Tag: NJPW

Rocky Romero says the idea for Forbidden Door started with a single text to Tony Khan

Rocky Romero discusses his role in helping AEW and NJPW come together for Forbidden Door on the latest Under the Ring podcast.

AEW and NJPW are less than two weeks away from their second annual Forbidden Door supercard, this time in Toronto. But before that door could be opened for the first time, Rocky Romero had to help will it into existence.

The 40-year-old American has wrestled all over the world, but has been a regular in New Japan Pro-Wrestling since 2010. Fans have seen him win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, tag team gold a number of times — including with AEW star Trent as Roppongi Vice — and much more.

Yet his most important role these days may be as a liaison between AEW and NJPW, a force for getting things done behind the scenes. And it was wearing that hat that Romero helped turn the first Forbidden Door from a dream to a reality, as he recently told Under the Ring host Phil Strum.

“It all started out with a text that I sent [AEW CEO and GM] Tony [Khan],” Romero said. “I think I was traveling or something and I kept thinking like, ‘man, I think it would be cool if we tried to do something, and I think that we could pull it off.’

“So I sent a text to Tony about, ‘Do you think that we could pull off a supershow type of thing?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, I would love to,’ and he starts sending me back ideas for matches and stuff.”

Romero said the idea was that not every match on what would become Forbidden Door needed to be a crossover, and that both companies could continue telling their own stories on the show. The collaboration was the most important part.

“So I went back to New Japan, and I talked to them, and I said, ‘hey, I talked to Tony and there’s this crazy idea and I think that we can do this. Let’s see if we can iron it out.’ The lawyers were able to pull it together, and now here we are.”

Listen to Romero’s full episode above to hear more on:

  • Why AEW and its fans make such a good match for NJPW
  • How difficult it is to produce crossover shows
  • Whether Romero thinks more all-star shows are destined to be part of the future of pro wrestling
  • If Romero himself enjoys crossover shows as an in-ring performer
  • What is most appealing about New Japan to the American wrestling fan
  • Stories from throughout his career, including his run as Black Tiger and his CMLL program with Volador Jr.

Under the Ring drops new episodes every week, with Strum utilizing contacts gleaned from years of pro wrestling fandom and coverage to have an in-depth conversation with a wrestler or other notable personality. Recent guests have included co-creator of Vice’s acclaimed “Dark Side of the Ring” series Evan Husney, recent Crockett Cup winner and former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Trevor Murdoch, and NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton.

To make sure you don’t miss an episode, subscribe to Under the Ring on Apple Podcasts or your podcast provider of choice, or check out the Under the Ring YouTube channel to see all of the interviews in video form.

Tony Khan: In a WWE-UFC merger world, AEW partnership with NJPW ‘more imperative than ever’

Tony Khan would like to see NJPW talent on another big upcoming AEW show after Forbidden Door.

AEW and NJPW have already seen the benefits of working together, including last year’s successful Forbidden Door supercard in Chicago. But there’s something on the horizon that could mean continued cooperation will be even more important.

At least that’s what AEW CEO and GM Tony Khan believes. Speaking to Reuters, he said the impending merger between WWE and UFC — which will become a new, publicly traded entity under current UFC parent company Endeavor — is the kind of impetus that make it even more vital for the No. 1 pro wrestling promotion in Japan and the No. 2 promotion in the U.S. to keep collaborating.

“In a world where the proposed merger happens, as it is suggested on paper, then I would believe the AEW, New Japan Pro Wrestling partnership is more imperative than ever before,” Khan said.

There’s already a Forbidden Door follow-up coming up soon in Toronto later this month. Several high profile matches for that card have already been revealed, and while logistical issues make cross-promotion of the show tricky, it’s expected that more NJPW stars will appear on AEW TV over the next two weeks.

And that’s only one event on a very aggressive AEW schedule for the summer. The company is also launching a new Saturday night prime time show, AEW: Collision, on June 17, and holding its biggest event ever, All In London at Wembley Stadium, in August.

