Hello and welcome back again! It’s time for some cross-promotional action with AEW and NJPW’s Forbidden Door! It’s fitting that AEW is involved in the first show using the name as Tony Khan coined the term, and the first show of the modern era of this nature was likely the proto-AEW show All In. How about some Forbidden Door history?
Once wrestling figured itself out in the #quixotine, Kenny Omega made the first major move through the Forbidden Door after winning the AEW World title and immediately running off with the belt to Impact Wrestling in December 2020. He would even win the Impact World title in April 2021 and work several super shows with Impact while also still AEW World champion.
Once borders opened up, New Japan Pro Wrestling came crashing through the Forbidden Door when KENTA popped up in AEW to attack IWGP United States champion Jon Moxley in February 2021 (Moxley would retain his title against KENTA a few weeks later), while Bullet Club maintained a presence in Impact Wrestling, re-inducting the Good Brothers into the group and inviting Impact stars Chris Bey in August 2021 and more recently Ace Austin earlier this month.
Over in MLW, while not interacting too much with the Forbidden Door, still managed to resurrect a promotion by bringing in the former Lucha Underground as the rebranded Azteca Underground. The former owner Dario Cueto even returned under the new alias of Cesar Duran (because he is a man of many names and previous continuity exists!) where he now rules MLW with the same ruthlessness he showed Lucha Underground.
Impact Wrestling, which even more than AEW has been acting as the Giant-Size Man-Thing to the Forbidden Door’s swamp multiverse nexus, may have scored the biggest win in the end. While practically everyone in wrestling at this point has been using the Forbidden Door, obviously the WWE ignored it. Impact’s Knockouts champion Deonna Purrazzo showed up in the NWA to defend her title against Melina at their all-women super show. This led to NWA’s Mickie James to challenge Purrazzo and win the Impact Knockouts title at Impact Bound for Glory in October 2021. She held the title through January 2022 when she appeared in WWE’s Royal Rumble match AS the Impact Knockouts champion and even coming out to her Hardcore Country music and gear. Holy shit, right?
All this is to say: I wrote a Forbidden Door show over a year ago and you should check it out again. Billed as the Great American Bash 2021 and existing as the first major show to return with fans in the stands (written as occurring summer 2021), WWE got into the Forbidden Door game and competed with both AEW and Impact in a series of matches. AJ Styles faced Moose. Aleister Black, Chris Bey, Darby Allin, and Mustafa Ali had a secondary-champion fatal four way. The Bullet Club reunited with not only the Good Brothers, the Young Bucks, and Kenny Omega, but also Finn Balor to face the New Day and the Usos. And in the main event, a champions special tag team match with Kenny Omega & Roman Reigns facing Drew McIntyre & Nick Aldis. And spoilers: not one, but two Money in the Bank cash-ins. It's a solid card and I stand by it.
And now before we get to the preview, the Quixo-staff attended the go-home June 22nd AEW Dynamite right here in Milwaukee (and the taping of the June 24th AEW Rampage), so here are some stray thoughts from the show:
$3 taps before wrestling is the greatest invention ever, and whatever grapefruit milkshake beer Untitled Art came up with is candy in a glass.
Were we chanting “dead body” at the team facing Ricky Starks & Powerhouse Hobbs? Because Bonesaw is okay with that.
Buddy Matthews peaked when he was romantically linked to Alexa Bliss and that is the best way to peak and we should all be jealous.
I kinda dig that Tony Khan insists on welcoming us to Dynamite every time before the show starts.
When Bryan Danielson announced he was injured, someone in our section immediately yelled “you’re a bum, Rock! A bum!
Will Ospreay’s Aussie Open partners are the modern day Assassin #1 and Assassin #2.
FTR’s music fucking slaps, but why the hell were there no FTR shirts in stock at the merch table? You lost our on a hot sale, Tony.
In other-shirts-I-could-not-buy, Christian Cage is the absolute best and his turn as a replacement Luke Perry is second only to his eventual face off with Detective Columbo.
Milwaukee’s own Silas Young got more cheers than Hangman Adam Page in their matchup. If Tommaso Ciampa can’t make a game, Young has an easy reserve spot on the Quixo bowling team.
