By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Forbidden Door Zero Hour Pre-Show
London, England, at the O2 Arena
Aired live August 24, 2025, on social media
-Renee Paquette, RJ City, Jeff Jarrett, and Madison Rayne hosted the show from the upper level of the arena.
-The broadcast team was Excalibur and Ian Riccaboni, and Arkady Aura was the ring announcer.
1. Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly, Yuya Uemura, and Desperado vs. Lio Rush, Action Andretti, Josh Alexander, and Hechicero (w/Lance Archer, Rocky Romero) in an all-star eight-man tag. There was a loud “F— you, Callis,” chant when he spoke briefly before the match. Callis was not at ringside during the match. In the end, Uemura performed a Deadbolt Suplex on Andretti for the three count.
Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly, Yuya Uemura, and Desperado defeated Lio Rush, Action Andretti, Josh Alexander, and Hechicero in 12:05.
After the match, O’Reilly pointed at Uemura and sang his praises. Archer and Romero joined the heels in attacking the babyfaces. Tomohiro Ishii made his entrance. Ishii and Archer traded elbow strikes. Ishii got the better of the exchange and hit a brainbuster (that looked just like a suplex). O’Reilly was happy, but Strong pulled him away from Ishii.
Powell’s POV: Good work from the first of four matches that seemed designed to get everyone on the show.
-NJPW ring announcer Takura Shibata is introducing the matches in Japanese, along with Arkady Aura, who is conducting the English introductions.
2. Mike Bailey, Kevin Knight, and Michael Oku (w/Amira) vs. Ricochet, Bishop Kaun, and Toa Liona. Oku hyped up the crowd while setting up for a dive to the floor. Liona hit Oku with the Pounce, causing Oku to fly over the top rope and do a flip so that he landed face-first. The fans gasped. Riccaboni said there would be a total of 62 wrestlers competing on this show (28 of them are on the overstuffed pre-show). Late in the match, Oku caught Ricochet in a submission hold. Ricochet gouged Oku’s eyes to break the hold while referee Rick Knox was distracted (imagine that). Kaun and Liona hit Open the Gates on Oku, and then Ricochet followed up with the Spirit Gun for the win…
Ricochet, Bishop Kaun, and Toa Liona beat Mike Bailey, Kevin Knight, and Michael Oku in 9:55.
Powell’s POV: The Pounce spot was wild. It looked like Oku’s head hit the mat during his rotation, but he seemed fine for the rest of the match. I enjoyed this match. There’s clearly no directive to the pre-show wrestlers to save things for the main card, as the wrestlers in the first two matches have taken the balls-to-the-wall approach with flashy spots and big dives.
-Lexi Nair interviewed Don Callis on a backstage interview set and asked if he is worried about his wrestlers putting their titles on the line. Callis called her Lacy, then spoke confidently about his wrestlers retaining their titles.
3. Willow Nightingale, Harley Cameron, Kris Statlander, and Queen Aminata vs. Thekla, Julia Hart, Skye Blue, and Megan Bayne (w/Penelope Ford) in an all-star eight-woman tag. Late in the match, Cameron rolled up Bayne for a two count. Bayne dropped Cameron with a punch. Bayne ducked a clothesline from Statlander, who accidentally hit Willow. Bayne cleared the ring and then hit a Liger Bomb on Cameron before pinning her…
Thekla, Julia Hart, Skye Blue, and Megan Bayne defeated Willow Nightingale, Harley Cameron, Kris Statlander, and Queen Aminata in 11:15.
Powell’s POV: Will Statlander accidentally clotheslining Willow finally lead to their storyline moving forward?
Backstage, Lexi Nair spoke with “The Young Bucks” Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson, who wore “one day talent” stickers on their t-shirts. The Jacksons blew off Nair and then scolded the production guy they said is behind their recent entrances. Matt insisted the man play their old song and give them the superstar treatment. Matt also told the man to find the most dangerous items he could and place them under the ring so that they could use them during the cage match.
Tony Schiavone stood in the entrance area and introduced Tony Khan, Dr. Martha Hart, and Oje Hart. Khan touted the fans making history by being part of the biggest pro wrestling live crowd in the history of the venue. Martha played up cheering for Hangman Page, and the fans chanted “Cowboy Shit.” Khan thanked fans for supporting the Owen Hart Foundation tournament.
Powell’s POV: Yes, Tony hugged the Harts. He is the Bayley of pro wrestling owners. I should note AEW wisely went with a small entrance set rather than a traditional stage so that they could fit more fans into the sold-out venue.
4. “The Opps” Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Katsuyori Shibata vs. Clark Connors, Drilla Moloney, and Robbie X (w/Gedo) for the AEW Trios Titles. Excalibur labeled Gedo a traitor to NJPW, and said he’s like that company’s version of Don Calis (Gedo is also the longtime NJPW booker). In the end, Joe hit the Muscle Buster on X before pinning him…
“The Opps” Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Katsuyori Shibata defeated Clark Connors, Drilla Moloney, and Robbie X in 7:20 to retain the AEW Trios Titles.
-Excalibur said the Adam Copeland and Christian Cage vs. Killswitch and Kip Sabian match would open the main card.
Check out my live review of the AEW Forbidden Door pay-per-view in a separate post available via the main page.
I don’t know who is claiming this show is sold out, but I’m in the room, and they were lying.
Tony always lies about ticket sales and Meltzer shamelessly spreads those lies.
Unlike all the other very honest wrestling companies who don’t pretend their shows sold more tickets than they did. Go away, you fanny.
Where are these empty seats located? Better yet, feel free to email me a photo at dotnetjason@gmail.com. They’re showing plenty of wide shots of the venue and it sure looks sold out to me. A few empty seats here and there, but likely for people using the restroom or the concession stands.
Will do! The seat next to me is literally empty.
Sent you an email, with a photo during MJF vs Hangman.
It hasn’t arrived yet. Worth noting that I’ve attended plenty of sold out sporting events with open seats here and there because people bought tickets, but didn’t show up for whatever reason.
Mate、I’ve been to sporting events before, unless entire sections weren’t turning up, it wasn’t sold out. They got a good attendance, it just wasn’t sold out.
I got your photo and just responded via email. Thanks again for sending it.