AEW x NJPW: Death Riders fall victim to the Ace

Sully Khan

Promo poster for AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door at the O2 in London, England on Sunday, August 24th, 2025.

It’s that time of year again when the pathway is opened between All Elite Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling. Forbidden Door 2025 is here, live from the O2 in London!

Among other questions that will be answered are:

Will Kip Sabian use the hometown momentum to his advantage with Killswitch and overpower Cope and Christian Cage? Will The Hurt Syndicate be able to fend off two legitimate threats in FTR and Brodido? Will either Athena or MJF be successful with executing their Casino Gauntlet championship contract match? Will Darby Allin, Will Ospreay, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and the Golden Lovers dismantle the Death Riders in a Lights Out Steel Cage match?

We’ve got a loaded card so make sure you’re comfortable. Graps, here we come!

With four matches scheduled, Zero Hour starts with Renee Paquette saying that Bryan Danielson is elsewhere. Madison Rayne is subbed in for him for the time being.

1P. CRU, Josh Alexander, and Hechicero vs. El Desperado, Paragon, and Yuya Uemura

The crowd doesn’t let Don Callis feel welcome, booing and chanting at him for a good minute before he makes his way down to the ring. He interrupts Arkady Aura as she’s about to introduce Hechicero. He does so en Espanol.

Alexander starts the match against Uemura. Heavy shots both ways before they give way to Hechicero and El Desperado, respectively. Hechicero tags Alexander but Lio Rush jumps in after tagging himself. CRU don’t take kindly to being overlooked by their teammates.

Rush works on Roderick Strong but he comes back with a massive Backbreaker.

Uemura and Alexander get back in and Uemura gets the advantage with a Standing Drop Kick. Alexander comes back with a Backbreaker.

Lio Rush hits a Frog Splash on Uemura and goes for the pin but El Desperado breaks it up just in time. The self-proclaimed heir to Tanahashi hits Butterfly Suplex on Rush but he kicks out. He follows up with a Suplex and wins it.

Winners: El Desperado, Paragon, and Yuya Uemura.

The Don Callis Family goes for the post-loss beatdown and Tomohiro Ishii struts down. Lance Archer and him meet in the ring. Ishii hits a Delayed Brainbuster on Archer. Roderick Strong seems unimpressed and pulls Kyle O’Reilly out towards the exit.

2P. Ricochet and Gates of Agony vs. Michael Oku (with Amira Blair) and JetSpeed

Ricochet’s music rudely interrupts Madison Rayne as he and GoA seem intent on ruffling everyone’s feathers.

Ricochet and Oku start as the crowd chants their hometown wrestler. Oku teases the Half-Crab but Gates of Agony interrupt him. Oku and JetSpeed combine for a triple slap to Ricochet’s head after Bishop Kaun calls out bald people in the crowd.

Toa Liona tosses Oku way too easily over the top rope onto the mat outside. Ricochet goes for a cover but Oku kicks out. Knight tags in and fights off all three opponents.

Bailey hits a beautiful backflip Moonsaul, landing both knees into Kaun’s gut. Oku lands a big Frog Splash on Ricochet but the kick out keeps the match going.

Oku nails a submission but Ricochet gouges his eyes. Kaun hits a textbook Missile Dropkick. Ricochet follows with a Spirit Gun.

Winners: Ricochet and Gates of Agony.

3P. Megan Bayne (with Penelope Ford) and Triangle of Madness vs. Willow Nightingale, Queen Aminata, Harley Cameron, and Kris Statlander

Willow starts against Thekla but it quickly turns into all eight competitors in the ring. Things settle with Nightingale and Thekla back in the ring. The Toxic Spider gains a short advantage.

Hart and Blue team up to take down Statlander. Megan Bayne picks up Nightingale and drops her and Aminata together.

Penelope Ford inserts herself as everyone and their dog could have expected, tilting the match.

Thekla gets Statlander with the Spider Lock. Statlander throws Skye Blue over her. She tags in Harley Cameron, opting against Nightingale. Bayne catches Cameron off the ropes and hits a Fallaway Slam.

Animata goes for the clothesline on Bayne but it doesn’t connect. She hits the Snap Mare. Aminata counters and almost wins it.

Bayne tosses Cameron easily but she gets rid of the facemask and almost pins Bayne, getting two on the count. Thekla and Aminata keep brawling as the head up the ramp.

Statlander inadvertently hits Nightingale. Bayne connects on a Liger Bomb on Cameron.

Winners: Megan Bayne and Triangle of Madness.