Oh fuck Kazuchika Okada is in Milwaukee!
There are so many maneuvers I wish the chiropractor would perform on me. Even a simple sharpshooter would stretch the right pieces out.
While chaos ensued around them, Moxley and Tanahashi stayed in the ring, lost in each other’s eyes
Cash Wheeler is a wet mother fucker.
Let's check in with the new results from the Amazing Spectacular Web of Quixotronic Wrestling Shame Challenge!
Previously on Fanboy Wrestletronic…
Standings going into NXT 2.0 In Your House 2022 :
1st Place: Tim 70.6%
2nd Place: Andy 63.6%
3rd Place: Kyle 59.0%
4th Place: Ryan 0.0%
NXT 2.0 In Your House 2022 (06/04/22) results :
The Family (Channing Lorenzo, Tony D'Angelo, & Troy Donovan) def. Legado del Fantasma (Cruz del Toro, Joaquin Wilde, & Santos Escobar) by pinfall.
Kyle: The Family (1-0)
NXT Women's Tag Team Titles Match : Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolan & Jacy Jayne) © def. Katana Chance & Kayden Carter by pinfall.
Kyle: Katana Chance & Kayden Carter (1-1)
NXT North American Title Match : Carmelo Hayes def. Cameron Grimes © by pinfall to win the NXT North American title for the second time.
Kyle: Cameron Grimes (1-2)
NXT Women's Title Match : Mandy Rose © def. Wendy Choo by pinfall.
Kyle: Mandy Rose (2-2)
NXT Men's Tag Team Titles Match : The Creed Brothers (Brutus & Julius Creed) def. Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince & Kit Wilson) © by pinfall to win the NXT Men's Tag Team titles.
Kyle: The Creed Brothers (3-2)
NXT Men's Title Match : Bron Breakker © def. Joe Gacy by pinfall.
Kyle: The Creed Brothers (4-2)
WWE Hell in a Cell 2022 (06/05/22) results :
Raw Women's Title Match : Bianca Belair © def. Asuka, Becky Lynch by pinfall.
Kyle: Bianca Belair (1-0)
Bobby Lashley def. MVP & Omos by submission.
Kyle: Bobby Lashley (2-0)
Kevin Owens def. Ezekiel by pinfall.
Kyle: Ezekiel (2-1)
The Judgment Day (Damian Priest, Edge, & Rhea Ripley) def. AJ Styles, Finn Bálor, & Liv Morgan by pinfall.
Kyle: The Judgment Day (3-1)
No Holds Barred Match : Madcap Moss def. Happy Corbin by pinfall.
Kyle: Riddick Moss (4-1)
WWE United States Title Match : Austin Theory © def. Mustafa Ali by pinfall.
Kyle: Austin Theory (5-1)
Hell in a Cell Match : Cody Rhodes def. Seth Rollins by pinfall.
Kyle: Cody Rhodes (6-1)
NWA Alwayz Ready 2022 (06/11/22) results :
Rodney Mack def. Jake Dumas by pinfall.
Kyle: n/a (0-0)
The Mortons (Kerry & Ricky Morton) def. The Country Gentlemen (AJ Cazana & Anthony Andrews), the Ill Begotten (Alex Taylor & Jeremiah Plunkett) by pinfall.
Kyle: The Mortons (1-0)
Trevor Murdoch def. Aron Stevens by pinfall.
Kyle: Aron Stevens (1-1)
NWA Worlds Women's Tag Team Titles Match : Pretty Empowered (Ella Envy & Kenzie Paige) def. The Hex (Allysin Kay & Marti Belle) © by pinfall to win the NWA Worlds Women's Tag Team titles.
Kyle: Pretty Empowered (2-1)
NWA Worlds Junior Heavyweight Title Match : Homicide © def. PJ Hawx by pinfall.
Kyle: n/a (2-1)
NWA Worlds Junior Heavyweight Title Champions Series Cash-In Match : Homicide © def. Colby Corino by pinfall.
Kyle: n/a (2-1)
Natalia Markova def. Taya Valkyrie by pinfall.
Kyle: Natalia Markova (3-1)
NWA National Title Match : Jax Dane © def. Chris Adonis by pinfall.
