Wrestling's global alliance expanded to include Mexico and Japan in 2026
In short: The Forbidden Door event has evolved from a two-company showcase into a massive international collaboration. By bringing together major promotions from the US, Japan, and Mexico, this annual spectacle creates a unique crossroads for professional wrestling's biggest stars to compete on a single stage.
The brand saw major growth during its fifth annual Forbidden Door, held at San Jose, California's SAP Center on June 28, 2026. Although a partnership between New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and All Elite Wrestling (AEW) started in 2022, the 2026 show officially added co-promoters World Wonder Ring Stardom and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL).
The event featured a diverse card of twelve matches, including three on the Zero-Hour pre-show. A major highlight was the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament finals. In the men's division, Will Ospreay defeated Swerve Strickland to claim the Cup. In the women's division, Mercedes Moné secured her second consecutive tournament victory, making her the first wrestler of any gender to win the tournament back-to-back.
The card also included a high-stakes six-on-six steel cage match in the penultimate slot. Team Briscoe, featuring Darby Allin, Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle O'Reilly, Roderick Strong, Orange Cassidy and Mark Briscoe, triumphed over Team DCMJF (comprising Andrade El Ídolo, Kazuchika Okada, Jake Doyle, Kyle Fletcher, Kevin Knight and MJF).
This massive production faced significant counter-programming challenges. It went head-to-head with WWE's NXT brand via The Great American Bash, and was scheduled against TNA's Slammiversary, though TNA shifted its start time to avoid a direct clash. The event was broadcast globally via various platforms, including Prime Video, YouTube, and HBO Max in the United States.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Forbidden Door (2026)
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