Lexy Nair is backstage with the Young Bucks. They’re wearing shirts that say “One Day Talent Pass”. They threaten a production guy and get him to fill a bag with weapons.

Tony Schiavone introduces Tony Khan, Dr. Martha Hart, and Oje Hart as they thank the crowd for supporting the Owen Hart Foundation.

4P. The Opps (c) vs. Bullet Club War Dogs (with Gedo) for the AEW World Trios Championship

Clark Connors and Katsuyori Shibata start off. Connors trained under Shibata when he arrived in Japan.

Samoa Joe and Drilla Moloney exchange heavy shots. Robbie X tags in and finds nothing but the mat as he tries to fall Samoa Joe. Classic Joe.

Shibata comes in and hits a beautiful Drop Kick in the corner. He gets worked over and the War Dogs take advantage. It takes a while, but Hobbs gets tagged in. He takes out all three War Dogs but they quickly turn it around on him. The chemistry of the War Dogs is undeniable.

Hobbs fights back with a Spinebuster on Moloney before tagging in Samoa Joe. Gedo gets his leg on the rope to try interfering and Shibata kicks the rope.

Samoa Joe wins it.

Winners: The Opps retain the AEW Trios Championships.

Forbidden Door 2025

Bryan Danielson is now on commentary.

1. Adam Copeland and Christian Cage vs. Kip Sabian and Killswitch (with Mother Wayne)

This just hits different. Cope and Cage teaming for the first time in around 14 years.

Cope starts against Sabian. He gains the advantage and tags in Cage. The cold-out O2 crowd eats it up. Killswitch tags in and the crowd chants “Luchasaurus”. Cage ducks and tags Cope, surprising Cope more than anyone else.

Killswitch (let’s please switch back to his old moniker!) slams Cope onto the apron. Sabian tags himself in and Killswitch seems less than impressed. Killswitch tosses Sabian onto Cope in the corner but Cope kicks out of the pinfall attempt.

Cage reaches for the tag but it isn’t close enough. Killswitch tags in a bloodied Sabian with a firm slap and tosses him into the ring. Mother Wayne distracts Cage and Sabian gets him down as Mother Wayne says he deserves all of it.

Killswitch and Cage finally get tagged in together and Cage lays in with numerous chops. Killswitch headbutts him and drops him way too easily. Cage dodges and Killswitch ends up with his shoulder into the ring post. Cage goes for a big spot.

Sabian tags as Killswitch gets hit with a Double Impaler. Cage hits Sabian with a DDT. Sabian eats the pin from Cage after he and Cope show off some teamwork.

Winners: Adam Copeland and Christian Cage.

Cope and Cage embrace after their victory. Cage doesn’t opt for the hug, going for a handshake with his lifelong friend.

2. Kyle Fletcher (c) (with Don Callis and Lance Archer) vs. Hiromu Takahashi for the TNT Championship

These two faced off at Forbidden Door 2023 with Ospreay’s and Fletcher’s former stable United Empire against the now-disbanded LIJ.

Takahashi goes for his unpredictable offense but Fletcher stifles him. He takes control early, despite a number of pinfall attempts that Takahashi fights out of.

Fletcher gets stifled with a Huricanrana. Fletcher gets dropped but the challenger’s pin isn’t the best and the Aussie fights out of it.

The two exchange big moves, culminating with Fletcher dropping his challenge with a Michinoku Driver. Fletcher heads to the top rope and this gives Takahashi enough time to fight back. Fletcher hits an Avalanche Back Suplex from the top rope and Takahashi fights out.

A Liger Bomb and the Ticking Timebomb again kicks out.

Takahashi eats a bunch of shots while laughing. Takahashi kicks out at one after a massive kick to the chest. Takahashi reverses and lands Fletcher on his face on the outside of the ring.

The Ticking Timebomb finally succumbs to a Brainbuster.

Winner: Kyle Fletcher retains the TNT Championship.

3. Mercedes Mone (c) vs. Persephone of CMLL, Bozilla of Stardom, and Alex Windsor of AEW for the TBS Championship

Nine Belt Mone has an entrance fit for a multi-champion.

The belt rings and the challengers surround her. Bozilla takes down Persephone and Windsor. Mone gets dropped onto the other two outside the ring after a Fireman’s Carry.

Mone gets dropped with a Double Flapjack from Persephone and Windsor. Bozilla hits them both with a Double Suplex. Mone drops Persephone with an Arm Drag but the CMLL challenger gets up immediately.