Kyle: Jax Dane (4-1)
Thom Latimer def. Cyon by pinfall.
Kyle: n/a (4-1)
NWA Television Title Match : Tyrus © def. Matthew Mims by pinfall.
Kyle: Tyrus (5-1)
NWA Worlds Tag Team Titles Match : The Commonwealth Connection (Doug Williams & Harry Smith) © def. La Rebelión (Bestia 666 & Mecha Wolf 450) by pinfall to win the NWA Worlds Tag Team titles.
Kyle: The Commonwealth Connection (6-1)
NWA Worlds Women's Title Match : Kamille © def. KiLynn King by pinfall.
Kyle: Kamille (7-1)
NWA Worlds Heavyweight Title Match : Trevor Murdoch def. Nick Aldis, Sam Shaw, Thom Latimer by pinfall to win the NWA Worlds Heavyweight title.
Kyle: n/a (7-1)
NJPW Dominion 2022 (06/12/22) results :
United Empire (Aaron Henare, Francesco Akira, & TJP) def. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Master Wato, & Ryusuke Taguchi by submission.
Kyle: n/a (0-0)
Bullet Club (Ace Austin, El Phantasmo, & Taiji Ishimori) def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, & Tetsuya Naito) by pinfall.
Kyle: n/a (0-0)
Toru Yano def. Doc Gallows by pinfall.
Kyle: n/a (0-0)
NEVER 6-Man Tag Team Titles Match : House of Torture (EVIL, SHO, & Yujiro Takahashi) © def. Suzuki-gun (El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, & Zack Sabre Jr) by pinfall.
Kyle: n/a (0-0)
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Titles Match : United Empire (Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb) def. Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens) © by pinfall to win the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team titles.
Kyle: United Empire (1-0)
Winner faces Jon Moxley for the Interim AEW World title : Hiroshi Tanahashi def. Hirooki Goto by pinfall.
Kyle: Hiroshi Tanahashi (2-0)
KOPW 2022 Trophy 10-Minute Unlimited Pinfall Scramble Match : Shingo Takagi © def. Taichi by 11 pinfalls to 10 pinfalls.
Kyle: Shingo Takagi (3-0)
NEVER Openweight Title Match : Karl Anderson def. Tama Tonga © by pinfall to win the NEVER Openweight title.
Kyle: Karl Anderson (4-0)
IWGP United States Title Match : Will Ospreay def. SANADA by pinfall to win the IWGP United States title.
Kyle: n/a (4-0)
IWGP World Heavyweight Title Match : Jay White def. Kazuchika Okada © by pinfall to win the IWGP World Heavyweight title.
Kyle: Kazuchika Okada (4-1)
Impact Slammiversary 2022 (06/19/22) results :
Impact Digital Media Title Match : Rich Swann © def Brian Myers by pinfall.
Kyle: Ace Austin (1-0)
Reverse Battle Royal : Shark Boy by elimination.
Kyle: Shark Boy (2-0)
Impact X-Division Title Ultimate X Match : Mike Bailey def. Ace Austin ©, Alex Zayne, Andrew Everett, Kenny King, Trey Miguel by title capture to win the Impact X-Division title.
Kyle: Ace Austin (2-1)
Impact Knockouts Tag Team Titles Match : Rosemary & Taya Valkyrie def. The Influence (Madison Rayne & Tenille Dashwood) © by pinfall to win the Impact Knockouts Tag Team titles.
Kyle: The Influence (2-2)
Monster's Ball Match : Sami Callihan def. Moose by pinfall.
Kyle: Sami Callihan (3-2)
Impact Tag Team Titles Match : The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson) def. The Briscoes (Jay & Mark Briscoe) © by pinfall to win the Impact Tag Team titles.
Kyle: The Briscoes (3-3)
Impact Originals (Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, Davey Richards, Frankie Kazarian, & Nick Aldis) def. Honor No More (Eddie Edwards, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, PCO, & Vincent) by pinfall.
Kyle: Impact Originals (4-3)
Impact Knockouts Title Queen of the Mountain Match : Jordynne Grace def. Chelsea Green, Deonna Purrazzo, Mia Yim, Tasha Steelz © by title hanging to win the Impact Knockouts title.
