The AEW Forbidden Door PPV event isn’t exactly what it used to be, but that may be the best thing about it in 2026.
AEW returns to PPV with Forbidden Door on Sunday night alongside New Japan Pro Wrestling, CMLL, and Stardom. The traditional promotion vs. promotion “forbidden door” matches are on the show, but this year they are in the background of other top AEW storylines that need the spotlight. Nothing wrong with that.
The main storyline on display at Forbidden Door revolves around one man. His name? Will Ospreay.
The main character, Will Ospreay
With this year’s All In event taking place in the UK and Ospreay returning from a serious neck injury just a few months ago, the stars aligned for not only a comeback story, but homecoming story for Ospreay. Like Adam Page last summer, Ospreay is the main character in AEW. It’s time to give him the ball and he’ll get it at Forbidden Door.
Ospreay is scheduled to face Swerve Strickland in the finals of the Men’s Owen Hart Cup tournament. Whoever wins will earn a shot at the AEW Men’s World Championship at All In.
Ospreay vs. Strickland is going to be a helluva match. Both guys are innovative and unique in the ring. They’ve also shown plenty of chemistry together over the years. In the build to the match, Ospreay has been fantastic. A straight up babyface with a mission statement about making dreams come true and winning titles. Strickland has helped Ospreay elevate that story.
My concern going into this match was Strickland being way too cool of a character opposite Ospreay. For the type of crowning moment that Ospreay is working toward at All In, AEW should want the full force of the fanbase on his side. With Strickland being Strickland, that’s never a guarantee. Strickland stepped up his game as a bad guy. He didn’t overtly turn heel or start doing bad guy things out of the blue, but because of how he talked about Ospreay and Ospreay’s dream, he made himself the face of that dream not coming true. Not detestable as a person, but without remorse in the destruction of someone else.
Will Ospreay can’t lose the match. Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega for the world title and Ospreay vs. MJF are both stronger main events than anything with Strickland at this point. It’s Ospreay’s summer and he needs the ball.
A genuine underdog connection
The women’s Owen Hart Cup tournament final will have a different kind of drama to it. Mercedes Mone will look to win the tournament for a second year in a row. Standing in her way is Maya World — a newcomer to the AEW PPV scene, but a talent that’s been on a hot underdog run since entering the tournament because of injury. The tragic story around Maya World’s brother has been central to her run and it’s made for a real genuine connection between her and the audience. You can feel her emotion out there.
The underdog streak for World is going to end at Forbidden Door. In the end, it’s about business and the bigger All In match is Thekla against Mone. A sneaky match of the night candidate in this one.
Open the Forbidden Door
The rest of the show is filled with grudge matches and forbidden door gems. The best forbidden door match on the show will be Thekla vs. Starlight Kid. Thekla isn’t going to lose her world championship, but the Thekla feud with Stardom has resonated with fans. Starlight Kid will be the face of that on the Stardom side and fans will connect with her regardless of whether or not they have seen her before. Starlight Kid is an insane in-ring talent. If you don’t know her, you will be a fan by the time Sunday night is over.
A less anticipated forbidden door match? Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr. In all reality, this match could be the match of the night. That’s how good Omega and ZSJ are. The story around this match is not even one-note. It’s as flat as possible and without any depth to speak of.
AEW Forbidden Door 2026 airs live on PPV and HBO Max on Sunday night. The full card and full prediction show from The Takedown on SI is below.
AEW Forbidden Door 2026 Full Match Card
Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland - Men’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament Finals
Mercedes Mone vs. Maya World - Women’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament Finals
Team MJF vs. Team Mark Briscoe - If Team Briscoe wins, Mark Briscoe will earn a world title match against MJF
Adam Copeland and Christian Cage vs. The Dogs - AEW Men’s World Tag Team Championships
Jon Moxley vs. Bandido - AEW Continental Championship
Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Thekla vs. Starlight Kid - AEW Women’s World Championship
Shota Umino vs. PAC - IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship
Sky Team vs. The Young Bucks vs. Unbound Co.
AEW Forbidden Door 2026 Preview
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