How did Bandido get injured during his match at Forbidden Door?

Jon Moxley dragged Bandido outside the ring, set up the steel steps, and executed a piledriver directly onto the metal steps. The impact immediately busted Bandido open at the top of his forehead, though he was fortunately able to avoid a catastrophic neck injury.

What title was on the line between Jon Moxley and Bandido?

Jon Moxley defended the AEW Continental Championship against Bandido in an intense 18-minute match at the Forbidden Door event. Moxley ultimately retained the title after forcing a referee stoppage by locking in a grapevine bulldog sleeper hold on the challenger.

How did Bandido earn his title shot against Jon Moxley?

Bandido earned his championship opportunity eleven days prior to the pay-per-view on an episode of AEW Dynamite. Teaming with Brody King as "Brodido," he pinned Daniel Garcia in a chaotic main event to secure the shot against Jon Moxley.

What is the current medical status of Bandido after Forbidden Door?

Initial ringside checks showed no immediate signs of structural neck damage, and Bandido was able to walk to the locker room under his own power. However, he remains under evaluation and is scheduled for comprehensive neurological baseline tests to rule out a concussion.

What previous injuries has Bandido suffered in AEW?

Bandido has faced a grueling series of injuries, beginning with a fractured left wrist in June 2023 that required two corrective surgeries and kept him out for over a year. He also suffered a concussion during training in late 2024.

Bandido avoids disaster after terrifying Forbidden Door steps piledriver

The Steel Steps Scare in San Jose

Bandido has avoided a catastrophic neck injury after a terrifying piledriver on the steel steps at Forbidden Door. Medical personnel checked the Ring of Honor World Champion at ringside following his physical battle with Jon Moxley at the SAP Center in San Jose. Sources confirm the luchador was able to walk back to the locker room under his own power, but he remains under evaluation today.

The scary spot occurred near the end of their physical 18-minute contest for the AEW Continental Championship. Moxley dragged the challenger outside, positioned the steel steps, and executed a piledriver directly onto the metal. The impact immediately busted Bandido open at the top of his forehead, sending blood pouring down his mask.

Instead of slowing down, the champion immediately capitalized on the injury. Moxley bit the open wound and ripped at the torn eyeholes of Bandido’s mask. The challenger showed incredible resilience, fighting back with a sky twister press and attempting his signature 21-Plex. Moxley countered the move, locking in a sleeper hold and transitioning into a grapevine bulldog choke to force a referee stoppage.

As Wrestling Inc reported, the physical contest ended when Moxley locked in a grapevine bulldog sleeper hold to retain the AEW Continental Championship. The aftermath was tense. Medical staff rushed to the ring as Moxley celebrated, immediately stabilizing Bandido's neck to check for spinal compression.

The match itself was set up 11 days prior to the pay-per-view on Dynamite. Bandido teamed with Brody King, forming the popular Brodido tag team. They defeated Moxley and Daniel Garcia in a chaotic main event. Bandido pinned Garcia to earn the title shot, challenging Moxley immediately after the three-count.

The initial ringside checks yesterday were positive, showing no immediate signs of structural damage. Bandido was able to stand and shake Moxley's hand in a show of mutual respect. He walked back to the dressing room under his own power, but he is scheduled for comprehensive neurological baseline tests today to rule out a concussion.

Bandido's Gritty but Fragile Medical History

This scare is the last thing Bandido needed after a grueling three-year run of injuries. His physical troubles began in June 2023 when he fractured his left wrist against Konosuke Takeshita on Rampage. That injury required two surgeries to fully mend after the bone failed to heal correctly following the first operation in July 2023.

The wrist fracture was a major setback. He landed awkwardly after a high-flying maneuver, forcing him to undergo a second corrective procedure in December 2023. The complications kept him sidelined for over a year, costing him valuable television time and stalling his momentum.

He did not return to an AEW ring until early 2025. His return was plagued by additional physical setbacks, including a concussion in late 2024 during training. Then, during a CMLL match against Hechicero on October 3, 2025, Bandido dislocated his shoulder.

The shoulder popped out and back in during the match, forcing him to wear a sling and wrestle with one arm for weeks. A minor hand injury in February 2026 also forced him to cancel independent bookings. The cumulative damage to his body makes yesterday's steel-steps spot look incredibly reckless.

His current status also creates a headache for Ring of Honor. As the reigning ROH World Champion, Bandido is the face of the brand. If he is sidelined for an extended period, it will disrupt television storylines and upcoming pay-per-view events for the subsidiary promotion.

AEW's Growing Roster Crisis

The pay-per-view card was already heavily modified due to the promotion's ongoing injury crisis. Tony Khan stated during the media call that injuries and visa issues were "a massive challenge" when finalized bookings were put together. The women's division took the hardest hit just last month.

Willow Nightingale was forced to vacate the TBS Championship on May 20, 2026. She suffered a right shoulder injury on May 16, 2026 during a Collision title defense against Red Velvet. The injury forced her to withdraw from the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, where Mercedes Moné ultimately took her place.

AEW is currently airing vignettes documenting Nightingale’s recovery on Collision, with a target return date in July. Meanwhile, the vacant TBS Championship will finally be decided on the July 1, 2026 episode of Dynamite in San Diego. A Survival of the Fittest match is scheduled to crown the new champion, adding pressure to a thin roster.

The six-woman elimination match will feature Hikaru Shida, Kris Statlander, Persephone, Harley Cameron, and Queen Aminata. STARDOM's Maika earned the final spot by defeating Skye Blue during the Forbidden Door pre-show. The match format, originally popularized by Ring of Honor, will test the conditioning of everyone involved.

The physical toll extends beyond the midcard. Zack Sabre Jr. worked a grueling singles match against Kenny Omega while managing a lingering abdominal injury. The technical showcase lasted nearly 30 minutes, ending when Omega hit the One Winged Angel for the pinfall.

Sabre's movement was visibly restricted during the bout. NJPW star Gabe Kidd also had his original Forbidden Door plans scrapped due to a shoulder injury from Dynasty 2026, though he returned for the G1 Climax. The constant physical attrition is forcing creative changes across the board.

The Case Against Negligent Booking

Tony Khan and the AEW booking team deserve heavy criticism for allowing the steel-steps piledriver. With a roster already decimated by injuries, risking a performer's neck for a mid-match pop is negligent. The spot did not change the finish and only added unnecessary wear and tear to a wrestler who spent most of 2024 on the shelf.

The strategic implications of these high-risk matches are starting to hurt AEW's bottom line. When top stars are constantly sidelined, storylines lose momentum and match cards become unpredictable. The promotion needs to implement stricter guidelines on spots like piledrivers on steel steps to protect their long-term health.