Kyle: Chelsea Green (4-4)
Impact World Title Match : Josh Alexander © def. Eric Young by pinfall.
Kyle: Josh Alexander (5-4)
And now the conclusion…
Final standings after Impact Slammiversary :
1st Place: Tim 70.6%
2nd Place: Kyle 64.6%
3rd Place: Andy 63.6%
4th Place: Ryan 0.0%
Who will survive!?
To watch AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door 2022 live on Sunday, June 26, 2022 at 7:00p CST, you can purchase it on Bleacher Report.
Until then, here’s your Quixotronic preview of the weekend.
As always: cards are subject to change.
AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door 2022
El Phantasmo & the Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs Darby Allin, Shingo Takagi, & Sting
The Background: This match was announced on the June 22nd AEW Dynamite as announced by Darby Allin & Sting. They'll team with NJPW's los Ingobernables de Japon members Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi while AEW's the Young Bucks will team once again with their old crew the Bullet Club in Hikuleo who was with the group last time the Young Bucks were and El Phantasmo who joined after the Young Bucks and the rest of the Elite left to form AEW. On June 25th it was announced that Hiromu Takahashi couldn't travel due to a fever so he and Hikuleo have been pulled from the match.
Fanboy Fantasy: Darby Allin & Hiromu use quick tags to take the early advantage. Once the Young Bucks tag in though, they’re able to take over. Shingo is able to take it to them for a while but it all becomes a big mess until we get the Young Bucks vs Sting in the ring. They hit a few moves but Sting is able to shake them off and power up, but the ol’ numbers game gets the best of the Stinger and the Young Bucks hit a Meltzer Driver on Sting. Pin, 1-2-3, the Young Bucks win and Sting takes his first AEW loss. El Phantasmo and Hikuleo throw up Too-Sweets and the Young Bucks officially rejoin Bullet Club.
Quixotronic Bullpen Predictions:
Kyle: Bullet Club & Young Bucks - I don't know if they'll go as far as to officially re-combine Bullet Club, but I think we'll see the Biz Cliz get a win here.
Tim: TBA
Chris Jericho, Minoru Suzuki, & Sammy Guevara vs Eddie Kingston, Shota Umino, & Wheeler Yuta
The Background: Chris Jericho and Eddie Kingston have been feuding since Kingston defeated Jericho at AEW Revolution 2022 and Jericho refused to shake Kingston's hand. Instead, Jericho formed a new faction, the Jericho Appreciation Society with other enemies of Kingston (Daniel Garcia & 3point0) and his forever-mate Jake Hager. In turn, Kingston has been aligned with both former Inner Circle members Ortiz & Sanata as well as Jon Moxley and loosely the Blackpool Combat Club. The two groups faced each other in an Anarchy in the Arena match at AEW Double or Nothing 2022 which saw Kingston's crew lose after Bryan Danielson tried to stop Kingston from lighting Jericho on fire with gasoline. Now Kingston will team with Moxley allies Wheeler Yuta and Shota Umino to face Jericho along with returning ally Sammy Guevara (as of the June 15th AEW Dynamite) and NJPW's Minoru Suzuki.
Fanboy Fantasy: Returning Jericho-ally Sammy Guevara and Wheeler Yuta start the match, Yuta trying to brawl Sammy down right away while Guevara flips over Yuta to avoid him. Guevara teases a tag to Suzuki but denies the crowd and goes back at Yuta. After Yuta takes takes the advantage, he tags in Kingston who kicks the shit out if Guevara. Kingston yells at him to tag in Jericho or Suzuki, but Guevara just smiles a bloody smile at him. Kingston does not takes this well and we get the Narrator/Angel scene from Fight Club - Kingston must destroy something beautiful. However as soon as they near Kingston’s corner, Umino tags himself in because he feels bad for the damage Guevara has taken. Kingston argues with Umino over the tag while Guevara climbs across to tag in Jericho. Kingston tells Umino that since he’s a big boy, he can have Jericho now and starts to stew over his violent feelings. Unfortunately Jericho tears down Umino and starts making quick tags with Suzuki as the two double team Umino. To his credit, Umino is able to kick out of every pin attempt. However, when Suzuki starts locking submissions while laughing at Kingston, that sets Eddie off and he rushes in to attack Suzuki. Suzuki quickly tags in Sammy but Kingston chases Suzuki out of the ring where the two and Jericho brawl into the crowd. Umino is able to tag in Yuta, but Sammy miraculously feels better and hits a GTH to get the pin. With the match over, the Jericho Appreciation Society and Ortiz & Santana all spill out and brawl - Ortiz still chanting Blood & Guts! The Blackpool Combat Club finally get the win in their WarGames-ish match, but their alliance with Eddie Kingston soon crumbles.
