to shut down the rumours:
“The idea of doing an event over there with AEW stars and New Japan stars is very potentially interesting, but if it happens it won’t be ‘Forbidden Door.’ ‘Forbidden Door’ is gonna stay in North America. It wouldn’t make sense with the time zones, the revenue.”
The inaugural Forbidden Door had been rumoured for months, being made official by Adam Cole on the 20 April broadcast of Dynamite. Kazuchika Okada, Minoru Suzuki, and Hiroshi Tanahashi were among the NJPW stars on offer in Chicago.
Tony Khan has previously discussed how he hopes Forbidden Door becomes an annual event. AEW currently hosts four yearly pay-per-views – Revolution, Double or Nothing, All Out, and Full Gear – but more could be on the way following reports emerging of WarnerMedia wanting additional pay-per-views on the AEW calendar.