AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door is going down today, and fans just got their first real look at what the show is going to look like before the action even starts.
Hiroshi Tanahashi hopped on Twitter and uploaded a photo of the stage setup inside the SAP Center in San Jose, California, just hours before the show. The setup features the Forbidden Door logo front and center, with AEW, NJPW, CMLL, and STARDOM all represented, making it clear this is not just a two-company party anymore.
The setup itself is clean but still has that big-event feel. There’s a massive LED wall in the back, smaller LED screens worked into the design, a halo-style structure hanging over the entrance area, and a shorter walkway leading toward the ring. It gives the whole thing a polished international crossover look without making the stage feel overloaded.
The card is stacked too, but the stage is the story here. Forbidden Door will feature talent from AEW, NJPW, CMLL, and STARDOM, with major tournament finals, title matches, and a huge steel cage bout all set for the pay-per-view. With that many promotions under one roof, the visual setup needed to feel big, and this one definitely gets the point across.
Now that the stage is out there, the only thing left is the chaos. Forbidden Door has the look, the names, and the international firepower. Now all of the promotions just have to deliver once the lights come on.
AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2026 Lineup:
- Steel Cage Match: Mark Briscoe, Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly, Konosuke Takeshita & Darby Allin vs. MJF, Kevin Knight, Kyle Fletcher, Jake Doyle, Kazuchika Okada & Andrade El Idolo
- Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Final: Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland
- Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Final: Mercedes Moné vs. Maya World
- AEW Women’s World Championship: Thekla (c) vs. Starlight Kid
- AEW World Tag Team Championship: Adam Copeland & Christian Cage (c) vs. David Finlay & Clark Connors
- AEW Continental Championship: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Bandido
- IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Shota Umino (c) vs. PAC
- Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
- Trios Match: The Young Bucks vs. Sky Team & Unbound Co
- AEW Women’s Tag Team Championship: Divine Dominion (c) vs. Thunder Rosa & Olympia (Preshow)
- Survival of the Fittest Qualifying Match: Skye Blue vs. Maika (Preshow)
What do you think of the Forbidden Door stage setup, and which match are you most excited to see tonight? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know.