Quixotronic Bullpen Predictions:
Kyle: Chris Jericho, Minoru Suzuki, & Sammy Guevara - I'm guessing the Blackpool Combat Club will get final revenge at Blood & Guts which means a likely loss for Regal's crew here.
Tim: Eddie Kingston, Shota Umino, & Wheeler Yuta
Bryan Danielson's Handpicked Replacement vs Zack Sabre Jr
The Background: Zack Sabre Jr called out Bryan Danielson for a match through the Forbidden Door, however Bryan Danielson announced on the June 22nd AEW Dynamite that he was injured after the Anarchy in the Arena match and not cleared to wrestle. However, he has handpicked an opponent for Zack Sabre Jr that he will announce at the Forbidden Door show and will also take his place in the upcoming Blood & Guts match. If it is a potentially new member of the Blackpool Combat Club, it's gotta be Cesaro, right? Right? I will also gladly take Johnny Gargano, but I don't think he fits the BCC.
Fanboy Fantasy: Zack Sabre Jr is forced to stand in the ring for a very long two minutes before Bryan Danielson’s music hits. Danielson plays to the crowd while Sabre still waits, clearly frustrated. Danielson doesn’t even grab a mic, he just motions to the entrance when Claudio Castagnoli, the former Cesaro steps through, hugs Danielson, and storms the ring. These two have a slow, methodical stretching match while Danielson and William Regal help out at commentary. Claudio goes for the big swing spin, but Sabre Jr is able to grab his legs mid-spin and climb himself up to Claudio’s chest to lock a submission on him, shocking Claudio. Claudio gets the big debut win though as Danielson and Regal celebrate with the newest member of the Blackpool Combat Club.
Quixotronic Bullpen Predictions:
Kyle: Claudio Castagnoli - Whomever it is joining Bryan Danielson's side will get a big win here to give them momentum going into Blood & Guts.
Tim: TBA
AEW Women's Title Match : Toni Storm vs Thunder Rosa ©
The Background: Thunder Rosa defeated Dr. Britt Baker in a steel cage match on the March 16th AEW Dynamite to win the AEW Women’s title. So far she has successfully defended against Nyla Rose at AEW Battle of the Belts II and Serena Deeb at AEW Double or Nothing 2022. Toni Storm more recently lost to eventual winner Dr. Britt Baker in the Owen Hart Cup semi-final on the May 25th AEW Dynamite, but came back with a victory over the Owen winner on the June 15th AEW Dynamite. Since they have now both beaten Dr. Britt Baker, they will fight over the championship.
Fanboy Fantasy: Thunder Rosa starts out hot but as a few minutes go by, it’s clear she’s underestimated Storm. This allows her to start working the match a little more as the heel to Storm’s fight-from-beneath face. Rose holds her submissions a little longer, waits to break a hold during a rope break a little longer, argues with the referee a little more. But any time she goes for a pin, Storm kicks out. Thunder Rosa eventually locks the Snake Sleeper and holds it for a solid minute. Storm almost passes out but is able to hold on after the third check - but she still can’t break out and is forced to tap out. Rosa is clearly frustrated that it wasn’t an easier win, but still offers her hand to Storm who accepts. Rosa starts working more and more as a tweener, and also tries to call out opponents from STARDOM and asks management why they didn’t get a match with each other. This leads to Rosa defying orders and traveling to Japan to defend her AEW Women’s title on a STARDOM show.
Quixotronic Bullpen Predictions:
Kyle: Thunder Rosa - I don't see her reign any time soon.
