Last month, we reported exclusively on two potential dream matches for Forbidden Door II. A post-match promo from Lance Archer at the Collision in Philadelphia event may have offered some clarity on one of those matches.
On Sunday night, New Japan Pro Wrestling held Collision in Philadelphia, marking the second of a brief two-day, two-show stopover on the United States’ East coast. The Philadelphia show followed Capital Collision in Washington, DC, and was decidedly impacted by the events of the night prior.
At Capital Collision on April 15, Juice Robinson brutally attacked Fred Rosser before the bell could even ring. This led to Robinson being suspended from all future NJPW events for the foreseeable future including Collision in Philadelphia, where he was set to take on Lance Archer in the first round of the #1 contendership tournament for the IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship. Instead, Rosser took Robinson’s place and fought Archer in a Philadelphia street fight complete with kendo sticks, chairs, turnbuckle pads, and a brawl that went well beyond the limits of the ring. Archer and Rosser fought all throughout 2300 Arena with both men showcasing their power and strength. The bout was evenly matched until Robinson ran through the crowd and attacked Rosser. This gave Archer the opportunity to finish the job, defeat Rosser, and advance in the tournament. But it was what Archer said after his victory that could be of note as it relates to a match that is likely going to be made for Forbidden Door II.
After his victory over Fred Rosser in Philadelphia, @lancehoyt had powerful messages for @tanahashi1_100 and @willospreay– as well as @tonykhan and @kennyomegamanx!
Order the replay now on @fitetvhttps://t.co/UgqfyqZj3y#njcollision #njpwSTRONG pic.twitter.com/VwEs1F7Wb4
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) April 17, 2023
In a promo that he addressed to Tony Khan, Archer said he had plans to run through the entire Elite on his way to Kenny Omega. Saying that Khan couldn’t protect Omega forever, Archer promised to defeat the winner of the other first round tournament match at Dominion, and then advance to take on the Best Bout Machine…at Forbidden Door II.
Now, there is a lot still to be determined before we can call this match official for Forbidden Door II in June. For starters, the other first round match is in doubt. The match was originally announced as Will Ospreay vs Hiroshi Tanahashi, and while Ospreay is now cleared to wrestle, Tanahashi suffered an injury at Capital Collision causing him to be pulled from the Philadelphia card. Tanahashi and Ospreay’s tournament match was set for NJPW Strong Resurgence on May 21, live from the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California. If for any reason that match can’t happen, it is likely a new opponent will emerge to challenge Ospreay. Whoever that person may be, it is the winner of that match that will take on Archer at Dominion on June 4, just a few weeks prior to Forbidden Door II. Save for a Japanese supershow for NJPW, NOAH, and All Japan Pro Wrestling, as well as a series of New Japan Road shows, Forbidden Door II is the next marquee event on the calendar for both AEW and NJPW. It makes sense that Omega’s next defense would occur there.
And while Archer made the announcement, it seems more likely that all roads are headed towards the reported Forbidden Door II rubber match for Ospreay and Omega. The pieces are in place for Ospreay to defeat Archer at Dominion and advance to face Omega for the first time since Omega won the U.S. Championship from Ospreay at Wrestle Kingdom 17 in January. But even if that result doesn’t happen, it at least seems like Forbidden Door II will feature a U.S. Championship defense for Omega, no matter who the opponent may be.
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on Forbidden Door II and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world. As well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can catch AEW Dynamite Wednesday nights at 8 PM ET on TBS and AEW Dark: Elevation (Monday nights) and AEW: Dark (Tuesday nights) at 7 PM ET on YouTube. AEW Rampage airs on TNT at 10 PM EST every Friday night. You can follow NJPW on njpwworld.com.
