AEW x NJPW x CMLL x STARDOM Forbidden Door June 28th, 2026 Results & Recap: Will Ospreay Wins The Owen Cup, Andrade Turns On MJF And Jay White Returns

AEW x NJPW x CMLL x STARDOM Forbidden Door last night was a strong pay-per-view that gave AEW a clear road to All In: London, even if the “Forbidden Door” concept itself does not feel as fresh or untouchable as it once did. The wrestling delivered, the final stretch gave the show real weight, Will Ospreay and Mercedes Moné won their Owen Hart Foundation Tournament finals, Mark Briscoe pinned AEW World Champion MJF inside Death’s Door, Andrade finally broke away from the Don Callis Family, Jay White returned, and Thekla left San Jose looking like AEW’s most dangerous women’s champion. Last night was not flawless, and it was not always the true four-company supercard the branding suggested, but it was focused where it mattered. AEW walked out with momentum, clearer All In direction, and several stories worth following immediately.

Here are the full results

• Drilla Moloney defeated Daniel Garcia (The Buy-In)
• Maika defeated Skye Blue (TBS Championship Survival of the Fittest Qualifying Match, The Buy-In)
• Divine Dominion (c) defeated Thunder Rosa and Olympia (AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championships, The Buy-In).
• The Young Bucks defeated Unbound Co. and El Sky Team
• Kenny Omega defeated Zack Sabre Jr
• Jon Moxley (c) defeated Bandido (AEW Continental Championship)
• Shota Umino (c) defeated PAC (IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship)
• Thekla (c) defeated Starlight Kid (AEW Women’s World Championship)
• Christian Cage and Adam Copeland (c) defeated The Dogs (AEW World Tag Team Championships)
• Mercedes Moné defeated Maya World to win the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament.
• Team Briscoe defeated Team DCMJF (Death’s Door, the 12-man steel cage match)
• Will Ospreay defeated Swerve Strickland to win the Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament.

Breakdowns & Reactions

Drilla Moloney defeated Daniel Garcia — Grade: B-

Drilla Moloney and Daniel Garcia opened The Buy-In with a physical tone-setter that gave the pre-show some bite. Garcia worked the leg, Moloney fought through the damage, Marina Shafir added a Death Riders presence around the edges, and Moloney eventually put Garcia away with the Drilla Killa.

It was not a major match in the grand picture, but it did what a Buy-In opener should do. It established intensity, gave Moloney a credible win, and showed that even the undercard pieces of Forbidden Door had some edge. The only issue is that Garcia losing early felt a little strange on a night where the Death Riders ended up having such a huge influence over the main event.

What worked:

• Moloney looked tough and credible.
• Garcia’s leg work gave the match a clean structure.
• The match had enough physicality to avoid feeling disposable.

What didn’t work:

• It felt more useful than memorable.
• Garcia losing slightly undercut the Death Riders before their bigger role later.

Maika defeated Skye Blue — Grade: B

Maika defeating Skye Blue was one of the better Buy-In results because it actually fed into AEW television. This was not just a random international showcase. Maika won her way into the TBS Championship Survival of the Fittest match, and that gave the match direct purpose.

Skye Blue showed attitude and had flashes of momentum, but Maika was the correct winner. If STARDOM is going to be part of Forbidden Door, its talent needs wins that matter. Maika getting the final spot in the TBS title match did that.

What worked:

• Maika looked like a serious threat.
• The match had clear stakes.
• Skye Blue did not feel like a throwaway opponent.

What didn’t work:

• It could have used more time.
• Skye’s Triangle of Madness connection could have been pushed harder.

Divine Dominion defeated Thunder Rosa and Olympia — Grade: C+

Divine Dominion retaining the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championships over Thunder Rosa and Olympia was solid, but it still showed how young the women’s tag division feels. Megan Bayne and Lena Kross looked strong, Thunder Rosa gave the match veteran credibility, and Olympia had moments, but the match felt more like AEW trying to establish the titles than a title defense people were desperate to see.

That is not the champions’ fault. The belts still need stronger weekly creative and a deeper division around them. Divine Dominion looked the part, but the division needs more than presentation.

What worked:

• Divine Dominion looked dominant.
• Thunder Rosa helped give the match credibility.
• The champions retained cleanly and kept momentum.