Tim: Thunder Rosa
IWGP United States Title Match : Orange Cassidy vs Will Ospreay ©
The Background: Will Ospreay won the vacant IWGP United States title by defeating SANADA at NJPW Dominion 2022 (title last held by Juice Robinson). He then defeated FTR’s Dax Harwood on the June 15th AEW Dynamite and then followed it up by attacking both FTR and CHAOS-allies Roppongi Vice along with his United Empire group. Orange Cassidy made the save and it was soon announced Cassidy would get a shot at Ospreay’s title.
Fanboy Fantasy: Will Ospreay literally paces as Orange Cassidy slowly makes his way to the ring. Even before Cassidy roles into the ring, Ospreay is on him. The referee tries to pull Ospreay away but Cassidy gives a thumbs up and the bell rings. Cassidy is able to answer everything Ospreay gives to him and the two even out. Outside of a light kick taunt or two, Cassidy is awake and full of beans, angering Ospreay. They go for a decent 15 minutes when Ospreay hits an OsCutter, but Cassidy bounces right up as if nothing touched him. Cassidy answers with a Mouse Trap that Ospreay also no-sells. After another OsCutter from Ospreay, he puts Cassidy away to retain his title.
Quixotronic Bullpen Predictions:
Kyle: Orange Cassidy - I think we'll see some titles go to non-promotion guys.
Tim: TBA
AEW All-Atlantic Title Match : Clark Connors vs Malakai Black vs Miro vs PAC
The Background: AEW announced the new AEW All-Atlantic title on the June 8th AEW Dynamite with an 8-man tournament, 6 spots filled with AEW workers and 2 spots with NJPW workers which doesn’t seem very fair. PAC defeated Buddy Matthews the same night, Miro defeated Ethan Page on the June 15th AEW Dynamite, and Malakai Black defeated Penta Oscuro on the June 22nd AEW Dynamite. Tomohiro Ishii defeated Clark Connors on the June 21st NJPW New Japan Road, though was injured soon after so Connors will compete instead (though I didn't change my fantasy booking - Ishii wasn't injured there.)
Fanboy Fantasy: Malakai Black and PAC square off as they have been while Miro and Ishii circle each other, ready to slap man meat. Black and PAC spill to the crowd quickly, allowing Miro and Ishii to smash into each other like the rock-‘em sock-‘em robots they are. They each no-sell each slap and are gentlemen who take turns. Just as they brawl to the outside, Black and PAC show up out of nowhere to re-enter the ring. After a few minutes with them in the ring, Ishii and Miro finally spill back in and they finally switch partners, Ishii with Black and Miro with PAC. Both bigger fellas start off by overpowering the smaller opponent, but both Black and PAC are able to turn it around. Soon it’s a brawl with all four in the ring with each taking turns hitting the man to his left. It all comes to an end when Black hits PAC with a deadly and final End kick and gets the pin to take the title to the House of Black. PAC is barred from facing Black for the title so their feud finally ends, and Miro steps up as the first contender to see whose God is better, the Redeemer or the Black Throne.
Quixotronic Bullpen Predictions:
Kyle: PAC - I think he'll take the title as a guy who's been with the company since day one.
Tim: TBA
IWGP & ROH Tag Team Titles Match : Roppongi Vice (Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta) vs FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) ROH© vs United Empire (Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb) IWGP©
The Background: FTR defeated the Briscoes to win the ROH Tag Team titles at ROH Supercard of Honor XV, the first and so far only ROH show produced by new owner Tony Khan. The United Empire more recently retained the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team titles at NJPW Dominion 2022 by defeating Bullet Club’s Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens. Just prior to this, Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan crashed a ROH Tag Team titles match between FTR and Roppongi Vice in the May 25th AEW Dynamite by attacking both teams. FTR and Roppongi Vice’s Trent Beretta faced other United Empire members Will Ospreay, Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis on the June 10th AEW Rampage, and everyone brawled at the end of the June 24th AEW Rampage. Both sets of titles are on the line so someone’s getting double gold (or triple in FTR’s case as also AAA Tag Team champions).