While All In hasn’t been pushed as a crossover show, the need for bigger than usual attractions to help fulfill expectations (and sell more tickets in massive Wembley Stadium) is obvious. Could that include more participation from NJPW talent?

Khan hopes so, saying “it would be a huge benefit to AEW if there is participation from New Japan Pro Wrestling and some of their top stars in the event.”

NJPW president Takami Ohbari told Reuters his company would consider sending some wrestlers if AEW reached out, and agreed that continued cooperation would be in both promotions’ best interest.

“It’s really mutually beneficial in terms of the global expansion for New Japan and also for AEW,” he said.

Two companies a world apart geographically but united in common goals sounds a little too good to be true for wrestling fans, but that was before Forbidden Door opened eyes to what’s possible. It’s an idea too good for everyone involved to not continue to pursue.

AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2023: Date, start time

When is Forbidden Door 2023? We get you set for the second annual AEW x NJPW pay-per-view supershow from Toronto.

It’s almost time for the door to open wide again — the Forbidden Door, that is.

The first jointly produced card between AEW and NJPW proved a success last summer in Chicago, so a sequel just seemed like the right thing to do. That made it no surprise when both promotions announced that Forbidden Door 2023 would indeed become a reality this June.

What raised some eyebrows was the location: Toronto. Forbidden Door will be the first ever AEW pay-per-view to take place north of the border and its first ever outside the U.S. (though it will be followed in short order by All In London, which looms as its largest event to date). That will allow a whole new group of fans to enjoy the card, which has already revealed a pair of dream matches.

Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay met in a highly regarded bout at Wrestle Kingdom earlier in the year, with Omega winning and claiming the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. Ospreay will have a chance to avenge that loss and reclaim the gold in one fell swoop if he can win in Toronto.

And in a meeting that AEW has billed as the best wrestler of all time vs. the best in the world right now, Bryan Danielson will take on Kzuchika Okada in the first ever match between two men who have helped define the art form over the last 10-15 years.

Considering that last year’s show featured nine matches (with four more on the pre-show), there’s bound to be plenty more added as the time draws closer. AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door 2023 goes down on Sunday, June 25. The main card will have a start time of 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on PPV, though it’s expected to once again have a pre-show with additional bouts that should start one hour earlier.

Is Kenta vs. CM Punk finally going to happen at Forbidden Door?

CM Punk and Kenta might be meeting at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door in a battle of the Go to Sleep masters.

Who is the true master of the Go to Sleep? It sounds like we’ll find out at Forbidden Door. Maybe.

Kenta was the man who first popularized one very specific way to introduce someone’s face to your knee, but the move became much more well known as the finisher for CM Punk. It’s not like Punk didn’t acknowledge he “borrowed” the maneuver — he’s always admitted as much, and that by not renaming his version, it was an homage of sorts.

Yet the two men have had something of a social media rivalry over the years over it, leading fans to wonder if they’d ever settle Go to Sleep custody in the ring. Now that possibility appears closer than ever, with Fightful Select (subscription required) reporting that “the working plan” is for Kenta to have a match at Forbidden Door.

We’ll give you two guesses who the opponent would be.

For his part, Kenta still says he needs a boatload of money to face Punk, which is what he’s been tweeting even before this most recent report.

The two men have never faced off in a match, much less one on one, so there would be a natural level of intrigue from hardcore wrestling fans to see them do battle. Of course, Punk is arguably AEW’s most reliable mass appeal draw too, so finding a place for him on the Forbidden Door card is simply good business sense — particularly with AEW pushing him heavily as the anchor of AEW: Collision, which will debut in Chicago the weekend before Forbidden Door.

The card for the June 25 show has only two official matches announced so far, but they’re both dream bouts for many fans: a rematch between Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay, and the first ever meeting between Bryan Danielson and Kazuchika Okada. Punk-Kenta could arguably be just a tad below those two, but there’s no denying it would be an attractive addition if it comes together.

AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2023 card: All the matches set for Toronto

Take a look at the full AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2023 card ahead of this year’s event in Toronto.

Wrestling fans enjoy fantasy booking just about any big card in their heads as a matter of habit, but Forbidden Door lends itself to that pastime more than any other show. The first AEW and NJPW co-branded event in 2022 was a big hit, which only kicked the anticipation up even higher for the follow-up this year.

Of course, both companies had their own big events to get through first. But as soon as Double or Nothing was in the rear view mirror come the beginning of June (and with the very real added twist of AEW: Collision launching just a week before Forbidden Door and including the return of CM Punk), thoughts started turning toward the card in Toronto.

NJPW Dominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall started laying some of the foundation for Forbidden Door in earnest, turning two dream matches into reality: one a rematch of a highly praised bout at Wrestle Kingdom in January, and the other featuring two of the best wrestlers in Japan and the U.S. over the past two decades.

If last year’s event is any guide, there will likely be championship and multi-person matches added before June 25 arrives. There’s also an interesting question about whether the card will feature more women’s wrestling than the single match in 2022 given NJPW’s increasing (though still small) steps toward incorporating women into their promotion.

We’ll update this post as more matches are made official. For now, here’s what been revealed for Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

(Last update: June 14, 2023, 9:40 p.m.)

AEW Forbidden Door 2023 card:

G1 Climax 33 participants: Who’s in the 2023 field?

See all 32 wrestlers entered in the 2023 G1 Climax 33 tournament NJPW is holding this summer.

Along with a full night of championship bouts and other intrigue, one of the fun parts of NJPW Dominion 6.4 in Osaka on Sunday was the announcement of the G1 Climax 33 field. All 32 participants were revealed about halfway through the card, including a pair of fun entrants from outside NJPW.

One of them will be very familiar to North American wrestling fans: the Mad King himself, Eddie Kingston. He hasn’t been appearing much on AEW television as of late, but will be plenty busy in New Japan’s summer tournament.

The other outsider is Pro Wrestling Noah star Kaito Kiyomiya. The two-time GHC Heavyweight Champion will undoubtedly be in some dream matchups for fans of Japanese wrestling as the G1 plays out.

Here’s a look at the entire field in the order it was announced; no blocks have been revealed as of yet. Anyone marked with an asterisk is a first-time G1 Climax entrant.

G1 Climax 33 participants:

  • Kazuchika Okada
  • Tetsuya Naito
  • SANADA
  • Will Ospreay
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi
  • David Finlay
  • Shota Umino *
  • Shingo Takagi
  • Tomohiro Ishii
  • Tama Tonga
  • Tanga Loa
  • Hikuleo *
  • Hirooki Goto
  • YOSHI-HASHI
  • Toru Yano
  • KENTA
  • Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Taichi
  • Eddie Kingston *
  • El Phantasmo
  • Ren Narita *
  • EVIL
  • Chase Owens
  • Jeff Cobb
  • Great-O-Khan
  • Aaron Henare
  • Gabriel Kidd *
  • Alex Coughlin *
  • Shane Haste *
  • Mikey Nicholls *
  • Yota Tsuji *
  • Kaito Kiyomiya *

The 2023 G1 Climax tournament begins on Saturday, July 15 and Sunday, July 16 in Hokkaido. The semifinals are set for Saturday, Aug. 12 and the final on Aug. 13 at Sumo Hall in Ryogoku.

NJPW Dominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall results: Sanada retains, but Yota Tsuji looks like a fan favorite

Yota Tsuji looked like a star even in defeat while challenging Sanada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Dominion 6.4 in Osaka.

