After retaining his AEW Championship against the Four Pillars at AEW Double or Nothing 2023, MJF will be looking ahead for the next challenger for his beloved “Triple B”.
The AEW Champion pinned Darby Allin with a headlock takeover to retain his title, and now will be waiting to see who will face him at AEW’s next big event – Forbidden Door 2023.
The show will take place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and be the second time that AEW has joined forces with NJPW to create a cross-promotional show for the fans to enjoy.
Expect to see all the big stars of both companies at the event, although the one match to look out for will be to see who MJF will defend his AEW Championship against, in the main event of the show.
Hiroshi Tanahashi
As MJF is not a fan of NJPW and their style of wrestling, it seems perfect that he’d have to face the embodiment of the company at Forbidden Door, in the form of Hiroshi Tanahashi.
The Ace of the Universe made his mark in AEW last year, when he battled Jon Moxley at Forbidden Door for the Interim AEW Championship. He lost that match, but could have another shot at the title at this years event, as MJF’s next challenger.
Both men are experts at supreme storytelling, with some of the best in-ring psychology you’ll ever see. Watching MJF gain respect for Tanahashi as the match goes on, before cheating to win with a grin on his face, would make for an excellent pay per view match.
Adam Cole
We previously reported that Adam Cole would be the next challenger for MJF’s title, following Double or Nothing 2023, and that match could take place at Forbidden Door.
Having not wrestled since last year’s event, Cole has come back with a fire lit inside him, picking up some big wins since returning weeks ago, including against Chris Jericho on PPV.
Cole’s inclusion in Bullet Club could help add to the cross-promotion aspect to the match, although the two stars are big enough that I doubt that would even matter.
Darby Allin
After MJF pinned Darby Allin with a headlock takeover (again) at Double or Nothing 2023, the young star seems primed for a one-on-one match against MJF at Forbidden Door.
That match was a four-way match, dubbed a “Four Pillars” match, due to the four wrestlers in the match (MJF, Darby Allin, Sammy Guevara and Jungle Boy). MJF cheated to win the bout and retain his title, so Allin will not want to let him go without a fight.
The biggest downside to this match may be the lack of NJPW talent, going against the idea of the Forbidden Door PPV. However, last years show saw Toni Storm vs Thunder Rosa for the AEW Women’s Title, so there is precedent for an all AEW clash at the show.
Adam Page
“Hangman” Adam Page has had very little interaction with MJF, since losing the first Dynamite Diamond Ring match to the young star.
Since then, Page has been the protagonist in AEW, while MJF can claim to be the villain that has woven its way through the company since its inception.
A battle between the two would be a huge deal, with the two AEW originals clashing on the biggest stage, for the biggest prize available to them.
The only issue with this match would be Adam Page’s involvement in thee current Elite vs Blackpool Combat Club feud, which could bleed over into AEW Forbidden Door in the months coming up.
This would certainly be one of the best matches in AEW history, if it happens, so would be one of my picks for MJF’s next challenger at Forbidden Door.
CM Punk
With his impending return of CM Punk just two weeks before Forbidden Door, Forbidden Door may come too early for the former WWE Champion to face off with MJF.
However, the two-time AEW Champion does have a bone to pick with the current champ. MJF returned to interrupt CM Punk’s title celebrations following All Out, and looked to set up another clash between the pair.
Injury and suspension forced CM Punk out the company for many months, but due to his imminent return, Forbidden Door could be the perfect place for him to challenge MJF for his AEW Championship, in a rematch for their match at last year’s Double or Nothing event.
Kazuchika Okada
With MJF admittedly not a fan of New Japan Pro Wrestling, he may not be aware of the incredible talent that is Kazuchika Okada.
The former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion is quite possibly the greatest wrestler of all-time, having some of the greatest matches ever seen, in the best IWGP title reign in the belts storied history.
With Forbidden Door coming up, many fans are wondering who NJPW’s top stars will be facing. Okada’s biggest rival in AEW, Kenny Omega, looks set to face off with Will Ospreay, which leaves Okada free to challenge MJF for his AEW Championship at the event.
The only issue with this match up would be having Okada lose to MJF. It is not likely they’d want the ace of NJPW to hold the AEW Championship, but its also unlikely that the company would want to see their top star losing to MJF in one of the biggest shows of the year.
