AEW and NJPW Present Forbidden Door 2025 at The O2 in London
London, August 24, 2025 â The professional wrestling world converged on Londonâs iconic O2 Arena today for Forbidden Door 2025, the latest edition of the groundbreaking pay-per-view collaboration between All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Packed with star power, historic firsts, and international flair, the sold-out spectacle drew more than 16,600 fans, cementing its place as one of the largest wrestling events in the United Kingdom this year.
A Global Wrestling Event Comes to London
Forbidden Door, first launched in 2022, was designed as a cross-promotional showcase, bridging AEWâs roster with Japanâs premier wrestling organization NJPW. Over time, the event expanded its reach, welcoming stars from Mexicoâs Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) and Japanâs womenâs promotion Stardom, making it one of the most internationally diverse cards in wrestling history.
Hosting the 2025 edition at The O2 Arena underscores both the global ambitions of AEW and NJPW as well as the growing demand for high-caliber professional wrestling in Europe. The O2, with its reputation for staging world-class concerts and sporting events, provides an electric backdrop for a program billed as a once-a-year wrestling summit.
Fans poured into the arena hours before the first bell, with merchandise stands lined by both AEW and NJPW gear, alongside specialty collaborations and limited-edition souvenirs. For longtime followers of Japanese and Mexican wrestling, this was a rare chance to see talents who rarely cross the Atlanticâmaking London a true international hub for the night.
High-Stakes MatchesForbidden Door 2025
The card for Forbidden Door 2025 showcased not just dream matches, but generational clashes between athletes whose careers and reputations span continents.
- Lights Out Steel Cage Match: Hangman Page vs. MJF The bitter rivalry between âHangmanâ Adam Page and Maxwell Jacob Friedman reached its most violent chapter inside a steel cage under âLights Outâ rules, a stipulation designed to conclude feuds decisively. This match was years in the making, with Page representing AEWâs resilient babyface spirit while MJF brought his ruthless cunning back to the forefront in his return to London.
- AEW World Championship: Kazuchika Okada vs. Swerve Strickland The main event set the stage for a showdown between reigning champion Swerve Strickland and NJPW icon Kazuchika Okada. With Okada seeking to add the AEW World Championship to his storied career achievements, the bout carried symbolic weightâpitting one of Japanâs most celebrated athletes against AEWâs cutting-edge champion at the peak of his career.
- TNT Championship: Kyle Fletcher vs. Hiromu Takahashi Fletcher, representing Australia, defended the TNT Championship against Takahashi, whose flamboyant style and unmatched pace made for one of the nightâs most anticipated matchups. Their clash highlighted the unique stylistic variety that Forbidden Door delivers annually.
- AEW Womenâs World Championship: Toni Storm vs. Athena Toni Stormâs defense was especially poignant for the U.K. crowd, as she carried both AEW gold and the pride of wrestling on home soil. Athena, however, brought momentum from her dominant womenâs division run, promising a hard-hitting and physical battle.
- TBS Championship Four-Way Match: Mercedes MonĂ© vs. Alex Windsor vs. Persephone vs. Bozilla This bout displayed AEWâs deep collaboration with CMLL and Stardom. Mercedes MonĂ©, one of the most internationally known wrestlers, faced local favorite Alex Windsor, CMLLâs Persephone, and Stardom powerhouse Bozilla in a chaotic, high-drama contest.
- Tag Team Match: Adam Copeland & Christian Cage vs. Nick Wayne & Kip Sabian This offered generational contrast as veterans Adam Copeland and Christian Cageâlegends of multiple erasâfaced Wayne and Sabian, younger stars representing AEWâs future in the U.K.
- Eight-Man Tag Team Match: Hurt Syndicate vs. Brody King, Malakai Black, and FTR Large-scale chaos featured prominently as Hurt Syndicate squared off against a formidable team of AEWâs heaviest hitters. The bout demonstrated AEWâs hunger to blend established faction warfare with international guest stars.
