Hold on to your wrestling belts, folks! The June 19 episode of “AEW Dynamite” started with a firecracker of a match, pitting former AEW World Champion MJF against Rush in a commercial-free slugfest. Fans were left picking their jaws off the floor, but many couldn’t help but wonder: why wasn’t this match saved for the Forbidden Door pay-per-view on June 30, especially since it’s happening in MJF’s hometown of Long Island, New York?
According to Bryan Alvarez on “Wrestling Observer Radio,” the answer is pretty straightforward. Rush is apparently barred from competing at Forbidden Door. Alvarez stated, “It was commercial-free because this match can’t air on pay-per-view. Rush is not allowed on Forbidden Door. I’m telling you he’s not allowed there. I don’t know what they’ll tell you but Rush is not allowed on Forbidden Door.” Sounds like someone’s been put on the naughty list!
Dave Meltzer chimed in, adding that while it’s not officially confirmed, he’s heard similar whispers. “Somebody did tell me from the whole thing that CMLL would not be happy with Rush on that show,” Meltzer said. “When I did the story, I asked about Rush and I did not get someone telling me that he could not be on the show but they said Rush and MJF is going to be on television, it’s not going to be on the pay-per-view.” Ah, wrestling politics – almost as complicated as navigating through a Thanksgiving dinner without a family feud!
This development follows a temporary smoothing over of the relationship between AAA and CMLL just in time for the June 30 pay-per-view. But it looks like Rush is still on the “do not invite” list.