AEW X NJPW Forbidden Door 2025 Live Coverage 8/24 - Hangman Vs. MJF, Lights Out Steel Cage

AEW's annual cross-promotional pay-per-view returns for the fourth year in a row with today's Forbidden Door, live from the O2 Arena in London, England. There are nine matches scheduled for the main card, which begins at 1 p.m. ET. Before that, starting at 11:30 ET, the Zero Hour pre-show is set to include four bouts.

Following his big win at AEW All In last month, "Hangman" Adam Page will defend the AEW World Championship against Maxwell Jacob Friedman, and the title can change hands through count-out or disqualification.

Athena won the Women's Casino Gauntlet match last month to earn a title shot, and the longtime ROH Women's World Champion quickly chose "Timeless" Toni Storm and her AEW Women's World Championship, with Forbidden Door as the venue.

No titles will be on the line but blood will likely be shed in the ten-man Lights Out steel cage match. The teams are comprised of Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, the Young Bucks, and Gabe Kidd against Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, Darby Allin, and NJPW's Hiroshi Tanahashi.

Kazuchika Okada will defend the AEW Unified Championship against Swerve Strickland, with reports indicating that Strickland is dealing with an injury heading into the bout.

The AEW World Tag Team Championship will be up for grabs in an elimination three-way, featuring The Hurt Syndicate defending against FTR and the duo of Brody King and Bandido. Meanwhile, in another tag match, Christian Cage will rely on the help of his old friend Adam Copeland as they take on two of Cage's former allies, Killswitch and Kip Sabian.

Both the TBS and TNT Championships will be defended, with Kyle Fletcher facing Hiromu Takahashi while Mercedes Moné has to contend with Alex Windsor, Bozilla, and Persephone. Nigel McGuinness will also challenge Zack Sabre Jr. for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

The Zero Hour pre-show begins with Renee Paquette, RJ City, Jeff Jarrett, and Madison Rayne covering everything planned for today's show.

They spend some time going in depth on tonight's biggest matches. Paquette points out that Ospreay was not medically cleared ahead of the cage match tonight. Jarrett says he's not worried about it while City shared his concern for everyone involved. After that, both Jarrett and Rayne expressed their confidence that Page will retain today.

Kyle O'Reilly, Roderick Strong, El Desperado, and Yuya Uemura vs. Josh Alexander, Hechicero, Lio Rush, and Action Andretti

With Taz unable to make the journey to the United Kingdom, Excalibur is joined on commentary by Ian Riccaboni. Rush and Andretti enter first, followed by Don Callis, who introduced Hechicero himself.

The action starts with Uemura and Alexander sizing each other up. Desperado and Hechicero both tag in, trading holds, shoves, and counters until Hechicero starts to take control. He pulls Desperado to the corner and tags Alexander back in, but Rush quickly tags himself in instead.

Andretti distracts Desperado and they start double-teaming the NJPW star. Desperado regains composure and tags O'Reilly in, but the sustained double team proves too much for him. He's able to tag Strong in and the faces are able to briefly regain the advantage. Things break down as all eight men start fighting.

After the melee, Andretti and Rush are back in the ring with Strong, with Rush as the legal man. Strong attempts to tag out but Rush keeps him locked up in the center before hitting him with a suplex and pin attempt. Strong is able to hit a backbreaker on Rush and he struggles to his feet to tag in O'Reilly, who stops Rush from tagging out.

Andretti breaks up O'Reilly's submission attempt on Rush and the heels begin double-teaming the Paragon member again. O'Reilly holds off strong but eventually has to tag in Uemura. The heels tag in Alexander, and he begins exchanging strikes with Uemura.

Uemura dropkicks Alexander and gets fired up, but Alexander regains the advantage and tags in Hechicero, and they begin double-teaming Uemura as Rush and Andretti clear the rest of the opposition. The heels take turns landing offense on Uemura and go for a pin attempt but Desperado breaks it up.

The two teams run through their offense until only Andretti and Rush are left standing. Uemura gets back up, clears and Andretti, and starts wrestling Rush. Uemura gets the pin with a Deadbolt.

WINNERS: Kyle O'Reilly, Roderick Strong, El Desperado, and Yuya Uemura

The Don Callis Family starts attacking the winners but Tomohiro Ishii makes his way to the ring. He and Lance Archer face off, and Ishii hits Archer with a Brainbuster. Ishii tries to celebrate with Strong and O'Reilly but Strong isn't into it.

