Which wrestling promotions are participating in Forbidden Door 2026?

The Forbidden Door 2026 event features a crossover of talent from AEW, NJPW, and CMLL, resulting in a complex and somewhat disorganized booking process.

What are fans concerned about regarding the Forbidden Door card?

Many fans and observers are concerned about the lack of transparency, as reports suggest that many wrestlers are uncertain about their status on the card even shortly before the event.

What match received praise as a highlight of the current promotion?

The upcoming match between Maya World and Mercedes Moné is viewed as a high point, following World's legitimate rise to prominence after defeating Athena on Collision.

Why is the Young Bucks tag team match being criticized?

The three-way tag team match involving the Young Bucks is being criticized for lacking clear stakes or narrative purpose, leading some fans to feel it serves as mere filler.

What did AEW Champion Thekla do to build momentum for the event?

To maintain her presence and create buzz, Thekla traveled to a STARDOM event and attacked their president, highlighting the intense and sometimes chaotic nature of these cross-promotion partnerships.

AEW's Forbidden Door chaos is giving us heart palpitations

The road to Forbidden Door is a beautiful, messy car crash

Look, I love professional wrestling. I truly do. But watching the lead-up to Forbidden Door 2026 feels like watching a guy try to assemble a piece of Swedish furniture without instructions, a mounting headache, and only half of the screws included in the box.

We have talent from AEW, NJPW, and CMLL walking around backstage like they’re waiting for a bus that may or may not exist. Reports are popping up everywhere that half the roster doesn't even know if they're on the card yet. It’s the kind of high-stakes disorganization that makes you want to reach through the screen and organize a spreadsheet, but hey, at least the matches we *do* know about look like absolute bangers.

The internet is losing its collective mind

If you head over to the forums, you’ll see the divide. Half the fan base is vibrating with excitement, while the other half is busy sharpening their pitchforks.

One user on a popular wrestling board summarized the sentiment perfectly: "I don't care if the booking feels like a fever dream. If we get Shota Umino and Pac beating each other into a pulp over the IWGP Global title, keep the chaos coming." This is the "more is more" crowd. They don't mind the lack of direction as long as the work rate leaves them needing an ice pack.

Then you have the realists. A vocal segment of the fanbase is starting to lose patience with the promotion's transparency. "How are we one week out and people don't know if they're booked? Put some respect on the card-building process," wrote another fan. It’s hard to blame them. When you’re paying for a premium event, you want to feel like a plan is in motion, not that a booker is throwing magnetic fridge letters at a wall to see what spells out a match.

The highs and the head-scratchers

Let's talk about the actual content, because that is where the soul of this show lives. The decision to put Maya World in a spot against Mercedes Moné after she knocked off Athena on Collision? That’s gold. It feels like a genuine, organic rise. When someone earns their spot on a big stage, we notice.

But then we have the three-way tag team match involving the Young Bucks without any clear stakes mentioned yet. It feels like a filler episode of a hit show right before the season finale. There’s no fire there. It’s just talent in the ring because they need them somewhere on the poster.

And don't even get me started on the cross-promotion politics. The fact that AEW Champion Thekla had to fly out to a STARDOM event to stir the pot by attacking the president just to remind people she exists is wild. It’s a bold move, sure, but it highlights the friction in these partnerships. When the booking feels like it’s being held together by tape and prayers, there’s no room for error.

The verdict: Is this a disaster or a masterpiece?

So, where does this leave us for June 28? Honestly, I’m leaning toward disaster-piece. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a movie with a massive budget, a stellar cast, and a director who forgot to write the second act. The in-ring quality at Forbidden Door is always high, but relying on "dream match" energy only gets you so far without a narrative spine.

The skepticism from the fan community about the lack of NJPW talent integration is real, and the promotion needs to address it yesterday. If you're going to call it a crossover, don't leave the guests standing in the lobby while you argue about who gets to hold the microphone.

For all the griping I’m doing, will I be watching? Absolutely. Will I be ready to roast the first botched spot or the moment the booking predictably implodes? You better believe it. That’s the beauty of wrestling fans. We’re the most toxic, loyal, demanding, and passionate group of idiots on the planet. We show up for the train wrecks just as hard as the technical clinics.

Ultimately, the promotion has eight days to straighten out this mess and convince us it was scripted chaos, not just actual chaos. They have all the pieces—the talent is elite, the stakes for titles like the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship are massive, and the crowd is hungry. They just need to stop tripping over their own feet on the way to the ring.