United Empire had “semi-big” plans in place for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door as of April, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, though those plans are now uncertain following Callum Newman’s injury at NJPW Dominion.
Meltzer said the faction’s April 8 Dynamite appearance — where Will Ospreay, Newman, Francesco Akira, and HENARE defeated Jon Moxley, PAC, Claudio Castagnoli, and Daniel Garcia in a Chaos in Canada Match — was intended as groundwork for Forbidden Door.
“I was told this directly that when they came in on that one TV, it was to build to Forbidden Door. The plan was at that time they would be involved with something semi-big at Forbidden Door.”
Newman suffered what is believed to be a shoulder dislocation during his IWGP Heavyweight Title match against Yota Tsuji at Dominion on Sunday. An MRI is scheduled to determine the severity of the injury and his availability remains unclear.
AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door takes place June 28 at SAP Center in San Jose. Announced matches include Team Mark Briscoe vs. Team MJF in a Steel Cage Match, the Owen Hart Foundation tournament finals, Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr., and Thekla vs. Starlight Kid for the AEW Women’s World Championship.