Forbidden Door 2025 ignites London with dream matches from AEW, NJPW, Stardom, CMLL. Match card, start time, previews, where to watch—everything fans crave.
Background & Why Forbidden Door 2025 Matters
Forbidden Door 2025—presented by AEW and NJPW—hit London’s O₂ Arena on Sunday, August 24, marking the first time the event ran outside North America and kicked off in August instead of June, during the UK’s Bank Holiday weekend. Expect AT LEAST 18,992 passionate fans filling seats for a night of inter-promotional wizardry featuring Stardom, CMLL, and RevPro along with AEW and NJPW.
Exact Start Time & Viewing Options
- Zero Hour Pre-Show: 11:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. BST—free on YouTube and AEW platforms
- Main Card: 1:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. BST
Fans worldwide could stream via Prime Video, PPV.com, YouTube, or traditional providers (~$49.99). Dave & Buster’s and Tom’s Watch Bars also hosted live venues.
The Stacked Match Card: Dream Versus Reality
This year’s Forbidden Door offerings were as bold as they come:
- AEW World Championship: “Hangman” Adam Page (c) vs. MJF — title changes possible via DQ or countout
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Nigel McGuinness
- AEW Unified Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Swerve Strickland
- AEW Women’s World Championship: Toni Storm vs. ROH Women’s World Champion Athena
- TBS Championship: Mercedes Moné (c) vs. Alex Windsor vs. Persephone vs. Bozilla (4-way)
- Lights Out Steel Cage: Will Ospreay, Darby Allin, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, The Young Bucks & Gabe Kidd
- Tag Team Duel: Adam Copeland & Christian Cage reunited to challenge Kip Sabian & Killswitch
- Plus: World Tag Titles 3-way, TNT Title, Zero Hour trios and all-star tags
Must-Watch Highlights & Storylines
The Booth Toggle:
- Dangerous Odds: Page vs. MJF is AEW’s summer blockbuster—title on the line, chaos guaranteed.
- Technical Ballet: Sabre Jr. vs. McGuinness promises a British showdown—empirical, emotional, and utterly technical.
- Cage Carnage: A star-studded, injury-laden Lights Out cage match featuring Ospreay wrestling ahead of neck surgery adds high stakes.
- Emotional Flashback: Cope & Christian’s reunion elicited sing-along theme music and a heartfelt handshake—hug still off the table.
- Backstage Vibes: On AEW Collision prior, Sabre Jr. teased showdown with McGuinness; drama unfolded.
Expert Predictions & Fan Buzz
Predictors leaned heavy on Hangman retaining, Okada defeating Swerve, and Sabre Jr. fending off Nigel. Cage match winners and belt holders generated debate; storylines and crowd energy are driving the forecasts.
Why This Year’s Show Is Uniquely Special
- Europe’s first Forbidden Door (AEW’s first in UK) sets a new geographic and cultural tone
- Bank Holiday timing and O₂ Arena venue mark a strategic brand leap
- Merging female talent from Stardom and TBS Championship scenes cross-pollinates audiences
- Personal narratives—Darby’s Everest journey, Cope/Christian reunion, Ospreay working injured—turned matches into emotional chapters