AEW Forbidden Door 2026
All Elite Wrestling
While Forbidden Door marked the latest collaboration between AEW and NJPW, along with CMLL and Stardom this year, it also served as a significant checkpoint on the road to All In London.
Both Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Finals took place on Sunday night, with future world title opportunities at AEW’s biggest show of the year on the line. On paper, the outcomes appeared fairly straightforward, though both matches delivered plenty of drama.
Maya World has rapidly climbed the ranks of AEW’s women’s division in less than a year, capitalizing on every opportunity she has been given. That momentum carried her to a surprising spot in the Owen Hart Cup Final against Mercedes Mone, with the ultimate underdog story in play and the SAP Center crowd firmly behind her.
Despite a dramatic closing stretch in which World looked as resilient as ever and repeatedly came within inches of victory, she ultimately tapped out to Mone. The CEO advanced to All In as the Owen Hart Cup winner for the second consecutive year and, barring a title change, will challenge Thekla, who retained the AEW Women’s World Championship against Starlight Kid earlier in the night.
World gave AEW every reason to take a risk and put her over. Even in defeat, she emerged as a bigger star, and this match should set the stage for a fantastic second half of 2026.
The main event featured a spectacular 40-minute battle between Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland for the opportunity to headline Wembley Stadium. The two share a lengthy history dating back to the independent scene before either became household names, and they last met at Forbidden Door 2024 with the AEW World Championship at stake. This latest chapter was arguably even wilder, more dramatic and ultimately superior to their previous encounter.
From dramatic nearfalls to smooth, fast-paced sequences, Ospreay and Strickland dazzled in what will go down as one of the best matches in AEW history and an early frontrunner for 2026 Match of the Year. In the end, the Aerial Assassin won by pinfall to earn his spot in the AEW World Championship match at All In.
While Ospreay’s opponent has yet to be confirmed, the first ticket to the main event of All In has officially been punched, with many more storylines still to unfold over the next two months. Thekla currently has no clear challenger for her championship, while MJF is set to defend his title against Mark Briscoe on the July 1 episode of Dynamite. With AEW Redemption still scheduled before All In, one or both championships could still change hands before Wembley.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
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