12 Ups & 0 Downs From AEW X NJPW Forbidden Door

10. Thunder Rosa & Toni Storm Keep It Tight & Technical

Thunder Rosa Toni Storm
AEW

Thunder Rosa has had an eventful few weeks amid reports of backstage discontent and allegations of sandbagging. The latter has since been squashed with literal bread breaking, though concerns over her screentime appear to have been alleviated in recent weeks, with the Women's World Champion's focus improving in the face of a difficult month or so surrounding Double Or Nothing 2022.

She felled Toni Storm in one of the better matches of her reign at Forbidden Door. Crisp, tight, and tidy, the duo immediately demonstrated a high calibre of work in their initially respectful opening exchanges, before Storm starched Rosa with a slap to the face, bringing out a more competitive, fiery spirit in both women. Thunder Rosa continued to embrace Dustin Rhodes as her mentor by once again employing some of the former Goldust's signature offense, including his Final Reckoning finisher for the win.

Though the finish came abruptly and could have benefitted from coming after a more dramatic closing stretch, this was nonetheless a very good match between two very good wrestlers. Really, this is the kind of bout AEW should be doing more of in the women's division: an all-star showdown between two established veterans.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.