- Fatal Four-Way: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Nigel McGuinness vs. Daniel Garcia vs. Hechicero For purists, this match was a dream scenario. Zack Sabre Jr., regarded worldwide for his technical mastery, competed against the comeback of Nigel McGuinness, the young rising star Daniel Garcia, and CMLLâs Hechicero. Londonâs audience was especially vocal for McGuinness, making his return a central talking point of the evening.
Will Ospreayâs Emotional Entrance
One of the most talked-about moments of the night came when Will Ospreay, one of Britainâs most celebrated wrestlers, made his entrance accompanied by a video package narrated by his partner Alex Windsor. For many fans, this was interpreted as a farewell or a moment of transition, given ongoing speculation about Ospreayâs long-term career trajectory.
The crowd response inside The O2 was deafening, with fans chanting his name well before his match began. The atmosphere underscored Ospreayâs importance not just to British wrestling, but to the international stage where he became a household name through NJPW and his rivalries in AEW.
Economic Impact of Forbidden Door in London
The arrival of Forbidden Door in London provides not only cultural significance but also measurable economic impact. With over 16,600 tickets sold, estimates suggest ticket revenue alone crossed the multi-million-dollar threshold. Hotels and restaurants across Greenwich and greater London reported an uptick in reservations tied to the event, with wrestling tourism continuing to grow as a niche yet powerful market sector.
The United Kingdom has increasingly become a prime battleground for major wrestling promotions. WWE hosted Clash at the Castle in Cardiff in 2022, AEW ran All In at Wembley Stadium in 2023, and NJPW has frequently brought âRoyal Questâ events to London. Each event has demonstrated the U.K.âs growing appetite for large-scale wrestling shows, making it a logical choice for Forbidden Doorâs European expansion.
Industry analysts note that this approach mirrors global trends in sports entertainment, where cross-promotional spectacles generate both ticket sales and lucrative broadcast rights. Forbidden Doorâs success at The O2 could pave the way for further international editions, with markets in Germany, Mexico, and Japan among the top contenders for future shows.
Historical Context of Wrestling Crossovers
The concept of inter-promotional collaboration isnât newâit dates back to events like the early 1990s WCW/NJPW joint shows, which spotlighted dream matches across continents. However, many of those efforts faded quickly due to business rivalries.
Forbidden Door stands as the most consistent and successful modern revival of that tradition, now in its fourth consecutive year. What separates it from earlier attempts is the balance it has struck between star power, creative matchups, and commercial growth. By involving multiple promotions rather than just two, Forbidden Door has evolved into an international showcase, something few fans imagined possible a decade ago.
Fan Reactions and Cultural Significance
Throughout the show, fans inside The O2 Arena were vocal, passionate, and deeply invested. Chants alternated between support for AEW stars, NJPW icons, and the women from Stardom and CMLL, showcasing how deeply connected global fanbases have become.
For many, the London edition of Forbidden Door was not simply a wrestling pay-per-viewâit was a cultural event that connected international wrestling traditions into one night of unified spectacle. The blending of Mexican lucha libre, Japanese strong-style, and American storytelling offered audiences a once-in-a-lifetime fusion.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Forbidden Door
As Forbidden Door 2025 concludes, speculation already looms regarding 2026. With the event proving its drawing power outside North America for the first time, future editions may capitalize on markets in Asia, South America, or continental Europe.
Organizers are keenly aware that sustained momentum is required to maintain Forbidden Door as a true annual tradition, especially as the wrestling marketplace becomes more crowded. However, tonightâs results in Londonâboth in terms of ticket sales and fan engagementâsuggest that the eventâs international potential is only just beginning to be realized.
Conclusion
Forbidden Door 2025 at The O2 Arena was more than just a wrestling cardâit was a cultural exchange on the grandest scale. With dream matches, historic returns, emotional farewells, and a sold-out arena, the event has proven why it continues to be one of the wrestling industryâs most anticipated annual gatherings.
For AEW, NJPW, CMLL, and Stardom, the London spectacle exemplifies the power of collaboration in a sports entertainment landscape where globalization is no longer optional but essential. With the roar of 16,600 fans echoing through The O2, the message is clear: the forbidden door is not just openâitâs thriving.
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