Hold onto your seats, wrestling fans! The AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door event just got a whole lot spicier. Jon Moxley, the reigning IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, is set to defend his title against none other than Tetsuya Naito, the very man he dethroned to claim the belt.
Moxley’s journey as champion has been anything but smooth. He’s faced relentless challenges from the likes of House of Torture’s Ren Narita, protege Shota Umino, Powerhouse Hobbs from the Don Callis Family, and EVIL. However, all these adversaries are now in Moxley’s rearview mirror as he gears up for another epic clash.
AEW broke the news on X Monday afternoon, confirming that Moxley will square off against Naito at Forbidden Door. This announcement didn’t come as a complete surprise to fans who watched NJPW Dominion on Sunday morning. Fresh from his victory over Callum Newman, Naito made a bold move by confronting Moxley post-match, signaling his intent to reclaim the championship.
This upcoming match will mark the second showdown between Moxley and Naito in 2024. Their first encounter took place at Windy City Riot in Chicago back in April, where Moxley emerged victorious, making history as the first man to hold the AEW, WWE, and IWGP World Championships. This win also ended Naito’s first World Heavyweight Title reign at 99 days.
With Moxley vs. Naito now set for Forbidden Door, the event’s card continues to grow stronger. This match joins an already impressive lineup, including Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland, Mercedes Mone vs. Stephanie Vaquer, Toni Storm vs. Mina Shirakawa, Orange Cassidy vs. Zack Sabre Jr., and a ladder match to determine the new AEW TNT Champion. Additionally, NJPW World TV Champion Jeff Cobb has issued an open challenge to any AEW star, hinting at more excitement to come.
Get ready for fireworks as Moxley and Naito prepare to reignite their rivalry at Forbidden Door!