Is Yota Tsuji the kind of supernova that can shoot right to a world title? He’ll need to be to defeat Sanada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship so soon after returning from his overseas excursion. Now a member of LIJ, Tsuji has Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi, Bushi and Titan out ringside to support him, and Shingo Takagi even leaves the Japanese commentary desk to join in. The Just 5 Guys crew is out to back the champ as well, watching as all six members of LIJ do the raised fist circle.

The “Yota” chants are evident and draw a smile from the challenger as the bell rings. Tsuji grabs a side headlock, then runs over the champ with a shoulder tackle. He spears Sanada when he tries a leapfrog, and the crowd loves it. They love it even more when he hits a somersault plancha to the floor.

Tsuji coms charging in from a football crouch but catches a kick to the face. Sanada decides to grab and lean back into the Skull End, and Tsuji is in the hold for quite some time. Sanada finally lets it go and attempts a moonsault, but he catches nothing but knees.

The two men stand and trade strikes, with forearms and chops going both ways. A backbreaker by Tsuji leads to a Boston Crab, with Yota smiling again as he leans back. Some fans are chanting for Sanada, but Yota chants drown them out.

A reverse Gory special is on target for Yota, but his moonsault not so much. Sanada isn’t quick to rise, however, as he is still shaking off earlier offense. The champ picks up the pace and hits a dropkick, knocking Tsuji out to the floor where he’s nailed by a plancha.

A huge missile dropkick by Sanada is immediately answered by a superkick. Both men are down, with the fans mostly urging on Tsuji. Back to chops they go, and once again Tsuji seems to be giving better than he gets. A driver of some sort gets him a two count, and he takes the champ up to the top rope. He delivers a Spanish Fly with a half twist and nearly gets a three from it.

Some back and forth leads to a Deadfall attempt, but Tsuji breaks free for a headbutt and a Stomp. He hooks the leg but Sanada just barely kicks out in time.

They run the ropes and Tsuji looks for a spear, but Sanada hits a dropkick, a moonsault, a Shining Wizard and Deadfall, and that burst of offense is enough to end it. LIJ doesn’t enter the ring to help out Tsuji, which the announcers note.

Sanada gets on the mic and says Tsuji should get on the grind and get some results for LIJ, then he can challenge for the title again. He says next time they are in Okada it will be for the G1, and that he will win it as champion and choose his challenger for Wrestle Kingdom. Taichi gives him a fist bump for that.

Sanada says today he can say that he really, really likes this town before a burst of gold streamers goes up and he’s held on the shoulders of his teammates.

Click here for full NJPW Dominion 6.4 results from Osaka.

NJPW Dominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall results: Okada, Ishii, Tanahashi hold off Mox, Claudio, Umino

The BCC and Shots Umino couldn’t take the six-man titles from Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii and Hiroshi Tanahashi at NJPW Dominion 6.4.

The announcers had been speculating all night that there was a question about whether Claudio Castagnoli had made it to Japan. Shota Umino comes out first for his team, followed by Jon Moxley, and yes, Claudio. The champs make their way out to face them, with Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii and Hiroshi Tanahashi entering as one unit. As the English announce team notes, there are titles at stake even though this match doesn’t need them.

The Ace and the Swiss Superman start things out for their respective teams. Claudio scores with a shoulder tackle and a European uppercut, but Tanahashi foils a second and plays the air guitar. That ticks off Mox, who ends up going toe to toe with Ishii. The champs all hit the ring and take down all their foes one by one.

Castagnoli trades shots with Tanahashi before hitting a sweet backbreaker and tagging in Umino. He wants Okada, and Tana gladly tags in the Rainmaker. That’s bad news for Umino, who gets sent over the barricade but fights off a DDT attempt and gives Okada his own taste of the steel. He also throws a table at Okada for good measure.

Moxley becomes the legal man for the first time and quickly hammers Okada with kicks. Claudio comes back in to deliver an impressive gutwrench suplex, forcing Okada to kick out at two.