Bozilla picks up Persephone with a Bear Hug and just drops her on her back, falling away. The crowd shows their appreciation for the 21-year-old as she dominates all three more experienced wrestlers.

Mone gets Persephone and Windsor into a Double Statement Maker. Windsor gets a Double Sharpshooter. Bozilla re-enters the fray, stepping on Mone’s hands. Bozilla goes after Windsor. Persephone spears Windsor but Bozilla lays them both out. She goes after Mone. Bozilla kicks out after a Reverse Huricanrana by the champion.

Bozilla hits a Suplex on Windsor. The commentary team discusses that she’s German so she’d just call a German Suplex a Suplex.

Persephone drops Bozilla but then gets into a Sharpshooter by Windsor. Mone comes in with a Lungblower.

Mone hits a reversal on Persephone.

Winner: Mercedes Mone retains the TBS Championship.

4. Zach Sabre, Jr. (c) vs. Nigel McGuinness (with Daniel Garcia) for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship

Fans of technical wrestling, this one’s going to be a treat for you. Both start by rolling through Snap Mares to lessen the effect.

ZSJ goes to work with twisting himself out of a hold and reversing it into a Wrist Lock on McGuinness. This goes back and forth for a while between the two evenly-matched technicians.

The champion has McGuinness’ wrist held in between them but he takes the opportunity to flip the bird.

Walker Stewart from NJPW highlights that this match hasn’t been in the works since McGuinness won the four-way on Collision. This has been in the making since 2011 when ZSJ met McGuinness on his retirement tour and was upset they’d never wrestle one another.

McGuinness almost takes off the champion’s head and tries to lock in the London Dungeon. before breaking it with a Stomp.

Sabre, Jr. gets a toe hold and an arm hold on McGuinness. Garcia pushes the rope and referee Stephon Smith gives him an earful, allowing McGuinness to break free of the hold.

Another massive Lariat from McGuinness forces his opponent to kick out of the pinfall attempt. Sabre, Jr. and Garcia stare each other down. McGuinnes nails a big hit and only gets two on the pinfall before the two trade multiple attempts.

In the blink of an eye, ZSJ gets that extra second.

Winner: Zach Sabre, Jr. retains the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

The two receive a roaring ovsation from the crowd and show each other much respect. Garcia gives McGuinness a hug. Tony Schiavone makes note of the record-breaking attendance of 18,992 fans.

Thekla and Queen Aminata are backstage fighting still and they end up back towards the ring. Aminata nails the headbutt and stands tall but Julia Hart and Skye Blue attack her from behind.

JAMIE HAYTER MAKES THE SAVE!

5. The Hurt Syndicate (c) vs. FTR and Brodido in a three-way for the AEW World Tag Team Championships

Can someone explain why Stoke is wearing a jacket on top of another jacket?

Sometimes, you don’t need pomp and frill for an entrance to intimidate.

Bandido knocks Shelton Benjamin to the outside and connects with a Tope Suicida. But Benjamin comes right back and drops Bandido on his stomach.

Unable to make a tag to Brody King or even to FTR, Bandido absorbs a lot of offense from the champions as they make frequent tags to stay fresh.

Bandido connects with a knee before King finally gets tagged in, running through FTR. Schiavone points out that there’s no finesse needed with King, just pure power. Brody King and Bobby Lashley get in each other’s faces in the middle of the ring as the crowd chants “MEAT!”

Brody King and Cash Wheeler combine for a Shatter Machine on Shelton Benjamin. The Hurt Syndicate catch Wheeler outside off his Tope Suicida. Brody King crashes into all three. Bandido grabs Dax Harwood and flies on top of the other four.

Three attackers wearing NJPW track suits and face coverings attack the champs. They turn out to be Ricochet and Gates of Agony. The Hurt Syndicate are chased out.

Brody King eats a chair shot to the head but recovers. Bandido hits Harwood with a Frog Splash.

Winners: AND NEW AEW World Tag Team Champions, Brodido!

6. Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Swerve Strickland for the AEW Unified Championship

Jim Ross joins the commentary desk for this match but so does Don Callis. Prince Nana comes out but doesn’t stay at ringside for this one due to the rules.

The two get tangled against the ropes before exchanging heavy chops. Okada hits a big move but barely stifles his challenger. Strickland comes back with a diving drop to the outside. Strickland’s knee gives way a bit but he recovers enough to hit the griddy.

Okada Catapults Strickland outside the ring. He lands awkwardly on his bad knee and then takes both Okada’s boots to the face. Mounting a comeback, he gets stifled again as Okada counters on the steel steps.

