WWE legend wonders if AEW Forbidden Door match was executed poorly on purpose - "It can't be a coincidence"
AEW and NJPW presented the third annual Forbidden Door pay-per-view this past Sunday. The two promotions also used talents from CMLL and Stardom to present the 15-match event card, which included five matches on the Zero Hour pre-show. While there has been mixed feedback, WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff has raised an interesting question.
The Elite had a strong night at Forbidden Door. The Young Bucks and Kazuchika Okada defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi and The Acclaimed, and Jack Perry won the six-man Ladder Match to become the new TNT Champion. Eric Bischoff, who often critiques the AEW product, used harsh language to blast the Continental Champion and the World Tag Team Champions and suggest a major status change to AEW officials.
He later declared that The Elite should be embarrassed for Sunday's performance. Speaking on 83 Weeks, Bischoff knocked the top heels of the company for showing up to phone it in instead of showing up to work. The heat seemingly did not apply to The Scapegoat's big title win. He continued to critique the trios match and wondered if things were executed so poorly on purpose.
"I literally thought while watching this, I think I posted it. I said, 'There must be a reason that someone would put on a match that sucked this bad. There has to be a reason.' It can't be a coincidence. There is a reason that match was executed as poorly as it was. It may be a storyline reason, I don't know, or it may be something else, but that match was... because we all know those guys are capable of putting on a great match. This was not that. This was not even close. This was not even the same freaking zip code. Bizarre," Eric Bischoff said. [From 33:15 to 34:08]
AEW has several big shows scheduled for this summer, which will see The Elite's storyline progress. A major main event is reportedly in the works for a special show.
Top star added to AEW Dynamite: Beach Break
AEW is set for its third Beach Break edition of Dynamite on Wednesday. The two-hour episode will air in its usual timeslot, live from the Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
Britt Baker has been confirmed for Beach Break after returning at Forbidden Door to end her lengthy hiatus. She had a staredown with TBS Champion Mercedes Moné, who became a double champion by capturing the NJPW Strong Women's Championship from Stephanie Vaquer.
There are now two segments and four matches confirmed for Beach Break. Below is the current lineup:
- Britt Baker will speak
- Double Championship Celebration for Mercedes Moné
- Owen Hart Foundation Women's Tournament Semifinals: Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale
- Owen Hart Foundation Men's Tournament Quarterfinals: Jeff Jarrett vs. Wild Card entrant
- Owen Hart Foundation Men's Tournament Semifinals: PAC vs. Bryan Danielson
- International Champion Will Ospreay defends against Daniel Garcia
Wednesday's Beach Break Dynamite is being presented during Discovery's Shark Week. It remains to be seen what kind of crossover tie-ins AEW will have with the popular Shark Week this year.
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit 83 Weeks and give an H/T to Sportskeeda for the transcription.