Stardom Talent at Forbidden Door 2023: Insider Update

• News
• aew

With the highly anticipated wrestling event, AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2023, only a fortnight away, the hopes of seeing STARDOM talent grace the ring are dwindling rapidly. The seasoned wrestling correspondent, Dave Meltzer, clarified on the recent broadcast of "Wrestling Observer Radio" that despite there being no necessity for working visas for performers - including professional wrestlers - to participate in events within the country, the STARDOM roster seems to be absent from AEW's plans.

Meltzer stated, "As of this past Sunday, no discussions had occurred between AEW and any talent from STARDOM."

STARDOM Talent's Conflicting Schedules

Further casting a shadow over the prospect of STARDOM's involvement is that most of their wrestlers are scheduled to perform in another pay-per-view event in Japan, coinciding with Forbidden Door.

Meltzer solemnly summarized, "The likelihood of any STARDOM talent featuring in Forbidden Door is extremely low." Last week, insider source Fightful Select released information suggesting AEW had initiated conversations with NJPW about integrating talent from its sister promotion into their imminent inter-promotional supercard.

The optimism was high, particularly with the prospect of seeing a STARDOM talent contend against AEW Women's World Champion Toni Storm, a STARDOM alumna herself. The current scenario mirrors last year's events, where AEW secured a single women's match featuring Storm and then-champion Thunder Rosa.

Adding to the mix, Sports Illustrated reported that negotiations were underway between AEW and Mercedes Moné about her involvement in the Forbidden Doors event in Toronto. However, a recent ankle injury appears to have put those plans on hold.

Moné had been earmarked to clinch the NJPW STRONG Women's Championship last month, but due to her unexpected injury, the decision was revised, allowing AEW's Willow Nightingale to claim victory. Since her win, Nightingale has successfully defended her title on AEW and Ring of Honor programming, potentially paving her way to participate in the June 25 pay-per-view event.

Despite the swirling uncertainties, the wrestling world waits with bated breath for the spectacle that Forbidden Door 2023 promises to be.