Fanboy Fantasy: Dax Harwood, Rocky Romero, and Jeff Cobb start the match and Harwood and Romero immediately work together to neutralize Cobb, though he is able to defend himself alone more than they’d like. Once Cobb and Kahn are both knocked out, FTR and Roppongi Vice finally start facing off against each other, but this point represented by Cash Wheeler and Trent Beretta. United Empire rest up for a few minutes but return to break a pin attempt by Beretta. It’s finally a true triple threat for the last few minutes before FTR is able to hit a Big Rig onto Jeff Cobb to secure the win and the IWGP Tag Team titles. On future episodes of Dynamite, FTR finally defends their titles against Roppongi Vice in an uninterrupted match, and then get down to business: the Young Bucks have the AEW Tag Team titles and they want them. At All Out we get FTR/Young Bucks III for the AEW, ROH, IWGP, and AAA Tag Team titles and FTR leaves with all the gold.
Quixotronic Bullpen Predictions:
Kyle: United Empire - If Orange Cassidy is going to take a NJPW title, I think this is where NJPW will take an AEW title.
Tim: TBA
IWGP World Heavyweight Title Match : Adam Cole vs Adam Page vs Kazuchika Okada vs Jay White ©
The Background: Jay White recently regained the IWGP World Heavyweight title by defeating Kazuchika Okada at NJPW Dominion 2022. Having called out then-champion on the June 8th AEW Dynamite, former AEW World champion called out Jay White instead, though Adam Cole distracted him in time for a sneak attack from White with White announcing that he would not defend against Page. Adam Cole clearly wanted a title shot and though they are loosely allies, White also denied Cole the title shot. When White and Cole attacked Page again on the June 22nd AEW Dynamite, Okada made the save, putting all four men against each other. It was made official soon afterwards that now White will have to defend against three men when he could have politely accepted Page’s original request and defended against one.
Fanboy Fantasy: When the bell rings we again get the obviously pairings: Okada vs White and Cole vs Page. However, as soon as Cole is knocked into a corner, Page hard-turns and hits White with a hard clothesline. Okada picks White up and looks ready to perform a double team maneuver, but the Hangman isn’t dealing with that shit - he’s right back on Cole since he started moving. As soon as White can break away from Okada, he retaliates on Page and Cole quickly teams up with White. They hit a few team shots and Page has to roll out of the ring to recover just in time for Okada to attack both. They’re able to take out Okada as well and Cole tries to celebrate with White but he hits Cole with an out-of-nowhere Blade Runner. He mistakenly taunts Cole for being foolish so when he finally goes for a pin, Page is able to break it up. This goes on with Okada and Cole both occasionally hit team maneuvers with anyone while both Page and White are clearly on their own. Little by little Bullet Club starts making their presence known around the ring. White ignores them while Cole is clearly excited and hits a Too-Sweet with them and the Young Bucks even giving him kisses on the cheeks. The referee tries to kick them out but there are too many members that while they are distracted, the Young Bucks slide in and hit a Superkick Party on Okada and Hangman Page. They Bucks celebrate with White and Cole when Okada gets up and attacks the Bucks - this gives White the opportunity to hit a Blade Runner on Adam Cole to get the pin and retain his title. Okada takes the loss honorably while Hangman is pissed and attacks any Bullet Club member he can get his hands on. On the next episode of AEW Dynamite, Adam Cole hosts story time and admits that he understands why Jay White did what he did because in the moment he could have done the same. Either way, Bullet Club has never been stronger especially with the IWGP World Heavyweight title. He invites the Undisputed Elite to join him as they all stand with Bullet Club. The Bucks and reDRagon all hit the ring and before the can all collectively Too-Sweet, Jay White joins them to formally welcome them back into Bullet Club. Of course this is all a ruse, and the Bucks and White all superkick the Undisputed ERA and Too-Sweet over their bodies. Adam Cole and Adam Page become uneasy allies as Bullet Club starts to take over AEW and even compete in a match or two on NJPW Strong. A month or two down the line when Page and Cole are a little more comfortable with each other, Page shows Cole something he should have shown him long ago: video footage from BTE of his murder at the hands of the Bucks and Kenny Omega, and Omega is coming back. The slow face turn of the whole Undisputed Era is complete and let Elite vs Era officially commence!
Quixotronic Bullpen Predictions:
Kyle: Jay White - I don't think Jay White will lose the title so quickly this time like his first reign.