What didn’t work:

• The women’s tag division still needs stronger identity.
• The match felt more functional than important.

The Young Bucks defeated Unbound Co. and El Sky Team — Grade: B

The Young Bucks, Shingo Takagi and Titán, and Místico and Máscara Dorada gave last night the kind of opening main-card chaos Forbidden Door is known for. The pace was fast, the crowd was awake, Místico and Dorada brought the lucha energy, Shingo added power, Titán fit the speed of the match, and the Bucks did exactly what they do best in a multi-team sprint.

It was a strong opener, but it was also the first reminder that some Forbidden Door matches now exist more as spectacle than story. The match was fun, clean and exciting, but once it ended, there was not much left to carry forward.

What worked:

• The pace was perfect for an opener.
• Místico and Máscara Dorada connected with the crowd.
• The Bucks were the right team to anchor the match.

What didn’t work:

• The match did not leave much long-term fallout.
• It was entertaining, but not especially important.

Kenny Omega defeated Zack Sabre Jr. — Grade: A-

Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr. was the purest dream match on the card. Sabre tried to dissect Omega with limb work, finger manipulation, submissions and counters, while Omega had to fight through the damage long enough to turn the match into his kind of fight. It was technical, sharp and physical without needing a lot of extra noise.

Omega winning with the One-Winged Angel made sense because AEW clearly wants him protected near the top of the card, but Sabre still came out looking elite. The match made Sabre feel like the smarter wrestler and Omega feel like the bigger-match closer.

What worked:

• The style clash was excellent.
• Sabre’s technical control gave the match a strong spine.
• Omega looked like a star without making Sabre look weak.

What didn’t work:

• It was great wrestling, but not deeply tied to AEW’s biggest summer stories.
• As a Forbidden Door dream match, it felt more familiar than fresh.

Jon Moxley defeated Bandido — Grade: B+

Jon Moxley retaining the AEW Continental Championship against Bandido was violent, ugly and effective. Moxley dragged Bandido into a blood fight, attacked the mask, targeted the wound and forced Bandido to fight from underneath. Bandido’s comeback mattered because he did not look like a visiting champion there to lose and leave. He looked tough, proud and dangerous.

Moxley winning with the Bulldog Choke was expected, but the handshake afterward helped the match. It gave Bandido respect without softening Moxley too much.

What worked:

• Bandido was protected in defeat.
• Moxley’s violence gave the match identity.
• The post-match handshake added a strong touch of respect.

What didn’t work:

• The result never felt truly in doubt.
• The Continental title still needs more definition beyond Moxley’s toughness.

Shota Umino defeated PAC — Grade: B

Shota Umino retaining the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship over PAC was solid and physically intense. PAC threw plenty at him, including big aerial offense and a table spot that gave the match its strongest visual. Umino surviving and retaining mattered, but the post-match was more important than the match itself.

Moxley confronting Umino and Hiroshi Tanahashi raising Umino’s hand helped present him as more than just an NJPW guest with a championship. For AEW viewers who may not follow New Japan every week, that mattered.

What worked:

• PAC gave Umino a serious fight.
• The table spot added danger.
• Tanahashi’s appearance gave Umino needed prestige.

What didn’t work:

• The middle stretch dragged at times.
• Umino still needs stronger presentation for fans unfamiliar with him.

Thekla defeated Starlight Kid — Grade: A

Thekla vs. Starlight Kid may have been the match that best captured what Forbidden Door should still be. It had championship stakes, promotion pride, culture, disrespect and fallout. Starlight Kid attacked Thekla’s knee, pushed the champion hard, and gave the match the kind of urgency the AEW Women’s World Championship needed.

Thekla retaining was the right call, but the post-match is what made the segment explode. Cutting off Starlight Kid’s mask, spitting on it, shoving it in Taro Okada’s face and posing with Triangle of Madness gave Thekla real heat. She did not just beat a STARDOM challenger. She humiliated her.

What worked:

• The match felt personal and inter-promotional.
• Starlight Kid looked excellent in defeat.
• Thekla came off like a true villain champion.

What didn’t work:

• The mask angle may overshadow how good the match was.
• AEW now has to follow up on the STARDOM disrespect.