Ricochet, Bishop Kaun, and Toa Liona vs. "Speedball" Mike Bailey, Kevin Knight, and Michael Oku

Ricochet and Oku start off together in the ring, with Oku taking the immediate edge before GOA gets involved. The heel advantage doesn't last long, with JetSpeed neutralizing GOA so Oku can focus on Ricochet. 

Oku takes a nasty fall to the outside after being shoved in mid-air by Liona. Ricochet pulls Oku into the ring and attempts a pinfall but Oku kicks out. GOA work on Oku before Ricochet tags back in. Oku starts to gain steam, goes for a tag but Ricochet stops him and tags out. Oku tags in Knight, who starts taking out the opposition.

Bailey tags in and all three faces start working on Kaun before Ricochet breaks up a pin. Everyone gets leveled with a series of offense until Oku and Ricochet are left to tag in. Oku avoids a kick and knocks Ricochet to the ground on the outside. He pumps up the crowd, jumps onto Ricochet, and avoids a tackle from Liona. 

Oku then hits Ricochet with a frogsplash in the ring but Ricochet kicks out of the pin attempt. GOA get into the ring but JetSpeed stop them from taking out Oku. Ricochet then hits Knight with a knee but Bailey avoids being thrown out. Bailey takes out GOA on the outside and Knight clotheslines Ricochet, with Oku hitting a springboard moonsault. 

Ricochet kicks out but Oku puts him in a half-crab but GOA takes down JetSpeed. Ref Rick Knox gets distracted by GOA, Ricochet gouges Oku's eyes, and the heels regain the advantage, with Ricochet picking up the win.

WINNERS: Ricochet and GOA

Don Callis is backstage for an interview, hyping up Okada and Fletcher in their title defenses. He says he wouldn't mind having Strickland join his family if it wasn't for Prince Nana.

Megan Bayne, Julia Hart, Skye Blue, and Thekla (accompanied by Penelope Ford) vs. Kris Statlander, Willow Nightingale, Queen Aminata, and Harley Cameron

The match starts with an eight-woman brawl, but the faces take control and get their opponents separated into each corner. Nightingale and Thekla begin wrestling and Thekla stops Nightingale's momentum before tagging in Hart. Hart ends up in the ring with Aminata, who gets in some offense before tagging in Statlander.

Hart gets away from Statlander and tags in Blue, and they start working on Statlander together, with Hart tagging back in. They clothesline Statlander into the outside and clear the faces from the ring apron. Megan Bayne and Thekla execute some tandem offense onto their opponents on the outside before Thekla tags in and throws Stat into the corner.

Stat reverses another whip into the corner but Thekla gets Statlander into a submission in the corner before tagging Hart in. Statlander gets thrown into a kick and goes for a pin attempt but Stat kicks out. Blue tags in but Statlander is able to tag Cameron in, and Bayne makes her way into the match.

Cameron is able to get an advantage over Bayne with some quick offense. Bayne regains her footing and takes control of Cameron, but she's able to tag Aminata in. She and Bayne exchange offense and Aminata gets Bayne down, allowing her to tag in Nightingale. Bayne tags Blue in and Blue takes Nightingale by surprise. Nightingale reverses and goes for a pin attempt but it's broken up. 

Aminata and Thekla start duking it out in the center of the ring and Aminata goes down. Thekla dives from the corner onto Aminata and Statlander, leaving everyone down on the ground except for Thekla. She and Aminata fight their way up the ramp and away from the ring. Bayne and Cameron are in the ring as the legal wrestlers, and Bayne goes for a Liger Bomb against Cameron until Harley removes her facemask and gains the advantage.

They both end up down and Cameron goes for the tag until Blue and Hart pull Nightingale off the apron. Nightingale knocks them both down and gets back into position, but Bayne tags in and kicks her down. Cameron tries to roll Bayne up but Bayne kicks out. Bayne lands a Liger Bomb on Cameron and pins her.

WINNERS: Megan Bayne and the Triangle of Madness

The Young Bucks are backstage with Lexi Nair, but they soon start bullying one of the production crew members for their recent treatment. Matt says he wants their old music and the correct graphics, and he tasks the crew member with filling up a bag with weapons and hiding it under the ring for the cage match.

Tony Schiavone is out and he introduces Tony Khan, Dr. Martha Hart, and Owen Hart's son Oje. Khan announces the show as the biggest wrestling crowd in the history of the O2 Arena, and Dr. Hart says she likes MJF but thinks Page will win tonight. 

