On June 26th 2022, one of the most historic pay per views of all time took place. In something that seemed impossible just two years earlier, AEW met NJPW in a joint show that pitted AEW stars against the NJPW wrestlers in a battle between the two companies.
Despite the planned CM Punk vs Hiroshi Tanahashi cancelled due to injury, a host of the top stars of AEW and NJPW will be wrestling at the show. The show includes a battle between Jon Moxley and Hiroshi Tanahashi, as well as a huge Bullet Club vs “Dudes with Attitudes” match, and a number of title matches include Will Ospreay vs Orange Cassidy.
The show includes a surprise debut as well, with Bryan Danielson’s replaced for his match against Zack Sabre Jr only being revealed at the show itself. That secret wrestler is also taking part in the Blood and Guts match a week later on AEW Dynamite.
The star studded show has been hailed as one of the most important shows in wrestling history. Two companies who previously hated each other have come together to put in a supershow that celebrates both companies and their superstars.
The 12 matches on the show showcase the best of AEW and New Japan, as the two companies battle for supremacy at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door. In this article we will show you the Forbidden Door match ratings and star ratings, and give our own rating on the show and how we thought the matches went.
Here are the results of the event and the NJPW Dominion 2022 match ratings and star rating. The match ratings are taken from Cagematch.net whilst the star ratings are decided by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer.
Here are the results of the event and the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door match ratings and star rating. The match ratings are taken from Cagematch.net whilst the star ratings are decided by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer.
Forbidden Door Match Ratings
Jon Moxley vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the Interim AEW Championship
Despite CM Punk’s injury causing him to miss a dream match against Hiroshi Tanahashi, AEW managed to find a more than worthy replacement. After calling out The Ace of the Universe over the past three years in NJPW, Jon Moxley finally got his match against Tanahashi in the main event of Forbidden Door, fighting to become the interim AEW Champion.
Storming to the top for Forbidden Door star ratings, Jon Moxley and Hiroshi Tanahashi tore the house down in the main event that got the crowd on their feet for the entire match. Tanahashi and Moxley played the crowd perfectly, with the Ace being cheered even against the fan favourite Moxley as one of the best Babyface’s of all time.
In one of the highest rated matches of the night, Moxley pinned Tanahashi with a Death Rider to seal the win and become the Interim AEW Champion. This match could well be the highest Forbidden Door star rating for it’s control of the crowd and excellent in ring action
Match Ratings – 8.42
Star Ratings – 4.5 stars
Jay White vs. Adam Cole vs. Hangman Page vs. Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
Match Ratings – 7.58
Star Ratings – 4.5 stars
Miro vs. Malakai Black vs. Clark Connors vs. Pac AEW All-Atlantic Championship
The first ever AEW All-Atlantic Champion was crowned at Forbidden Door. In a fantastic Four-way bout, PAC won the match and became the first man to hold the All Elite Wrestling All-Atlantic Championship.
Featuring four men with four distinct styles from four different companies, the match was fast paced as anything and did not stop throughout the whole match. PAC picked up the victory after 15 minutes, winning his first ever championship in AEW after a long time chasing championships. It’s also his first championship since leaving WWE.
The match impressed fans and critics alike. It achieved one of the highest match ratings on Cagematch, while Dave Meltzer is expected to rate it highly as well.
Match Rating – 7.86
Star Rating – 4.5 stars
Will Ospreay vs. Orange Cassidy for the IWGP US Championship
The IWGP United States Championship was on the line in one of the most surprising yet intriguing matches on the card. In a fantastic bout that defied any expectations, Will Osprey defended his IWGP Heavyweight Championship against AEW fan favourite Orange Cassidy.
It was the Forbidden Door’s highest rated match, and could well have earned a five-star rating from Dave Meltzer. The Forbidden Door match showcased the clash of styles in the best way possible, with Orange Cassidy proving that he could go with the best of them when he needed to.
It was the Forbidden Door Match Ratings highest scorer, earning over a 9.0 from Cagematch in their aggregated ranking system.
Match Rating – 9.12
Star Rating – 4.75 stars
Thunder Rosa vs. Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s Championship
In the only non-AEW vs NJPW match on the card, the AEW Women’s Championship was on the line. As New Japan don’t have their own women’s division (although New Japan’s parent company did purchase Stardom in 2019), the match was limited to two AEW stars.
Toni Storm and Thunder Rosa battle in the only all-women match of the night over the long-coveted AEW Women’s Championship. In one of the lowest rated match on the show, although not to any fault of the women as they put on a fantastic match, but not at the level as the main event level men on the show.
There was some segments of the fan base who were upset with the fact that Thunder Rosa came out victorious (people who I agree with), but it was a good match nonetheless.
Match Ratings – 6.39
Star Ratings – 3.5 stars
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Cesaro
Forbidden Door was supposed to be the stage on which Zack Sabre Jr. and Bryan Danielson would have a dream match years in the making. Sadly, a concussion has ruled Danielson out of the match, but he has found a replacement to take on Sabre Jr, and it is a good one.
