It is time for a Steel Cage match as we preview Forbidden Door 2026!
AEW Forbidden Door is finally here! The fifth annual event, which this year will bring together the stars of AEW, NJPW, CMLL and Stardom.
We have five title matches on this Sunday’s card. That is in addition to two Owen Hart Cup finals. And of course, the twelve-man Steel Cage Match. It has the makings of another special night. Let us look closer at the main card in San Jose.
Forbidden Door 2026
The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) vs. El Sky Team (Místico and Máscara Dorada) vs. Unbound Co. (Shingo Takagi and Titán)
This is the sort of match we have come to expect from Forbidden Door. It is a battle between an AEW team, CMLL team and a New Japan team. With the six involved in the match, expect a high-flying battle!
Since reuniting the Elite at Full Gear last year, the Young Bucks have been picking up a lot of momentum. They did lose a Tag Team Championship match at AEW Revolution, but still want to get back into title contention heading into AEW All In.
Defeating the likes of Místico and Shingo Takagi will certainly help. Can the Young Bucks get it done in a Three-Way tag team match?
Forbidden Door 2026
Cage and Cope (Adam Copeland and Christian Cage) vs. The Dogs (David Finlay and Clark Connors)
(AEW World Tag Team Championship)
It was a special moment when Cage and Cope finally won the AEW World Tag Team Championship at AEW Double or Nothing.
The life-long friends defeated FTR to win the Tag Titles for the first time. They planned to celebrate with a “Five-Second Pose” on the following AEW Dynamite.
The celebration never happened. The Dogs, David Finlay and Clark Connors, used the opportunity to attack the new champs.
They have continued mocking the pose and attacking the champions in the subsequent weeks. That was enough to get the tag title shot at Forbidden Door.
The Dogs have proven they are not above dirty tactics to win their matches. Will the champions be prepared for whatever Finlay and Connors throw at them? If not, it will be a short reign for Cage and Cope.
Forbidden Door 2026
Jon Moxley (c) vs. Bandido
(AEW Continental Championship)
Jon Moxley has certainly been a fighting champion since winning the AEW Continental Championship at Worlds End 2025.
He has defended the title or had an Eliminator match for the Championship fourteen times since that show. Will the incredible pace finally catch up with him?
On a recent AEW Dynamite, Brody King & Bandido faced Jon Moxley & Daniel Garcia in tag team action. Bandido pinned Garcia.
After the match, he grabbed a mic and challenged Moxley to a Continental Championship match. Moxley quickly accepted.
Bandido might be Moxley’s toughest opponent to date. Bandido held the AEW World Tag Team Championship with Brody King.
He is also the ROH World Champion for over 400 days now. Will the wear and tear catch up to Moxley with such a formidable opponent?
Forbidden Door 2026
Thekla (c) vs. Starlight Kid
(AEW Women’s World Championship)
Thekla really hates Stardom. Ever since she was fired from Stardom for attacking Stardom’s President, she has declared war on the company. She has even returned to the company a few times, attempting to attack Stardom’s President yet again.
Enter Starlight Kid. The 24-year-old wrestler has faced Thekla twice in the past in Stardom. Starlight Kid won both times.
Can she keep that streak going against Thekla with the AEW Women’s World Championship on the line? I am sure Thekla would take that loss really well.
Forbidden Door 2026
Shota Umino (c) vs. Pac
(IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship)
Shota Umino finally did it. After years of heartbreak, he finally won a singles title in New Japan at Dominion. He defeated Andrade El Idolo and Drill Moloney to win the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. But his celebration was short-lived.
After the match, Umino was attacked by the returning Gabe Kidd. Kidd told Umino he was never a member of the Death Riders.
This led to Pac making a challenge to Umino for Forbidden Door. He told him to defend his honor and put his title on the line. Umino accepted.
It will be a tall task for Umino against the dangerous Pac. We know Pac will do anything in this power to win. Umino’s reign might just be a short one.
Forbidden Door 2026
Mercedes Moné vs. Maya World
(Owen Hart Cup Women’s Final)
It is an unexpected final for the Women’s Owen Hart Cup. Mercedes Moné returned from a five-month absence to defeat Alex Windsor and Stardom’s Hazuki to make the finals. Can Mercedes defend her Owen Hart Cup title and win another AEW World Championship match at AEW All In?
Her opponent is even more unlikely. Maya World was a last-minute replacement for Sareee. And that comes from a tragic place as well.
Maya World’s brother tragically passed away on June 7th. She said he was her inspiration for entering pro wrestling, so she agreed to enter the tournament and defeated Skye Blue just three days after his passing.
Even more shocking, she defeated ROH Women’s World Champion Athena on June 20th. The twenty-three-year-old World will face Mercedes on Sunday night.
It will be an emotional match on Sunday night. Can Maya World possibly pull off another huge upset? Or will Moné go back-to-back? It will be an unforgettable moment at Forbidden Door.
Forbidden Door 2026
Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland
(Owen Hart Cup Men’s Final)
Will Ospreay wants a World title shot. Ever since returning from injury at March’s AEW Revolution, he has set his sights on the AEW World Championship match at AEW All In.
He even worked with the Death Riders to prepare for that opportunity. And that opportunity arrived in the form of the Owen Hart Cup.
Ospreay defeated Samoa Joe and Mark Davis to reach the final. The chance he dreamed of is only one victory away. But a familiar opponent looms large.
Enter Swerve Strickland. Strickland defeated Bandido and Brody King to make the finals. Swerve is trying to get back to the AEW World Championship. The last time he had it was two years ago at AEW All In at Wembley. Can he get back the World title he so covets?
The history between Strickland and Ospreay is huge. At Forbidden Door 2024, Strickland defeated Ospreay to retain the AEW World Championship.
Can Swerve do it again? If he does, it will crush Ospreay’s Wembley dreams for another year. It should be a special match in San Jose on Sunday night.
Forbidden Door 2026
Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
On a recent episode of AEW Dynamite, Zack Sabre Jr. challenged Kenny Omega to a match at Forbidden Door. Omega quickly accepted.
Kenny Omega is looking to get back into title contention and defeating one of the best in New Japan will certainly aid that goal.
That last time they faced off was the G1 Climax in 2018. It was an epic match that Omega prevailed in. Sabre Jr. has been looking for a chance for revenge since that night. Can he finally pick up the victory over his rival? Or will “The Cleaner” prevail yet again?
Forbidden Door 2026
Team Briscoe (Mark Briscoe, Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly, Konosuke Takeshita, and Darby Allin) vs. MJF and The Don Callis Family (Kevin Knight, Kyle Fletcher, Jake Doyle, Kazuchika Okada, and Andrade El Ídolo)
(Steel Cage Match)
Mark Briscoe wants a title shot against MJF. Since he defeated MJF in a Tables N’ Tacks match at AEW All Out 2025, it would seem reasonable to get said shot.
But naturally, MJF refused. He said it was beneath him to face someone like Briscoe for the AEW World Championship.
But MJF was forced to agree to a unique match. It is a twelve-man Steel Cage Match. If Mark Briscoe’s Team wins, he will get a future AEW World Title Shot against MJF. High stakes indeed.
We have many storylines in the match. Darby Allin wants to get his hands on Kevin Knight, who attacked him at Double or Nothing.
The Conglomeration has been feuding with the Don Callis Family for months and looks forward to the chance to help their friend, Mark Briscoe. And Konosuke Takeshita? He would like nothing more than to get his hands on Kazuchika Okada.
Who will win on Sunday night? The answer is the fans. It should be a chaotic and fun main event to end Forbidden Door.