AEW World Trios Championship Match: The Opps (Samoa Joe, Katsuyori Shibata, and Powerhouse Hobbs) vs. Bullet Club War Dogs (Clark Connors, Robbie X, and Drilla Maloney)

Shibata and Connors start thing out, with Riccaboni pointing out that Shibata trained Connors. They trade strikes and Shibata throws Connors to the outside. He tosses Connors into the barricades throughout the outside and gestures to the crowd before throwing Connors back into the ring.

Connors hits Shibata with a shoulder tackle and takes control, with Maloney tagging in. However, Shibata throws him into the corner and tags Joe in. They exchange elbows but Maloney is able to get Joe down with a dropkick. X tags in and attempts to get the better of Joe in strikes but it doesn't work, and Joe recreates his viral moment with Serpentico by casually avoiding a dive from X.

Joe tags Shibata in and Shibata brutalizes X in the corner. He gets for the pin attempt but X kicks out, and Shibata puts X in a sleeper hold. Shibata bounces off the ropes but Connors grabs his legs and pulls him outside as Maloney pulls Joe off the apron. Hobbs gets involved on the outside and he takes Connors down.

Shibata makes his way back into the ring but X has the momentum. He hits a senton on Shibata but the NJPW star kicks out, and then X tags in Maloney. He and Shibata exchange chops and Maloney gets control. Connors tags in and he tries to pin Shibata but Shibata kicks out, goading Connors into chopping him repeatedly. Shibata gets fired up but Connors takes a cheap shot. Still, Shibata escapes and tags in Hobbs for the first time.

Hobbs takes down the other team by himself, landing heavy hits on Maloney in the corner before dropping him with a lariat. Connors hits Hobbs with a chop block out of nowhere and X clears Joe and Shibata from the apron. The War Dogs beat down Hobbs and go for a pin but Hobbs kicks out. Maloney attempts to hit Hobbs with the Drilla Killa but Hobbs counters and tags in Joe as Maloney tags in X.

Joe lands a powerslam on X but Connors break up the pin attempt. Connors and Maloney start beating down Joe as X climbs to the top rope. Shibata knocks him down though, and prevents Gedo from getting involved. This allows Hobbs to regain the advantage over Maloney as Joe hits a muscle buster on X for the win.

WINNERS: The Opps

The pay-per-view begins with Adam Copeland making his entrance, followed by Christian Cage. Bryan Danielson and Tony Schiavone have joined the commentary booth. Kip Sabian and Killswitch then make their way down the ramp, accompanied by Mother Wayne.

Adam Copeland and Christian Cage vs. Killswitch and Kip Sabian

Copeland starts in the ring with Sabian, and Copeland toys with his opponent before clotheslining him on the outside. He throws Sabian back in the ring and tags in Cage. They double-team Sabian and Cage gets him in the corner for a series of punches.

There's some miscommunication between Cage and Copeland as Cage tags out when Killswitch tags in. Copeland steps into the ring with Killswitch and the masked wrestler takes control, leveling Copeland with a kick to the chin. Copeland sneaks in a chance to knock down Sabian and he starts fighting Killswitch on the outside. Copeland deals with Mother Wayne, Killswitch, and Sabian as Cage looks on from the apron. 

Killswitch throws Copeland back into the ring and gets him into the corner. As Killswitch is about to chop Copeland, Sabian tags himself in. Copeland tries to gain ground against Sabian but Sabian holds him off, landing a drop kick and a pin attempt. He throws Copeland into the corner and aggressively tags Killswitch in. Killswitch then throws Sabian into Copeland and goes for a pin attempt but Copeland again kicks out.

Mother Wayne consoles Sabian in the corner as Killswitch pulls Copeland to his knees. Danielson notes that Cage doesn't seem eager to tag in. Killswitch gets Copeland into the corner but Copeland starts fighting off his opponents. He and Cage reach out at each other for a tag but Killswitch prevents it, and Danielson doesn't believe Cage was trying very hard.

Sabian yells at Killswitch to tag him and Killswitch retaliates by attacking Sabian as a tag, busting him open. Mother Wayne distracts Cage and Sabian knocks him off the apron before returning his focus to Copeland. He pulls Copeland up to the corner and asks for Killswitch's help. Killswitch puts Sabian on his shoulders, seemingly setting Copeland up for a dive into Sabian, leaving both Copeland and Sabian down on the mat. 

Copeland and Sabian are both able to tag out, putting Cage and Killswitch in the ring together for the first time. They exchange offense, with Cage gaining the upper hand before Killswitch is able to drive his shoulder into Cage and knock him down. Cage counters Killswitch and throws him into the ring post, then pressed down on both Killswitch and Sabian with his feet into the ropes. Copeland tries to stop Killswitch from getting outside but doesn't succeed. Cage jumps onto Killswitch and throws him back into the ring.

