The Logistics Scramble Behind Forbidden Door

AEW and NJPW's annual joint showcase on June 28, 2026, was defined by backstage chaos rather than smooth execution. Dave Meltzer reported that multiple visa failures and physical injuries forced Tony Khan to scramble his original card. The most significant shift occurred in the steel cage match.

Tomohiro Ishii was originally scheduled to stand alongside the Conglomeration in the Death's Door cage match. Since Ishii was not medically cleared in time, AEW pivoted quickly and inserted NJPW World Television Champion Konosuke Takeshita into the cage instead.

This forced adjustment also dismantled Takeshita's scheduled singles match against Ricochet. That high-profile bout had to be moved to the flagship show, Dynamite, which took place the following Wednesday.

Backstage logistics continued to crumble when Gabe Kidd was hit with visa issues. His planned IWGP Global Championship match against Shota Umino was ultimately scratched from the final card.

That match is now scheduled to go down on July 7 in Tokyo. Kidd will also miss Night One of the G1 tournament in Chicago on July 11, which disrupts Gedo's initial tournament structure.

The injury bug bit NJPW again at Dominion, where former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Callum Newman dislocated his shoulder. Newman was originally scheduled to challenge Continental Champion Jon Moxley at Forbidden Door.

Moxley defended his title against Bandido instead. That backup plan lacked the narrative build of the originally scheduled match. Even the women's division suffered, as Dave Meltzer noted the Owen Cup final was supposed to be Sareee versus Willow Nightingale had both women been cleared.

NJPW's Corporate Reset and the WBD Stabilizer

Outside the ring, NJPW has undergone its most significant ownership change in over a decade. On June 30, 2026, Bushiroad officially finalized the sale of its entire 70 percent stake in NJPW. As Hiroshi Tanahashi confirmed in a public address, TV Asahi and CyberAgent purchased the shares in a transaction valued at approximately 3.6 billion yen.

That total amount is roughly equivalent to $22.6 million. The two media giants now own an equal 46.3 percent stake, with NJPW operating as a consolidated subsidiary of TV Asahi. Bushiroad retains control of Stardom, meaning the sister promotions are no longer under the same corporate umbrella.

This corporate shift changes the playing field for NJPW's domestic stars. Gedo's creative team must now answer to new corporate owners who demand domestic growth and international stability.

At the same time, Tony Khan is breathing a sigh of relief regarding AEW's media future. The Department of Justice approved Warner Bros. Discovery’s 111 billion dollar merger with Paramount without requiring major concessions.

This merger keeps AEW’s primary television partners, TBS and TNT, stable and out of WWE-aligned Netflix hands. Before the approval, Meltzer noted that the major fear was Netflix acquiring WBD and keeping HBO Max while dropping the linear networks AEW depends on.

“The concern was that Netflix would keep HBO Max but not the linear TV stations,” Meltzer explained.

With AEW's TV home stabilized, the focus returns to the ring. NJPW's new corporate backing and AEW's television stability set the stage for their next political battle.

The G1 Climax Chicago Referendum

This background of corporate reshuffling sets the stage for the opening night of the G1 Climax on July 11 in Chicago. IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji is scheduled to face Konosuke Takeshita in the main event. Tsuji had previously called for a boycott of Forbidden Door, criticizing NJPW's diplomatic style in dealing with AEW.

But after Khan offered positive words about the champion at the post-show press conference, Tsuji softened his stance. As Wrestling Inc. reported, Tsuji praised Khan’s character in Tokyo Sports and invited him to play a round of golf and attend the G1 Climax opening night in Chicago.

“I respect Tony Khan. I have my own thoughts about AEW as well, but what I think is really the problem is New Japan's diplomatic style.”

Yet this public show of respect cannot mask the tactical high stakes of their upcoming match. Takeshita currently holds both the NJPW World Television Championship and the AEW International Champion title, making him a dual-contract champion. If the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion drops a decision to a dual-contract AEW wrestler on American soil, it signals a complete subordination of NJPW's domestic product.

The Booking Malpractice of Gedo's Diplomatic Style

Here lies the critical flaw in NJPW's current booking direction. Gedo has placed NJPW's top championships on talent signed to AEW. Takeshita holds the Television title, Will Ospreay holds the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship, and Alex Windsor is the current Strong Women's Champion.

This booking style weakens the domestic roster’s credibility. Young stars like Ren Narita and Yuya Uemura are left without secondary gold to chase because the belts are parked on wrestlers who rarely appear in Japan.

The constant visa failures also expose NJPW's weak international logistics. With Dave Meltzer revealing NJPW names like Gabe Kidd, Tomohiro Ishii, and Callum Newman were originally supposed to be on the pay-per-view card, the logistical failures have become impossible to ignore.

The Chicago match is not just a singles contest; it is a test of NJPW's structural health. If Takeshita triumphs, the domestic champion's title reign will be severely compromised.

Tactical Breakdown and Prediction

When the bell rings in Chicago, the match will be a physical battle between Takeshita’s raw power and Tsuji’s tactical precision. Takeshita will rely on his high-angle German suplexes and running knees to slow down the champion. Tsuji will counter by targeting Takeshita's neck with bridging suplexes and his signature Gene Blaster spear.

Tsuji defeated Takeshita at Wrestle Kingdom to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, so Takeshita will be seeking revenge. Takeshita will look to establish dominance early with hard forearm strikes in the corner.

Tsuji must weather this storm and use his speed to counter Takeshita's power moves. We predict Yota Tsuji will walk away with the victory after a grueling contest.

Expect a finish around the 22-minute mark, with Tsuji countering a wheelbarrow suplex into a bridging package suplex for the pinfall. This victory is a political necessity to restore NJPW's domestic pride and protect the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.