Tim: TBA
Interim AEW World Title Match : Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Jon Moxley
The Background: CM Punk defeated Hangman Adam Page for the AEW World title at AEW Double or Nothing 2022. On the June 1st AEW Dynamite, the new champion called out his opponent for the upcoming AEW/NJPW show: the Ace of NJPW, Hiroshi Tanahashi. Unfortunately, CM Punk injured his foot in a trios match and on the June 3rd AEW Rampage announced he needs surgery. In place of vacating the title, it was announced an interim champion would be crowned with one opponent from AEW and one from NJPW. For AEW, #1 contender Jon Moxley faced battle royal winner Kyle O’Reilly on the June 8th AEW Dynamite with Moxley coming out on top. In NJPW, Tanahashi defeated Hiroyuki Goto at NJPW Dominion 2022 to fill their spot. These two have been circling each other for years and have not faced off in a singles match though recently fought in a fatal four way for Tanahashi’s IWGP United States title along with then-winner Juice Robinson and now current champion Will Ospreay at NJPW Capital Collision 2022. Now instead they’ll finally go one-on-one for the (interim) AEW World title.
Fanboy Fantasy: Fuck it, let them go 45 minutes. You thought this shit was going to end at a reasonable hour? Haha no. And did I say 45 minutes? Let’s go an hour. All this is to say I don’t know how to book the match itself outside of Hiroshi Tanahashi pinning Moxley and winning the interim AEW World title. On the next episode of AEW Dynamite Tanahashi announces that NJPW have officially listed him as on excursion and he will be a fighting champion. He also intends to hold the match until and through NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 where he plans on facing CM Punk for the undisputed AEW World title. Spilling out of the Blood and Guts match, Eddie Kingston wins it for his team and emerges as the first challenger to Tanahashi, except that Bryan Danielson is disgusted by the idea and tries to take his spot once he’s healthy. Kingston and Danielson try a series of three matches, but they hit a 30-minute draw on match three to give us Danielson vs Kingston vs Tanahashi at AEW All Out 2022 where Tanahashi retains after pinning Danielson. After failing to win the AEW All-Atlantic title, PAC goes on a mission to have a match at every show, popping up on every Dynamite, Rampage, Dark, and Elevation he can, pinning everyone placed in front of him. This gives PAC good standing for a title match with Tanahashi at the Grand Slam special episode of AEW Dynamite with Tanahashi retaining. For AEW Battle of the Belts III, Chris Jericho announces his intentions to boost the ratings of the special by allowing Tanahashi to defend against him, and even Tony Khan has to pop up on screen and admit that Turner executives agreed with Jericho’s assessment. Let’s get Eric Bischoff in there to back Jericho for the match, though Tanahashi again retains. Tanahashi defends and retains against a newly revitalized Andrade el Idolo at AEW Full Gear 2022 and takes on Malakai Black for the Winter is Coming Special near the end of 2022. By this point CM Punk is ready to go and the two indeed meet at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 with CM Punk winning clean. Punk and FTR (still champions in at least 5 promotions) celebrate together in the Tokyo Dome. But then Punk’s first opponent blindsides all three of them at the following episode of Dynamite: Kenny Omega. He invented the Forbidden Door and he allowed Tanahashi to appear in AEW while he dealt with the ghost of Adam Cole, but now he wants his damn title back and he’ll destroy the Winter of Punk to do it.
Quixotronic Bullpen Predictions:
Kyle: Jon Moxley - As much as I want Tanahashi to do a 6-month tour with AEW, I don't think it will happen. I hope I'm wrong?
Tim: TBA
That's it for our preview and fantasy booking for AEWxNJPW Forbidden Door 2022.
This is week 5 of a 6-week march through wrestling. With now 3 out of 5 weeks, we're now batting .666 (very evil, very mathematic) so even with the two-week break, we're doing great! We'll be back next week with (Hush) Money in the Bank 2022 which I'm sure will go as smoothly as everything in the WWE has lately.
Please checkout a full season of all-fantasy Quixo booking with WWE 2021 : Quixo-WrestleMania 37, Quixo-Great American Bash 2021, and Quixo-SummerSlam 2021! What's better than some fantasy booking? All fantasy booking.
Thanks for joining us again and be sure to subscribe on Facebook and follow https://www.quixotronic.com/ for more questionable content.
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