A half crab by Moxley is cinched in, but Ishii hammers Moxley before getting nailed in turn by Umino. Everyone is knocked off the apron for a second, but Okada is stuck in the enemy corner and getting absolutely pummeled.

Umino pokes the bear a bit too much, leading to an Okada DDT. Both men are down and the fans are clapping, so Claudio and Tanahashi tag in. The Ace blasts Mox with a low dropkick and smashes Umino with a stiff slap. He dragon screws Claudio’s leg as well, then tags in Ishii. The Stone Pitbull prevails in a test of strength to suplex Castagnoli.

Claudio repays him in kind, tagging in Moxley to unleash corner clotheslines and punches before biting Ishii’s ear. Mox gets the Figure Four appplied until Okada breaks it up. Moxley’s double clothesline knocks down both members of Chaos, and a piledriver on Ishii forces Tana into a save.

Moxley rains down hammer and anvil elbows and hits a sliding lariat for another near fall. Ishii suplexes his way out of a bulldog choke and the two men exchange strikes until Mox hits a DDT.

A bloody Mox hits a Stomp only to see Okada make the save. A clothesline forces another kickout even as Moxley is clearly now bleeding. His cutter to Ishii is answered by a running lariat, and now both men are down on the mat.

Okada returns with a vengeance, cranking on Umino’s neck. He kicks Shota’s head repeatedly as well until a dropkick puts that to a halt. Claudio sends Okada for a big swing that goes 20+ revolutions. Umino nearly pins Okada afterward, but a save is made.

Umino’s around the world neckbreaker connects, but Okada wipes him out with a dropkick. Death Rider II hits, but Okada is still able to kick out at two.

A series of signature moves from different men follows, and Umino is hit by triple team offense and still somehow kicks out at two. A vicious Rainmaker ends a back and forth exchange between Okada and Umino, and that’s a move Shota isn’t kicking out of.

Moxley takes the microphone after the match and says they bring a message from the best wrestler in the world. It’s Bryan Danielson, and he says there’s no rain in the desert for the Rainmaker. Okada takes the mic in response and says he will share a ring with Bryan, because he can make it rain anywhere … and the Forbidden Door will be opened!

Click here for full NJPW Dominion results from Osaka.

NJPW Dominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall results: Hiromu Takahashi squeaks by Master Wato

Hiromu Takahashi had just enough to retain his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Master Wato at NJPW Dominion 6.4.

Carrying his Best of Super Juniors trophy, Master Wato heads down the ramp first. The English announce team reminds viewers of how Wato made his debut during the pandemic and finally has a chance to make it to the top of the mountain tonight. Hiromu Takahashi makes his entrance next as only he can.

Wato hears the cheers from his hometown fans as the bell rings, bringing a wry smile from Hiromu. He gets the better of the early exchanges, but the champ drags him to the floor and hammers him into the barricades several times. A dropkick off the apron sends Wato through the gate, and Hiromu brings him back in the ring to cover for a quick two.

Chops and a corner charge set up a low dropkick for Takahashi. He brings Wato up the ramp in the fireman’s carry position, then suplexes him on the ramp. The ref orders them back to the ring, then starts a count for Wato. Hiromu is amused as Wato rolls himself back down the ramp to help him get back there quicker and beats the 20 counts.

Wato retaliates with a dropkick to compose himself, then hits a nice tope con hilo to the outside. A bulldog follows, and he covers for a two count. They roll around on the floor until Hiromu can force a rope break.

A short series of counters ends with a falcon arrow for Hiromu. He picks up Wato and smashes him into the corner pad, but gets countered on the mat with a lot of pressure on his neck. Takahashi has to scoot forward on his backside to get his legs to the ropes for a break.

Hiromu gets in trouble on the apron, and ends up on the floor where he is a sitting duck for a torneo, Wato tries to come off the top rope but is countered and hits the mat hard.

