5 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Dynamite (20 April)

2. Forbidden Door, Opened

Tony Khan Takami Ohbari
AEW

A collaborative pay-per-view with New Japan Pro Wrestling was Tony Khan's big news on last night's episode of Dynamite, which fits the billing as a "huge announcement" designed to send AEW's core fanbase through the roof.

Forbidden Door takes place in Chicago, Illinois on Sunday 26 June. NJPW president Takami Ohbari was brought onstage for the announcement and to shake hands with Khan, who made a wise move in leaving the talking to NJPW affiliates Jay White and Adam Cole. Khan is great at a good many things - cutting good pro wrestling promos isn't one of them.

Cole and White unfurled details about the event, with the former also confirming that as a Forbidden Door warmup, he'll face Tomohiro Ishii on this week's episode of Rampage. The Stone Pitbull smacking the shocked TakeOver facial expression off the Undisputed Elite man's face should be a riot.

The show itself is tremendous news worth celebrating for anyone invested in AEW on any level. While the lineup itself will likely be a mix of dream matches and politically-fuelled multi-person tags, it's the kind of wild, open scenario that would have been impossible a few short years ago, when mainstream American wrestling was largely isolationist. Khan's announcements continue to bring joy to those who anticipate them in good faith.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

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.