Christian Cage and Adam Copeland defeated The Dogs — Grade: B-

Cope and Christian retaining the AEW World Tag Team Championships over David Finlay and Clark Connors was solid, but the match will be remembered for Jay White’s return more than the title defense itself. The Dogs worked Christian’s arm, Finlay brought the shillelagh into play, the referee bump opened the door, and then the lights went out.

Jay White returning and dropping Finlay with the Blade Runner gave the match the spark it needed. The former Bullet Club history gives AEW an easy direction, and White immediately makes the tag title scene feel more interesting.

What worked:

• Jay White’s return landed.
• Finlay and White have a ready-made issue.
• Cope and Christian retained without feeling stale yet.

What didn’t work:

• The title match was not especially memorable before the return.
• The division still needs a stronger weekly chase around the champions.

Mercedes Moné defeated Maya World — Grade: A-

Mercedes Moné winning the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament for the second straight year was the safest and most obvious business choice. She is the biggest star available, Thekla vs. Mercedes is a strong All In women’s world title match, and Mercedes brings the name value AEW wants in a stadium setting.

But Maya World was the story.

Maya did not wrestle like someone lucky to be there. She mocked Mercedes, survived major offense, kicked out of the Moné Maker, trapped Mercedes in dangerous counters and made the upset feel possible. Mercedes won, but Maya left the match more important than when she entered.

What worked:

• Maya had a breakout performance.
• Mercedes gave enough to make the match dramatic.
• The result set up the right All In title match.

What didn’t work:

• Mercedes winning felt predictable.
• AEW has to follow up with Maya immediately.

Athena reacts to Mercedes Moné’s win — Grade: B

Athena’s backstage reaction to Mercedes’ win was short, but it served a purpose. She dismissed Maya World, framed her as a disappointment, and gave Maya a clear next story after losing the Owen final. That was exactly what Maya needed. A great losing performance only matters if AEW gives it somewhere to go.

What worked:

• Athena gave Maya an immediate direction.
• The promo kept Maya in the conversation.
• It connected the Owen fallout to a real character issue.

What didn’t work:

• It was quick and could have used more room.
• The follow-up needs to happen fast.

Team Briscoe defeated Team DCMJF — Grade: A-

Death’s Door was ridiculous, overstuffed, violent, funny, chaotic and somehow mostly coherent. A 12-man steel cage match with MJF, Mark Briscoe, Andrade, Okada, Takeshita, Fletcher, Darby Allin, Orange Cassidy, Lio Rush in a bag, thumbtacks, oranges, NES controllers, explosions and tables should have fallen apart. It did not because the match had actual story anchors.

Mark Briscoe wanted MJF. MJF’s ego poisoned his own team. Andrade was tired of being treated like a hired hand. Darby was there to do something reckless. Lio Rush’s bizarre bag entrance got a reaction. Takeshita and Fletcher continued to feel like a collision waiting to happen. The chaos had a point.

The finish was one of the best-booked moments of last night. Andrade let Briscoe go, dropped MJF with Día de los Muertos, low-blowed Jake Doyle, ripped off the Team DCMJF shirt and revealed where he stood. Briscoe then hit the Jay Driller and pinned the AEW World Champion.

What worked:

• Andrade’s turn landed perfectly.
• Briscoe pinning MJF created major Dynamite stakes.
• The match balanced comedy, violence and story better than expected.
• MJF’s arrogance finally cost him.

What didn’t work:

• It was almost too much at points.
• Briscoe getting his title shot immediately risks rushing the moment.
• The comedy could have hurt the danger if the finish had not been strong.

Will Ospreay defeated Swerve Strickland — Grade: A

Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland was the correct main event and the match AEW needed to close last night. It had blood, drama, violence, desperation and real consequence. Swerve targeted Ospreay’s neck, Ospreay bled, Swerve bled worse, and the match kept escalating until it became less about the Owen Cup and more about what Ospreay was willing to become to get to Wembley.

The Death Riders’ presence gave the finish its most interesting layer. Ospreay winning by using the Paradigm Shift, Death Rider and Tiger Driver did not feel like a normal babyface victory. It felt like a man winning by tapping into something darker. That makes his All In story more interesting, but AEW has to be careful. The Death Riders should complicate Ospreay’s road, not become bigger than Ospreay himself.