It takes some doing, but Hiromu scores a near fall with the Dynamite Plunger. He connects with a clothesline, but his Time Bomb II is countered and leaves Wato looking for the RPP. Hiromu meets him in the corner and they battle back to the center of the ring. Wato hits Recientemente and gets another near fall.

A big German suplex and a bridge force Takahashi to kick out, then he nerly gets rolled up. Wato switches to Vendaval, and Hiromu looks like he’s fading but manages to hang in there. He’s not tapping out, and he summons up all the strength he has left to get his foot on the middle rope for a break.

Wato’s waistlock forces a series of elbows from the champ, who finds the mark with a series of kicks and a big lariat. Wato hits a spinning kick to the head and hits the Tsutenkaku German for two. Hiromu nearly rolls him up for the win, then hits a pair of kicks but can’t hit Time Bomb II. He hits the original Time Bomb instead, and that’s not enough to win it.

The fans are louder now as they get behind Wato. But the Time Bomb II is on the mark, and the hometown challenger goes down to defeat.

Click here for full NJPW Dominion 6.4 results from Osaka.

NJPW Dominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall results: David Finlay snuffs out El Phantasmo’s bid for revenge

See how David Finlay was able to prevent El Phantasmo from getting revenge in the NEVER Openweight Championship match at NJPW Dominion 6.4.

The man who vowed to take down Bullet Club one member at a time, El Phantasmo, comes to the ring first. That task might be more difficult now, since BC leader David Finlay has added four more members to the group just tonight, and they flank the entranceway as he makes his ring walk.

ELP wastes no time taking it to his former teammate, flying to the floor and then over the barricade to crash into Finlay. The fans seem to enjoy that quite a bit.

Phantasmo lays in some chops and forearm shots before sliding the champ back into the ring. A springboard cross body and springboard moonsault lead to a two count for the challenger.

Some more fancy rope work has Finlay back on the floor, but when Phantasmo tries to run the ropes, the new Bullet Club recruits menace him into hesitation that Finlay uses to his advantage.

Finlay continues his assault on the outside, shares a Too Sweet salute with the others, then hurls ELP into the post before posing. The champ goes under the ring and gets out a table. He almost regrets it as Phantasmo tries for a move off the apron, but Finlay takes the fight back into the ring for a senton and a near fall.

A hard Irish whip into the corner racks ELP’s back with pain, and Finlay steps on the back of his neck as well. Finlay stays on the attack, grabbing a chinlock and forcing Phantasmo’s face into the mat.

The fans try to rally ELP as he’s hit repeatedly in the back of the head. A dropkick finally buys the challenger a breather, and the fans chant for him again. An atomic drop and a body slam score for Phantasmo, who comes off the middle rope with an elbowdrop.

The Bullet Club recruits get on the apron as a distraction, and Finlay charges into the corner to make him pay. The champ whips out an exploder suplex, but he’s caught rushing into the corner and hung in the tree of woe. ELP’s sliding kick connects, and he covers for another two.

A big springboard tornado DDT is on target, but Finlay kicks out again at two. ELP looks for CRII, but Finlay fights out and sets off an exchange of strikes. Phantasmo twists his foe’s nipples and bounces right back up after a suplex and stomps the champ into a corner.

ELP comes in a little too fast and is catapulted into the turnbuckle, and Finlay scores a couple of near falls in quick succession. Phantasmo replies with a series of kicks, then another two count. But Finlay powers him off the top rope into a Dominator, forcing the challenger to dig down to kick out before the three.

Finlay looks for Oblivion but gets caught with a pair of superkicks, and it’s a longer two count this time. ELP slams the champ down and ends up diving onto all four members of the BC on the outside. He superkicks Gedo too, but he’s now taken too long, so Finlay pushes him off the top rope and then sends him through a table on the floor.

They head back into the ring, where Finlay hits a powerbomb. He does the throat slash gesture and hits Oblivion, and that’s all she wrote for ELP.

Click here for full NJPW Dominion 6.4 results from Osaka.