AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door SCOOPS THREAD

Our AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door SCOOPS THREAD. This will be updated as the show continues.

• We've not heard if Kenny Omega is back regularly, but as of All In he was expected to take a bit of time off.

• The last we heard regarding Swerve is that All Elite Wrestling were preparing for the possibility that he could have surgery following Forbidden Door and miss a number of months.

• Kota Ibushi wasn't putting on an act -- he was legit surprised at being added to the cage match.

• A photo emerged of the cage setup today. Throughout the week it was being compared to the War Dogs NJPW cage setup, with an opening, and a little bit shorter on the height side.

• More of a note than anything, but Forbidden Door is Darby Allin's first match of the year.

• Nyla Rose is expected to be backstage after winning a title in the UK this weekend.

• As we noted this week, Killswitch aka Luchasaurus has actually been cleared for a number of months. At one point, he was backstage at a PPV dressed to compete if needed.

• As Tony Khan indicated this week, he's very high on Bozilla. We're told by those connected to Stardom that Tony Khan specifically asked if she could work the show quite a while back.

• Sources in AEW believe that if AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door continues that it will be on a different time on the calendar. The belief in the company was that the adjustments to the schedule with AEW All In happening earlier in the year affected things. NJPW and Stardom having tournaments affected the build.

• We'd also noted recently that CMLL has been really happy with MJF's work and the buzz associated with the partnership there.

• While this is a co-promoted show, Tony Khan leads the charge on producing and booking the Forbidden Door shows.

• Regarding the Hurt Syndicate story recently, and a third team being added, it was hinted to us about a month ago that a three team match could happen, so this has been discussed for quite a while. While Hurt Syndicate and Speedball poked fun at the rumors of MVP not liking Speedball, we were never told of any plans that would have seen JetSpeed beating Hurt Syndicate. MVP had intimated that they'd prefer to lose to GOA, Private Party or Outrunners. For those that confuse this with creative control (it's not, that's a clause in a contract and free will), we've not heard that they outright rejected to lose to anyone. Today's match is an elimination match, so they'll have to lose to someone if they're dropping the titles.

• Cope & Christian vs. FTR in Toronto at AEW All Out in Toronto has been a creative direction for a number of months, but things got slowed down.

• A number of wrestlers in AEW backstage this week were at least approaching Hiroshi Tanahashi as if it would be his last All Elite Wrestling run or match this weekend.

MID SHOW NOTES

• We're told that the AEW cage will give some room around the ring. There will not be a roof.

• We've not heard that Michael Oku and Amira have signed with AEW.

• Those that we spoke to said that Michael Oku was okay backstage after his scary bump.

• The stickers that Young Bucks are wearing were the actual stickers they give you at AEW shows if you're backstage for a segment, extra and sometimes media.

• The Royal Guard in Mercedes' entrance were indie wrestlers. Chuck Mambo and TK Cooper were among them. Kuro was another

• POTENTIAL SPOILER: We've been told to expect Jamie Hayter back soon.

• UPDATE: Jamie Hayter is back.

• MVP was not seen backstage by those we spoke with. There is nothing legally preventing him from traveling to England. He's been there at least two dozen times.

• The cage match is scheduled to go on last.

• Swerve and Ospreay are both expected to take time off after this show.

• Wardlow has returned. He was backstage at AEW All In as well. He has substantial time left on his deal

• After AEW went off the air, they stretchered Will Ospreay out.

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OTHER NEWS:

• The Raja Jackson situation has been the talk of wrestling over the last night. Rampage Jackson's son, who is a Kick streamer, was working an angle with a wrestler named Syko Stu at Knokx Pro Wrestling. Raja filmed an angle earlier that day and was scripted to do a post-match attack. However, Raja is not a trained wrestler. Stu was slammed to the mat and knocked out immediately. Raja then delivered numerous legit punches that connected and caused further damage. Stu was rushed to the hospital. Rampage Jackson has since claimed he's awake and responsive.