Match Predictions and Heat Index Anticipation Levels
Temperature Scale = Scorching > Hot > Lukewarm > Temperate > Chilly > Cold > Freezing
Heat Index is my assessment of how interesting the segment is, including how excited I am for the match and how intriguing the feud has been. The hotter, the better. Scorching translates to not being able to wait to see it, while Freezing means I couldn’t possibly care less and think it will be awful.
INTERIM AEW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Jon Moxley vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
Heat Index = Hot
Prediction: Jon Moxley wins.
Thoughts: This may be an unpopular opinion, but I think this match will actually be better than what we would have gotten if it were CM Punk instead of Moxley. Granted, this isn’t quite as high-profile, but I’m down for it. It seems like a foregone conclusion Moxley will win, but I’m holding out some hope that Tanahashi will take the interim title. That’s the far more interesting outcome in my mind.
AEW ALL-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP FOUR-WAY MATCH:
Miro vs. Pac vs. Malakai Black vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Heat Index = Lukewarm
Prediction: PAC wins.
Thoughts: I’m not the biggest fan of this belt, as the name doesn’t hit and I’ve never liked location-based championships that are only arbitrarily named that. But hey, this should be a great means of putting a title on Pac in particular. He’s lost so much momentum from when AEW first started. Since he’s not winning that world title any time soon, here’s your chance to give him a different sort of accolade.
IWGP UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Will Ospreay (c) vs. Orange Cassidy
Heat Index = Hot
Prediction: Will Ospreay wins.
Thoughts: This certainly wouldn’t have been one of the go-to matches I would have booked on this card if I were given the keys to the kingdoms. However, that’s just a matter of perspective for higher people on the totem pole. If I ignore the “what if” potential and just view this in a bubble, this is great. Orange Cassidy is one of my favorites in AEW who puts on some great matches. Will Ospreay will have an interesting opponent that we wouldn’t have gotten under other circumstances. This should be one of the better matches of the night. I’m fully expecting Ospreay to retain, but have his work cut out for him.
AEW WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Thunder Rosa (c) vs. Toni Storm
Heat Index = Lukewarm
Prediction: Thunder Rosa wins.
Thoughts: On paper, this match should be good, considering their talent levels. Still, I can’t help but to be incredibly underwhelmed by the complete lack of a build. Storm held up the title and the match was announced. That’s it? Do better, AEW. Rosa retains in a match that has no crossover with New Japan and was in part included just to make sure there was at least one women’s match on the card. It wouldn’t shock me if they figured they didn’t need to do a story because people would be interested in just seeing those two against each other and that if they want to expand on it, they can do that after this and on AEW television, rather than “waste it” on the crossover show. In any fashion, meh. I like Rosa and Storm, but everything outside of those two between the ropes when the bell rings fell short.
SIX-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH:
Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara and Minoru Suzuki vs. Eddie Kingston, Wheeler Yuta and Shota Umino
Heat Index = Cold
Prediction: Jericho, Suzuki and Guevara win.
Thoughts: Talented guys here? Sure. But this is a dud. This event sold itself on the idea of dream matches and I doubt anyone would have booked this on their dream card. As someone who doesn’t watch New Japan, Suzuki and Umino are lost on me as far as being pumped about them, and since I’ve seen Jericho feuding with Kingston for a while, this feels like filler. Maybe since I have low expectations, it’ll surprise me, but it’s certainly not hyping me up prior to it—hence the low Heat Index score.
WINNERS TAKE ALL THREE-WAY MATCH FOR ROH WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP AND IWGP TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP:
FTR (c) vs. United Empire (c) vs. Roppongi Vice
Heat Index = Hot
Prediction: FTR wins.
Thoughts: Like other stuff on this card, this wouldn’t have come close to the tag team match I would have booked on this show if I had creative control. With that being said, both titles being on the line has me interested. Either FTR is going to New Japan and capturing those belts, or United Empire is going to play around in ROH for a bit. I can’t see Roppongi Vice walking out with belts. They’re there to take the pin, I’m assuming. This could be quite fun.
FOUR-WAY MATCH FOR IWGP WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP:
Jay White (c) vs. Adam Cole vs. “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Kazuchika Okada
Heat Index = Scorching
Prediction: Jay White wins.
Thoughts: You can’t go wrong with these four uber talented wrestlers in the ring at the same time. This should be fantastic. I’m imagining Jay White retains as it makes more sense for the belt not to change hands, unless they plan on it just going back to Okada for the sake of it.
EIGHT-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH:
The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) and Bullet Club (El Phantasmo and Hikuleo) vs. Dudes with Attitude (Darby Allin, Sting, Shingo Takagi and Hiromu Takahashi)
Heat Index = Lukewarm
Prediction: The Young Bucks and Bullet Club win.
Thoughts: As a NJPW outsider, those four involved don’t mean much to me right now, as it is lost on me. The Young Bucks are in this, though. That means it should at least be decent. Flip a coin on the winners, overall, but I’m leaning toward the heels.
SINGLES MATCH:
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. TBA
Heat Index = Scorching
Prediction: TBA wins.
Thoughts: I was really looking forward to Zack Sabre Jr against Bryan Danielson. It sucks that’s not happening. But if we’re not getting that, there’s the potential this is Sabre Jr against Johnny Gargano or Cesaro. Either of those matches would be just as good, if not better. That’s what I’m pumped about. There’s a chance the replacement is underwhelming, but I’ll be optimistic. I’m hoping for Cesaro.
BUY IN – EIGHT-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH:
Max Caster and The Gunn Club (Austin Gunn, Billy Gunn and Colten Gunn) vs. NJPW Dojo (The DKC, Kevin Knight, Alex Coughlin and Yuya Uemura)
Heat Index = Freezing
Prediction: NJPW Dojo wins.
Thoughts: Four guys I know nothing about and seem like filler are fighting The Gunn Club and Max Caster, a comedic team. I’m a huge fan of Billy Gunn and Max Caster, but this still does nothing for me.
OVERALL PPV:
How excited am I for the event as a whole?
Heat Index = Hot
Thoughts: Between Hot and Lukewarm, so I’ll go with the more positive outlook. This event does not at all shape up to look like what I was hoping it would, but I’m still interested to see what goes down.
What do you think is going to happen at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door? Which matches are you most excited to see? Keep the discussion going in the comments below!