Cage climbs the ring post but Killswitch gets up with him before Copeland intervenes and sets Cage up for a diving headbutt on Killswitch. Copeland and Cage attempt a double-team on Killswitch but Sabian covertly tags in. Cage attempts a pin on Killswitch until the ref tells him Killswitch isn't legal, and Sabian takes a cheap shot. It doesn't work out for Sabian, and Copeland prevents Killswitch from grabbing Cage.

Cage and Copeland double-team Sabian and Copeland lands a spear, allowing Cage to pin his former ally.

WINNERS: Adam Copeland and Christian Cage

They shake hands and awkwardly embrace, but Cage hasn't fully opened up yet.

Don Callis and NJPW/STARDOM's Walker Stewart join Danielson and Excalibur on commentary.

TNT Championship: Kyle Fletcher vs. Hiromu Takahashi

The match starts at a quick pace until Fletcher is able to down Takahashi with a kick. Fletcher gets his opponent in the corner, chops him and blows a kiss to the crowd. After a second corner chop attempt, Takahashi counters but Fletcher shuts it down with an elbow. 

Fletcher continues landing offense on the NJPW star, pulling him to his feet before repeatedly slamming him onto the mat and taunting the crowd. Takahashi kicks out of a pin attempt but can't get back to his feet. Fletcher slaps him and Takahashi gets fired up, landing some chops before Fletcher regains the advantage.

Takahashi lands a hurricanrana on Feltcher and then spikes his head onto the ring apron. He lands some strikes onto Fletcher and goes for the pin attempt but Fletcher kicks out and sits up. Takahashi gets to his feet first and tries to lift Fletcher but Fletcher fights him off. Takahashi keeps the edge and takes Fletcher down once again as he works his knee.

Fletcher is able to regain some fire and the two start exchanging fast-paced offense, leading to Fletcher landing a Michinoku Driver and leaving them both lying on the mat. Fletcher gets back up and pulls Takahashi to his feet before bodyslamming him and climbing the corner post. 

Takahashi returns to his feet and starts chopping Fletcher before climbing to the top rope. He almost falls, though, and Fletcher hits a back suplex on Takahashi from the second rope. He goes for a pinfall but Takahashi kicks out. Fletcher lands a Liger Bomb and goes for another pin but Takahashi endures again.

An angry Fletcher begins taunting Takahashi but Takahashi responds with laughter. This makes Fletcher more enraged. He lands a kick on Takahashi and goes for the pin but Takahashi kicks out quickly and gets under the ropes to recover. Fletcher poses in the ring and is met with boos.

Fletcher tries to drive Takahashi into the ring apron but Takahashi reverses and powerbombs Fletcher off the apron onto the floor. He throws Fletcher back in the ring, hits a shoulder tackle, and goes for the pinfall, but Fletcher kicks out. Fletcher is selling his neck and the two exchange heavy strikes. Fletcher lifts Takahashi for a Liger Bomb but Takahashi again reverses, but he can't pin Fletcher.

Takahashi pulls Fletcher to his feet and lifts him onto his shoulders for a body drop, going for the pinfall. Fletcher kicks out as Callis looks on with worry. Takahashi tries to lift Fletcher and they start reversing each other. Fletcher lands a tombstone and goes for a pinfall but Takahashi kicks out.

Fletcher kicks Takahashi in the back of the head and then in the face, but Takahashi counters a brainbuster into a roll-up. It doesn't work and Fletcher lands the sheer-drop brainbuster for the pinfall.

WINNER: Kyle Fletcher

Moné receives an elaborate entrance, complete with English royal guards. 

TBS Championship: Mercedes Moné vs. Alex Windsor vs. Persephone vs. Bozilla

Windsor, Persephone, and Bozilla team up on Moné before turning on each other. Bozilla tosses her opponents out but Moné sneaks back into the ring and attacks her. The STARDOM representative dominates for the next few minutes until running into the corner post, leaving Moné, Windsor, and Persephone to battle it out. Windsor and Persephone take Moné down and start fighting as the champion rolls under the ropes.

Bozilla makes her way back into the ring and suplexes both Persephone and Windsor at the same time. Moné jumps on Bozilla's back and Bozilla slams her into the corner post. Persephone gets up and throws Moné into Bozilla, with Moné landing punches on Bozilla's head. Bozilla is taken down and dragged outside the ring. Moné jumps onto her but Bozilla catches her, allowing Windsor to land a senton on them both.

