Chicago in midst of New Japan invasion
By Mike Pankow
April 21, 2022
It started with the red-hot “Windy City Riot” show last Saturday night in Villa Park, but New Japan Pro Wrestling’s foray into the Chicago area is far from over.
AEW CEO Tony Khan announced “Forbidden Door,” a joint show with AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, will be coming to the United Center on Sunday, June 26. (Photo by Mike Pankow/Windy City Slam)
AEW President Tony Khan announced that the United Center in Chicago will play host to a long-rumored AEW-New Japan supershow entitled “Forbidden Door” on Sunday night, June 26.
The event furthers New Japan’s expansion into the United States and continues the company’s invasion into the Chicago scene. Jacksonville-based AEW also continues its close relationship with Chicago with their fourth pay-per-view since forming in 2019, including 2019 and 2021 All Out shows at NOW Arena (formerly Sears Centre) in Hoffman Estates and 2020 Revolution at Wintrust Arena in Chicago’s South Loop.
The last time AEW performed at the United Center, it was for the long-awaited return of Chicago’s CM Punk to professional wrestling after over 7½ years away from the ring for a live presentation of Rampage on Aug. 20, 2021.
“As the world continues to reopen, I’m making sure the Forbidden Door follows suit and we can finally give fans the dream events they’ve always imagined,” said Tony Khan, CEO, GM and Head of Creative of AEW. “This summer, fans of AEW and NJPW can expect the unexpected during this extraordinary, first-of-its-kind pay-per-view between our two incredible companies.”
Tickets for this historic PPV event go on sale on Friday, May 6, at 10 a.m. CT at AEWTix.com and Ticketmaster.com. Fans in the United States and Canada can watch the PPV on the Bleacher Report app or via their local Cable or Satellite provider.
According to press release from AEW, “Forbidden Door” will feature marquee matchups between members of AEW and NJPW’s world-class rosters.
CM Punk speaks to the crowd at the United Center on Aug. 20, 2021 as he announced his intention to return to wrestling after a 7 1/2-year absence. (Photo courtesy All Elite Wrestling)
The possibilities for dream matchups are endless with AEW stars such as World Champion Hangman Adam Page, The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega (who may make his in-ring return by then), Chris Jericho, Bryan Danielson, CM Punk, Adam Cole and Samoa Joe along with men synonymous with New Japan such as Will Ospreay, Jay White, Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii and Minoru Suzuki.
In early January, CM Punk tweeted at Okada, “Here’s my address, come see me: 1901 W Madison St Chicago, IL 60612 United States @rainmakerXokada.” That address, of course, refers to the site of the United Center, perhaps the first hint of this AEW-New Japan supershow coming to fruition. Perhaps, a Punk-Okada match will be a major part of the event.
“As we have done for more than 50 years, the power of pro wrestling can energize people by fulfilling their dreams,” said Takami Ohbari, President of NJPW. “Now, it’s quite an important mission for us, the pro-wrestling industry as a whole.”
New Japan is coming off an amazing show last weekend at the Odeum in Villa Park in what was likely the final wrestling show in the building before it shuts its door later this year.
Will Ospreay leaves Warrior Wrestling 17 with multiple championships, including the Warrior Wrestling Championship. Ospreay could be a potential major attraction at “Forbidden Door.” (Photo by Mike Pankow/Windy City Slam)
AEW star Jon Moxley defeated international superstar and Warrior Wrestling Champion Ospreay in the main event of “Windy City Riot” after an intense fight. The pinfall finish was not without controversy as it appeared that Ospreay rolled his shoulder off the canvas before the 3-count.
In the semi-main, Ishii defeated Suzuki in a brutal battle that epitomized Japanese strong style wrestling. The six-man Chicago Street Fight with FinJuice (Gardner native Juice Robinson and David Finlay) and AEW star Brody King defeating former NXT Superstars JONAH and Shane Haste along with Bad Dude Tito was a crazy brawl that went all over the Odeum.
“Forbidden Door” will be the second major show in the Chicago area in June as it will occur three weeks after WWE Hell In A Cell comes to Allstate Arena on Sunday night, June 5.
Listen to Ep. 115 of Windy City Slam Podcast with a recap of “Windy City Riot: https://bit.ly/3Ezsbid.
Catch Windy City Slam editor Mike Pankow talking local and national pro wrestling every week with Chicago-area wrestling guests on Windy City Slam Podcast, part of the Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network. Episodes drop early Tuesday morning wherever you download podcasts or at https://windycityslam.podbean.com/.
We are looking for guests to appear on future episodes of the Windy City Slam Podcast! Please contact Mike at mikepankow@windycityslam.com, message him on Facebook or DM him on Twitter.