What worked:

• Ospreay winning gives All In the right emotional centerpiece.
• Swerve looked like a top-tier main eventer in defeat.
• The blood and neck work gave the match a violent story.
• The Death Riders made Ospreay’s win feel complicated.

What didn’t work:

• The match flirted with overkill late.
• Swerve needs meaningful follow-up after losing.
• AEW cannot let the Death Riders swallow Ospreay’s story.

AEW Forbidden Door Media Scrum — Grade: B+

The media scrum added useful context to last night because it showed what AEW wanted fans to take away after the show ended. Ospreay framed All In as a historic English world-title moment. Mercedes stayed in CEO mode while still giving Maya World respect. Thekla continued leaning into her unhinged champion persona. Tony Khan praised Maya and Lio Rush, while also talking about Death’s Door like a concept AEW could revisit.

The scrum helped make the All In direction clearer. Ospreay is the emotional center. Mercedes vs. Thekla is the women’s world title match. Maya World is not supposed to be forgotten. Lio Rush’s strange momentum is connecting. Death’s Door may not be a one-off.

What worked:

• Ospreay’s All In framing was strong.
• Mercedes helped protect Maya after the loss.
• Thekla keeping the Starlight Kid mask disrespect alive added heat.
• Tony Khan’s praise signaled that Maya and Lio matter going forward.

What didn’t work:

• Some of the best context came after the PPV instead of during it.
• AEW still has to prove the Forbidden Door brand itself can feel special again.

Best Match & Best Segment Of The Night

Best Match Of The Night: Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland — Grade: A

Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland was the best match of last night because it felt like the one match that fully matched the scale of the show. It was not just two elite wrestlers having a great match. It was the match that gave Forbidden Door its emotional ending, gave All In its clearest direction and showed why Ospreay and Swerve are two of AEW’s most important main-event players.

The match had blood, drama, violence, desperation and consequence. Swerve wrestled like someone trying to break Ospreay down piece by piece, especially with the neck work, while Ospreay wrestled like someone willing to lose part of himself to get to Wembley. The Death Riders’ involvement added a darker layer because Ospreay did not walk out looking like a clean heroic savior. He walked out looking like a man who had to tap into something uglier to survive.

The only thing holding it back from being perfect was the excess. The one-count kickouts, finisher trading and late-match escalation were exciting, but AEW has to be careful with how often it pushes main events into that territory. Ospreay and Swerve are good enough to make it work, but that does not mean every major match needs to feel like it is trying to outdo the last epic.

What worked:

• Ospreay winning gave All In the right emotional centerpiece.
• Swerve looked like a true main-event star even in defeat.
• The blood and neck work gave the match a violent story.
• The Death Riders’ presence made Ospreay’s victory more complicated.

What didn’t work:

• The match flirted with overkill late.
• Swerve needs meaningful follow-up after losing.
• AEW cannot let the Death Riders become bigger than Ospreay’s own story.

Best Segment Of The Night: Andrade Turns On MJF Inside Death’s Door — Grade: A

The best segment of last night was Andrade finally turning on MJF and the Don Callis Family inside Death’s Door. That was the cleanest piece of story progression on the entire show because it paid off tension, changed multiple characters’ directions, and gave Mark Briscoe the biggest win of his AEW singles run without making it feel random.

MJF’s ego cost him. Andrade had already been treated like a hired gun instead of a respected star, and when MJF ordered him to hold Briscoe in place, Andrade finally made the obvious but satisfying choice. He let Briscoe go, dropped MJF with Día de los Muertos, low-blowed Jake Doyle, ripped off the Team DCMJF shirt and revealed where his loyalty really stood. Briscoe then hit the Jay Driller and pinned the AEW World Champion.

That is how you make chaos matter. Death’s Door had comedy, weapons, stunts and ridiculous visuals, but Andrade’s turn gave the match a real purpose. It elevated Briscoe, exposed MJF, freed Andrade from a group that was already limiting him, and immediately gave Dynamite a world-title hook.

What worked:

• Andrade’s turn felt earned instead of forced.
• Briscoe pinning MJF created a major fallout moment.
• MJF’s arrogance finally had consequences.
• The finish made the entire cage match feel important.