Persephone tries to dive onto Windsor and Bozilla but she hits the rope for an awkward landing. Moné and Persephone start fighting in the ring and both Moné and Windsor soon join them. Persephone tries to pin Moné and Windsor but Bozilla intervenes. Bozilla is left standing as the other three recover, and she starts working to keep them down. Windsor starts to recover and hits Bozilla with a clothesline but she gets back up. Moné lands a Meteora and goes for the pinfall but it's broken up.

Persephone gets Moné up on the ring post but Windsor pulls her down and takes her place. Persephone and Bozilla attempt to intervene but Windsor pulls all three opponents down. Windsor and Persephone fight it out and Moné hits a crucifix and puts them both into her Statement Maker submission. They escape, and Moné and Persephone exchange pin attempts before Windsor hits them both.

Windsor puts Moné and Persephone into a double submission but Bozilla is back on her feet, stepping on the hands of Moné and Persephone so they can't tap out. With all three opponents down, Bozilla grabs Windsor and starts hammering her in the corner. She dodges a spear from Persephone, which hits Windsor instead, and Bozilla chokeslams Persephone before climbing to the second rope for a moonsault on both women. Bozilla goes for a pin attempt but Moné breaks it up.

Moné looks terrified against Bozilla, and the German lifts the champion for a Liger Bomb. Moné reverses into a hurricanrana and goes for the pin, but Bozilla manages a late kickout. Windsor is up to go after Moné, landing a fisherman buster and a pin attempt but Moné kicks out. Bozilla gets back up and gets a waistlock on Windsor. Windsor counters but she can't lift Bozilla, and Bozilla counters into a suplex.

Bozilla is once again the only woman left standing, and she waits for Windsor to get back up before clotheslining her and throwing her into the corner. Persephone makes her way back into the ring and she's able to take down Bozilla. Windsor stands back up and lands a rolling strike on Persephone, going for the pin. It doesn't work but Windsor lands a sharpshooter until Moné breaks it up. She tries to pin Windsor but Persephone picks up Moné. Mercedes reverses into a roll-up and retains.

WINNER: Mercedes Moné

Nigel McGuinness receives a video package featuring U.K. wrestler Johnny Saint before making his way to the ring alongside Daniel Garcia.

 IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Nigel McGuinness

The two technicians begin by locking up, with McGuinness driving Sabre into the ropes before letting him go. McGuinness gets Sabre onto the mat but the IWGP Champion hops out and back on his feet, and McGuinness soon does the same to Sabre. Sabre takes McGuinness down with a wristlock as Danielson gushes about the champion on commentary. McGuinness gets back up but Sabre takes him down again while maintaining wrist control.

McGuinness stands up and the two twist each other around, with McGuinness finally regaining control and giving Sabre the middle finger. He starts working Sabre's arms and shoulders, attempting a pinfall, but Sabre escapes and gets back on his feet.

Sabre maneuvers McGuinness into position for a stomp on his arm, then pulls McGuinness to his feet. McGuinness reverses those, slamming Sabre's shoulder into the man but missing his next strike. Sabre lands a stomp but his shoulder is clearly bothering him. He locks McGuinness' arm behind his back but McGuinness drives them both into the corner and ref Stephon Smith breaks it up. 

McGuinness gets the advantage and lands a series of strikes onto Sabre, but they both end up lying on the mat. They get up at the same time and McGuinness tackles and uppercuts Sabre. McGuinness gets fired up from the crowd and clotheslines Sabre before lifting him for the Tower of London. Sabre escapes and lands a creative submission on McGuinness. Nigel makes it to the ropes with some help from Garcia, and Smith chastises Garcia for getting involved. 

Sabre and McGuinness exchange a long series of uppercuts and Sabre starts bleeding. Sabre finally falls into the ropes and McGuinness grabs him, but Sabre reverses into a bridging pinfall. McGuinness kicks out and lands a backslide pin attempt but then Sabre gets out. McGuinness lands a pair of tough clotheslines but they're not enough for the pin.

McGuinness soon gets Sabre into a triangle choke and the referee becomes distracted by Garcia. Sabre gets the rope and McGuinness is forced to let him go. Sabre and Garcia face off outside the ring, then McGuinness lands his Tower of London and nearly pins Sabre until Sabre gets his foot on the rope. They exchange a quick series of technical pin attempts which culminates in Sabre pinning McGuinness.

WINNER: Zack Sabre Jr.