SouthernWorldwide.com – Forbidden Door stands out as a truly unique event on the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) calendar.
This spectacular show unites wrestlers from AEW, Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), and Stardom, all featured on a single card. Adding to the excitement, the finals of both the Owen Hart Foundation Men’s and Women’s Tournaments will also take place.
The lineup for the 2026 iteration of Forbidden Door boasts five championship matches. The event kicks off at 7 p.m. ET with the Buy In, followed by the main card commencing at 8 p.m. ET, all from the SAP Center in San Jose, California.
Read on for our detailed previews and predictions for each match.
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Skye Blue and Stardom’s Maika are set to compete in the Buy-In portion of Forbidden Door, with a coveted spot in the TBS Championship Survival of the Fittest match on the line. The winner will earn an opportunity to challenge for the TBS Championship, a title that was recently vacated by Willow Nightingale due to injury. Blue has been closely aligned with Thekla, who has openly declared her intention to dismantle Stardom and New Japan. This match represents the Triangle of Madness’s initial foray into challenging the landscape of Stardom.
Prediction: Skye Blue secures the victory in this bout.
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Megan Bayne and Lena Kross, collectively known as The Divine Dominion, have been on an unstoppable roll since capturing the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship. This formidable duo has systematically defeated every team that has dared to challenge them. Their next test arrives on Sunday when they face the formidable pairing of Thunder Rosa and CMLL’s Olympia. The sheer dominance and skill of The Divine Dominion cannot be underestimated heading into this contest.
Prediction: Megan Bayne and Lena Kross successfully retain their championships.
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David Finlay and Clark Connors have harbored a persistent grudge against Adam Copeland and Christian Cage ever since the conclusion of Double or Nothing. Copeland and Cage found themselves unable to even enjoy a brief moment of celebration with AEW fans. They’ve been forced to remain constantly vigilant, looking over their shoulders during nearly every AEW television appearance. However, this veteran tag team duo has consistently proven their mettle when it matters most – inside the squared circle.
Prediction: Cope and Cage manage to hold onto their tag team titles.
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A thrilling triple-threat tag team match is slated to showcase some of the finest talent in professional wrestling. The Young Bucks will go head-to-head against the exciting combination of Místico and Máscara Dorada, as well as the powerhouse duo of Shingo Takagi and Titán. This encounter promises to feature a dynamic blend of styles from AEW, CMLL, and NJPW, making it a must-watch bout.
Prediction: Matt and Nick Jackson emerge victorious from this exciting matchup.
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Jon Moxley has held the AEW Continental Championship with an iron grip since Worlds End in December, successfully defending his title against all challengers. Bandido presents a unique and formidable challenge for Moxley, whose strategy often involves keeping his opponents grounded. There’s a distinct possibility that Bandido could pull off a significant upset at Forbidden Door and wrest a title away from a member of The Death Riders faction.
Prediction: Bandido claims AEW gold in this contest.
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New Japan’s Shota Umino is set to make his return to an AEW ring to defend the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship against the formidable Pac. Umino originally captured the title from AEW’s Andrade in a thrilling three-way match at Dominion earlier this month. This represents a major championship defense as he prepares to face the hard-hitting Pac. Should both Pac and Moxley suffer losses, The Death Riders faction would find themselves without any championship titles.
Prediction: Umino successfully retains his championship.
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Thekla’s intense feud against New Japan and Stardom commenced almost immediately following the Double or Nothing event. She managed to overcome three challengers at the previous pay-per-view and issued a direct challenge to the Japanese professional wrestling promotions, urging them to send their best. Their response has been formidable, with Starlight Kid, a former Stardom champion, stepping up. While Thekla has the backing of the Triangle of Madness, Starlight Kid has Neo Genesis firmly in her corner. Thekla has repeatedly demonstrated her status as one of the fiercest female wrestlers globally, and she is poised to prove it once again on Sunday night.
Prediction: Thekla retains her title in a hard-hitting encounter.
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This match is the culmination of intense competition. The Owen Hart Cup women’s final pits Mercedes Moné against Maya World, with the winner earning a shot at the AEW Women’s World Championship at the upcoming All In event. Moné, known as “The CEO,” is widely regarded as one of the top performers in the industry. She made a surprising return to AEW as a wild card entrant in the tournament and has been on a dominant streak ever since. World, on the other hand, is a rapidly rising star who is currently riding a significant wave of momentum heading into the final. World has consistently proven her capability to overcome any opponent who has stood in her path. This highly anticipated contest will reach its climax on Sunday.
Prediction: Mercedes Moné emerges victorious and earns her spot at All In.
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Occasionally, a match not scheduled for the main event can truly steal the show, a scenario witnessed at Double or Nothing between Konosuke Takeshita and Kazuchika Okada. Sunday has the potential to deliver another such classic when Kenny Omega and Zack Sabre Jr. step into the ring for what is expected to be a legendary bout. Omega and Sabre are undeniably two of the finest wrestlers in the world, and the brilliance they will bring to the ring requires little explanation. Wrestling fans are advised to sit back and watch this encounter with undivided attention.
Prediction: Kenny Omega defeats Zack Sabre Jr. in a memorable match.
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Will Ospreay has passionately declared his unwavering determination to main event All In at Wembley Stadium. He has successfully upheld this promise thus far, but now faces a familiar and formidable opponent in Swerve Strickland in the finals of the Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament. There is a considerable amount of emotion riding on this final, which will undoubtedly be palpable during the match. Ospreay and Strickland both harbor ambitions of reaching the pinnacle of AEW and have consistently demonstrated their capability to meet that challenge head-on.
Prediction: Will Ospreay sees his dream realized and defeats Swerve Strickland.
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AEW World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman has been putting Mark Briscoe through a rigorous ordeal as Briscoe attempts to earn a shot at his title. MJF has presented an extensive list of reasons why Briscoe should not be granted this challenge, yet he has overlooked a few crucial elements – Briscoe’s indomitable grit and unwavering heart. Briscoe and his chosen team will need to defeat MJF and his contingent in a brutal steel cage match to secure that championship opportunity. Briscoe’s team comprises Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly, Konosuke Takeshita, and Darby Allin. MJF’s team includes Kevin Knight, Kyle Fletcher, Jake Doyle, Kazuchika Okada, and Andrade El Idolo.
Prediction: Team Briscoe emerges victorious in a brutal steel cage match.