What didn’t work:

• Briscoe’s title shot happening immediately could rush the payoff.
• Andrade now needs serious follow-up or the turn loses value.
• The cage match had so much going on that this moment could have been buried if the finish was not executed clearly.

What Was Announced For This Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite

• MJF (c) vs. Mark Briscoe (AEW World Championship)
• Maika vs. Harley Cameron vs. Hikaru Shida vs. Persephone vs. Kris Statlander vs. Queen Aminata (TBS Championship Survival of the Fittest Match)

Final Thoughts

Forbidden Door last night was the kind of show AEW needed coming out of a crowded summer stretch and heading into All In. It gave the company a clear main-event direction, elevated the right names, created real fallout and ended with an image that actually felt important. Will Ospreay winning the Owen Cup and standing tall with the Death Riders around him was not just a closing shot. It was AEW telling the audience that the road to Wembley is going to run through Ospreay’s ambition, his violence, his history and whatever influence Jon Moxley’s group now has over him.

The show worked because the major matches had purpose. Ospreay vs. Swerve gave AEW its emotional centerpiece. Mercedes Moné vs. Maya World gave the women’s Owen final a star-vs-breakout dynamic. Thekla vs. Starlight Kid gave the women’s world title scene real heat. Death’s Door gave the world title picture, Andrade, Mark Briscoe, MJF and the Don Callis Family meaningful movement. Jay White’s return gave the tag division a fresh spark. Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr. gave the card the kind of high-level dream match Forbidden Door is supposed to deliver.

At the same time, last night also showed why the Forbidden Door concept is not as hot as it once was. The in-ring product was strong, but the show often felt more like an AEW pay-per-view with international names than a true four-company collision. That is not a disaster when the card delivers, but it does matter. Forbidden Door cannot keep leaning on the idea that the crossover itself is special if the card does not always feel like every promotion is equally vital to the story.

The biggest positive is that AEW left San Jose with momentum. Ospreay feels like the right choice for All In. Thekla feels like a dangerous champion. Mercedes feels like the right stadium challenger. Maya World feels like someone AEW would be foolish not to follow up on. Andrade feels more important now than he did before the cage match. Mark Briscoe got a huge moment by pinning MJF. Swerve lost, but still looked like one of the best wrestlers in the company.

The biggest concern is follow-through. AEW has created strong moments before and moved on too quickly. Maya needs to stay visible. Andrade needs a real direction. Briscoe’s title shot cannot feel like a disposable speed bump. Swerve needs to remain a main-event-level force. Thekla’s attack on Starlight Kid needs consequences. Ospreay’s connection to the Death Riders needs to complicate his All In story without taking the spotlight away from him.

Last night was not flawless, but it was effective. It had great wrestling, strong character turns, a few genuine surprises and a clear path forward. AEW does not need to pretend Forbidden Door is perfect. It just needs to build on what actually worked. If the company follows through, last night can be remembered as the show that finally locked in the road to All In instead of just another stacked card that delivered great matches and then faded into the weekly cycle.

Overall Show Grade: A-

Forbidden Door last night was a very good show with a great final stretch, but it also exposed where the concept has weakened. The wrestling was strong, the big matches delivered, the All In direction is much clearer, and AEW created real movement with Ospreay, Mercedes, Thekla, Mark Briscoe, Andrade, Maya World, Jay White and the Death Riders.

But this did not always feel like AEW x NJPW x CMLL x STARDOM at full strength. It often felt like an AEW pay-per-view with international flavor. That is not automatically bad when the show is this good, but it does matter. Forbidden Door used to feel like something fans were not supposed to see. Last night felt more like AEW using the concept to launch its summer.

The best match was Ospreay vs. Swerve. The best pure wrestling match was Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr. The best women’s match was Thekla vs. Starlight Kid. The breakout star was Maya World. The biggest surprise was Jay White’s return. The best storyline moment was Andrade turning on MJF. The most important lasting image was Ospreay, covered in blood, holding the Owen Cup while the Death Riders celebrated him like their influence had finally paid off.

Last night worked. AEW just has to make sure the road to All In does not waste what Forbidden Door gave it.

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