Okada moves to taunting his challenger with boots to the back of his head. Strickland gets back momentum with Okada perhaps focusing too much on the right knee of his opponent.

Okada gets dropped off of the top rope but can’t capitalize right away, bracing his neck after the drop on the steel steps. Okada hits a Tombstone on the floor.

Okada drops the elbow from the top rope and goes for the Rainmaker but Strickland fights it off as best he can. Strickland counters the Rainmaker with a House Call, maintaining wrist control. He hits three Short-Arm Lariats with his left hand. Strickland hits a Swerve Stomp off the ropes but his knee doesn’t allow him to get the cover as cleanly as he should have.

Okada hits a Kneebreaker on the top turnbuckle, further damaging Strickland’s right knee. Okada connects on a Missile Drop Kick but Strickland hits a House Call. Another one misses and Okada hits the Rainmaker.

Winner: Kazuchika Okada retains his AEW Unified Championship.

Okada continues attacking Strickland’s knee with the steel steps but Prince Nana rushes out with a lead pipe.

WARDLOW COMES OUT OF NOWHERE. Prince Nana gets clotheslined. This might be Don Callis’ insurance policy.

The Family comes out. Konosuke Takeshita’s music hits and he and Wardlow stare each other down and nod heads.

7. “Timeless” Toni Storm vs. Athena (with Billie Starkz) for the AEW Women’s World Championship

The champion wastes no time, quickly sending Athena outside. She quickly hits Billie Starkz with a Storm Zero. Athena lands a huge kick to Storm, shorting an LED board on the barricade.

Athena focuses on the champion’s neck after last week. Storm is able to evade and hit a Jawbreaker. Athena slams Storm’s head into the ring post numerous times.

Athena screams out “off with her head!” as Storm is hung over the ropes. Storm fights out of the predicament but Athena keeps the momentum. Storm gets a moment’s respite before going for a TCM Chicken Wing.

Athena comes back with a Suplex. Storm hits a DDT and a Tiger Driver but can’t end it.

Storm comes back with Mongolian Chops. Athena comes back with a Thrust Kick and a massive elbow to the jaw. Storm stays alive.

Billie Starkz distracts Storm and Athena drops her off the ropes. Athena gets the champ into a modified Koji Clutch, getting her leg to the bottom rope to force the break.

Storm gets the Chicken Wing but Athena drops towards the ropes to force the break and follows up with a Tope Suicida. Athena goes up to the steps but Storm fights out and drops Athena’s head onto the steps before tossing her into the barricade.

Back in the ring, Storm hits a headbutt and Storm Zero. Athena stays alive.

Starkz again gets involved but Athena hits an O-Face. Mina Shirakawa chases off Starkz. Storm fights out. She locks in the Chicken Wing in the middle of the ring.

Winner: “Timeless” Toni Storm retains the AEW Women’s World Championship.

8. “Hangman” Adam Page (c) vs. MJF for the AEW Men’s World Championship

MJF evades early and often to begin the match, doing his best to anger the champ and get under his skin as much as he can. Page finally unloads and both get out of the ring.

MJF gets dropped inside the ring again and rolls out. Page grabs the chair and thinks for a moment. Referee Bryce Remsburg tells him to think about it. Returning to the ring, MJF sends Page head first into the ring post. The challenger takes control but Page gets up and fights back. MJF pokes his eyes. MJF hits a clean Piledriver. Page kicks out. MJF gets Page onto the top rope and bites him. Again, doing whatever he can to anger the champion and maybe force a DQ.

Page fights him off and hits a Flying Lariat off the top rope. He connects on a Fall Away Slam. The champ hits a Moonsault off the top rope. Page then hits a massive Powerbomb as MJF yells out “WTF!” while he’s in mid-air. MJF counters the Buckshot Lariat into Salt of the Earth. Page comes back with a Cross-Face that MJF also counters well.

MJF hits a Cutter and a DDT but Page kicks out of the pinfall. MJF clears off the timekeeper’s table, bringing it out to the spot between the ramp and the ring. He lays Page out on the table. Page gets up before MJF can get up and off. Page counters and hits a Tombstone on the floor.

Page seems to be letting the anger get to him a bit. He finally hits a Deadeye through the table. He goes for a pinfall but it’s too close to the rope. MJF baited Page in. Drop Toe Hold sends Page face-first into the chair. He then sends Page head-first into the steel steps. MJF yells out to Bryan Danielson that he “f!@#$* sucks!” MJF goes for a Deadeye on the same broken table.

