10 Reasons Why 2022 Is Already Wrestling's Most Insane Year EVER

7. WWE Opening The “Forbidden Door”

Vince Shane McMahon Fired
WWE.com

Folks would've chuckled had someone suggested that Vince McMahon would happily let any TNA champ waltz onto his programming with the belt around their waist years ago. Imagine hearing that during Impact's best years - it would've been impossible to picture, but it happened at the 2022 Royal Rumble.

Mickie James became the first to work the "forbidden door" gimmick in WWE. The reigning Impact Knockouts Champion (WWE called it the Impact Women's Title) appeared in the women's Rumble and flaunted the strap on Vince's telly. Somewhere, Jeff Jarrett and Dixie Carter were probably grinning at the company they once created/headed getting that kind of pay-per-view house room on McMahon dollars.

This isn't something that would've happened pre-AEW.

Tony Khan's own "forbidden door" chat definitely influenced Vince's thinking here. All Elite's own willingness to work with other companies, including Impact, took Mickie from sudden releases and possessions in trash bags to a well-paying spot in the Rumble.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.