Former WWE Superstar Cesaro, now known as Claudio Castagnoli, made his AEW Debut at Forbidden Door, taking on Zack Sabre Jr in one of the most anticipated matches of the night. Claudio picked up the win after a technical masterpiece which will be one of the highest rated Forbidden Door match ratings on the card.
Match Ratings – 8.63
Star Ratings – 4.5 stars
FTR vs. United Empire vs. Roppongi Vice for the IWGP and ROH Tag Team Championships
In the tag team title match of the night, both AEW and NJPW hoped to gain high star ratings at Forbidden by pitting three of their top teams against each other in a winner takes all match.
The ROH and IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships were on the line as FTR, Jeff Cobb & Great O-Khan and Roppongi Vice faced off in a three way tag team match which wowed fans with incredible in-ring action.
FTR picked up the win and their third tag team championship currently in their posession, in a fast-paced, unrelenting match with proved once and for all they are the best team in the world.
Queue a even bigger “winner takes all” match against The Young Bucks at All Out 2022.
Match Ratings – 7.79
Star Ratings – 4.5 stars
Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, and Minoru Suzuki vs. Shota Umino, Eddie Kingston, and Wheeler Yuta
In one of the more thrown together, “New Japan tour show” tag match, the stakes are much higher than first though. Chris Jericho teams up with Sammy Guevara and NJPW’s Minoru Suziki, to take on the makeshift trio of Eddie Kingston, Wheeler Yuta and Shota Umino.
The stakes were high, as the winner of the match was given the advantage in next weeks “Blood and Guts” match on AEW Dynamite. Sadly for the good guys, this victory went to Jericho and crew, who will enter first at Blood and Guts.
However before that, we will have to appreciate this match. All six men left nothing in the ring deservedly gained a huge Forbidden Door star rating, in a match that was greatly appreciated by the fans in attendence.
Match Ratings – 8.30
Star Ratings – 4.75 stars
Bullet Club vs. Dudes With Attitudes
The best named team in the Dudes with Attitudes took on Bullet Club at Forbidden Door. For one night only, the Young Bucks rejoined Bullet club as they teamed with El Phantasmo to take on the trio of Sting, Darby Allin and Shingo Tagaki.
The match was orignally meant to be a four on four match, although illness for Hiromu Takahashi meant that he and Hikelueo were removed from this match. Luckily it was not too bad for the Dudes With Attitudes, as NJPW star Shingo Tagaki picked up the victory and kept Sting’s undefeated streak in AEW alive, while also putting on a high-rated match to top it off.
Match Ratings – 7.51
Star Ratings – 4.5 stars
The Gunn Club and Max Caster vs. NJPW Dojo
The ever famous Acclaimed and Gunn Club earned their spot on the Buy In for the Forbidden Door show, as they took on four top talents at the New Japan LA Dojo.
Max Caster’s pre-match rap was ever the highlight of the bout, with decent in-ring action which will be largely forgettable once the show is over. A decent match but not one that will get high match ratings at Forbidden Door.
The match was basically a 2-against-4 Handicap Match, after Danhausen called Austin and Colton Gunn “Ass Boys” and both chase him and left Billy Gun and Max Caster alone in the ring. Luckily the pair managed to win the match with Max Caster getting the pinfall over The DKC
Match Ratings – 4.67
Star Ratings –
Keith Lee and Shane Swerve Strickland vs. El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland have had their differences as of late, and whether or not the two could coexist at Forbidden Door were questions asked with the build up to the event.
However when push came to shove the pair managed to work together well and pick up the win.
It was the best match on the buy in card and received a good Forbidden Door match rating, due to the fun comedy spots, the excellent psychology and the crazy sequences in the final 5 minutes of the match when Keith Lee pinned Kanemaru to win it for his team.
Match Ratings – 7.50
Star Ratings –
Lance Archer vs Nick Comoroto
In a surprise inclusion on the buy in, Lance Archer defeated Nick Comoroto in a fun hoss fight.
A short but entertaining match made Lance Archer look like a star ahead of his G1 Climax appearance. This match may not get a good Star Rating at Forbidden Door, or even get ranked at all due to the nature of it, but it kept the crowd excited and made Archer look great ahead of his trip to Japan.
The Forbidden Door star rating was not great but fans will remember how dominant Archer looked in this match, at Comoroto’s expense.
Match Ratings – 4.95
Star Ratings –
QT Marshall and Aaron Solo vs. Yoshi-Hashi and Hirooki Goto
On the pre show, Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi defeated The Factory (QT Marshall and Aaron Solo) in a fun match to kick the show off with a bang.
QT Marshall in particularly impressed, pulling out some fun moves that had the crowd on their feet. The Japanese team were also visibly pleased to be working in front of a live crowd, with cheering banned in Japan since the dawn of the pandemic.
The first of the show got a decent Forbidden Door match rating and kicked off the show with a bang.
Match Ratings – 6.33
Star Ratings –