Page gets back into the ring as the referee got up to nine on the count-out. MJF uncovers the steel of the turnbuckle but Page turns it around and busts MJF’s head open.

The two slug it out and both fall. They both see-saw pinfall attempts. Page hits a Deadeye and MJF kicks out at two. MJF goads him in with the Dynamite Diamond Ring but it doesn’t work. MJF pulls the referee into the path. Page gets pinned but his foot is on the rope and the referee doesn’t see it, dazed from being caught in the crossfire.

Page keeps his foot on the rope.

Briscoe comes out and gives the rope attention. The referee finally sees it and says the match will continue. MJF goes for a low blow and still doesn’t keep him down for three!

MJF uses the contract case to nail Page in the head. He again gets up!

MJF again wears the ring. Referee Bryce Remsburg takes it away. Page hits him with the case. He follows with a Deadeye and Buckshot Lariat.

Winner: “Hangman” Adam Page retains the AEW Men’s World Championship.

9. Golden Lovers, Darby Allin, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Will Ospreay vs. Death Riders, Young Bucks, and Gabe Kidd in a Lights Out Steel Cage Match

Bryan Danielson excuses himself due to personal issues with people involved in the match coming up… HMMM.

Can we take a second to just appreciate this video package?

Gabe Kidd leads his side into the cage and the carnage gets underway immediately. Ospreay and Kidd slug it out and the Aerial Assassin hits him with a Sasuke Special. The Golden Lovers and the Young Bucks meet in the ring.

Can the action “break down” if the entire match is unsanctioned?

Remember that bag the production guy was supposed to fill with weapons? GUMMY BEARS.

Omega gets Nick Jackson in a Drop Toe Hold but he avoids dropping face-first into the gummy bears. The Young Bucks take their anger out on Darby Allin and Will Ospreay, both of them being cut open.

Ospreay gets a chair and gets Moxley’s neck into it but Gabe Kidd makes the save. He and Will Ospreay fight on the ropes. Castagnoli takes Omega for a spin. Omega kicks out of the pinfall.

Castagnoli Fireman Carries Allin and tosses him to the steel cage. Tanahashi ends up having to fend off all five opponents himself but Moxley hits him with a Paradigm Shift.

Castagnoli then duct tapes Allin to a Steel Chair. Moxley has a fork in hand, gouging the ear. Allin spits in his face after that.

Marina Shafir and Wheeler Yuta set up tables outside the cage but there are enough tables and ladders already inside the steel cage. Tanahashi fights off Gabe Kidd and Moxley with Slingblades. Castagnoli hits him back with a Neutralizer. The BTE Trigger. Ospreay makes the save on the pinfall.

Ospreay pushes Moxley’s back into the barbed wire table. Omega hits Snap Dragon Suplexes on the other four opponents. Tanahashi’s teammates urge him down off a ladder as he starts climbing.

Ospreay climbs to the top of the cage and lands a Moonsault on many of his opponents inside the ring.

Gabe Kidd and Kenny Omega are alone in the ring. The Young Bucks get involved. Tanahashi hits a Dragon Screw as everyone re-enters the ring in their own time. Ospreay hits both Bucks with a Hidden Blade. Styles Clash on Kidd.

V-Trigger and Hidden Blade combo. Pinfall gets broken up by three others.

After bodies clear, Omega and Moxley square off. V-Trigger onto Moxley’s jaw. He follows with a second and a One-Winged Angel. The pinfall again is broken up.

Moxley and Wheeler Yuta climb and Yuta picks him up, bringing him out of the cage. Allin follows and grabs Yuta’s hair. He drops Yuta onto the Japanese announce desk. He follows, chasing Moxley slowly with a kendo stick.

Moxley gets placed between stacked tables. Allin climbs the cage but Marina Shafir saves Moxley. Kidd hits a low blow on Allin. Both crash to the outside, destroying the stacked tables.

Ibushi and Castagnoli slug it out in the ring. Stormbreaker. They hit Nick with a Golden Trigger. Ospreay with a Hidden Blade to his brother. Tanahashi hits High Fly Flow! Pinfall.

Winners: Golden Lovers, Darby Allin, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Will Ospreay.

The victors check on Darby and then Will Ospreay gets his time with the crowd as he’s alone in the ring.

Castagnoli hits Ospreay with a cheap shot as the crew start to sign off.

Omega and his teammates can’t get in. The Opps rush out to try and help. Moxley hits Ospreay with his neck stuck in a chair.

The cage finally raises, just in time for the Death Riders to slither away as Doc Samson and Aubrey Edwards call for medical attention to Ospreay.

More Reports