Grudge match official for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door
Image: AEW
In a match that has been in the crosshairs since after AEW All In, Kazuchika Okada vs. Swerve Strickland for Okada’s Unified title is now official for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door.
The match was announced during Thursday’s special live edition of AEW Collision.
Strickland came out to assist The Outrunners on Wednesday’s Dynamite after their loss to the Young Bucks. The Bucks and Okada were beating the two down when Strickland came out to even the odds and ultimately, lay out Okada.
Strickland has targeted Okada since the Dynamite following this month’s All In. The two have competed in a singles match once, a DQ win for Strickland in July 2024. They have shared the ring twice since then, once in July 2024’s Blood & Guts match and then again in a tag team match this past March.
Okada, the Continental Champion, won the Unified title at All In by virtue of his win over International Champion Kenny Omega in their winner take all match. Strickland will be looking for his first title run since losing the World title to Bryan Danielson at August 2024’s All In.
Current AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door card | Sunday, August 24 | London, England
- AEW Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada defends against Swerve Strickland
- AEW Tag Team Champions The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin) defend against winner of Tag Team title eliminator tournament
- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. TBA
- AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Athena