AEW opens the Forbidden Door once more in 2026, which will see new number one contenders crowned and a huge steel cage match expected to headline.
The 2026 Owen Hart Cup finals will take place at AEW Forbidden Door 2026. Will Ospreay will face Swerve Strickland in the men’s tournament, while Mercedes Mone will face Maya World in the women’s tournament. The winners of each respective match will book their spot at All In at Wembley Stadium later in the year. Additionally, Kenny Omega will face Zack Sabre Jr. to rekindle their New Japan rivalry, and Thekla will face off against STARDOM’s Starlight Kid.
AEW Forbidden Door 2026 Predictions:
Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr
For the first time since 2018, the two former IWGP World Champions are set to face off one-on-one. With the Redemption pay-per-view set to take place in July, the final major show before All in, there is a strong chance that Omega headlines this show to challenge for the World Championship. With this in mind, a win for Omega over Sabre Jr. is very likely, especially as the AEW stars traditionally pick up the wins at Forbidden Door. Omega may walk into All In as champion, setting up the third match with a former rival. No surprises here that this is the pick for match of the night.
Winner: Kenny Omega
Swerve Strickland vs. Will Ospreay – Owen Hart Tournament Final
All signs point to Ospreay winning this one. The British star has yet to pick up a win over Strickland, and is yet to headline the Wembley Stadium show. This feels like it is very much Ospreay’s time to win the big one, and in front of a hometown crowd. The only question that remains is who will be the champion, Omega or MJF?
Winner: Will Ospreay
Mercedes Mone vs. Maya World – Owen Hart Tournament Final
Although this is the fairytale dream for Maya World, this will be where the clock strikes midnight. Mone looks destined to be on course to win the Owen Hart Cup for the second year in a row, advance to Wembley, and defeat Thekla to win the AEW Women’s Title. While Mone was previously distracted with her other championship quests, this time The CEO is focused on the top prize.
Winner: Mercedes Mone
Thekla (c) vs. Starlight Kid – Singles match for the AEW Women’s Championship
It still feels unlikely that Thekla will be dropping the Women’s Championship anytime soon. With a title change unlikely before All In, expect Thekla to walk into Wembley Stadium as the champion, likely dropping the title to Mercedes Mone at All In Wembley. Mone has failed to capture the top prize multiple times, but 2026 feels like her year.
Winner: Thekla
Cope and Christian Cage (c) vs. The Dogs – Tag team match for the Tag Team Championships
This is the champions’ first defence since winning the titles. While The Dogs could be formidable foes, this will be a straightforward win for the veterans. Much like Thekla, it is very unlikely that Cope and Cage drop the titles before Wembley.
Winners: Cope and Cage
The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) vs. El Sky Team (Místico and Máscara Dorada) vs. Unbound Co. (Shingo Takagi and Titán)
While this will be the fun tag team party match, the result could go any way. The Young Bucks winning feels unlikely given the likely result of Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr. Mistico is still regarded as one of the best wrestlers in the world right now, and it feels like his team picking up the win is a safe bet.
Winners: El Sky Team
Shota Umino (c) vs. Pac – Singles Match For The IWGP Global Championship
NJPW titles have never been won by a contracted AEW star at Forbidden Door. With a lot of non-AEW stars expected to lose at the pay-per-view, this will likely be a win for New Japan.
Winner: Shota Umino
Jon Moxley (c) vs. Bandido – Singles match for the Continental Championship
If any championship changes hands at Forbidden Door, it will be this one. While Moxley has remained the workhorse of AEW, there would be no shame in losing the title to the reigning ROH World Champion. Additionally, Bandido being a double champion, defending multiple titles will eventually wear him down so that a title loss will have a valid reason. Regardless, it’s time for the next stage in this storyline.
Winner: Bandido
Team MJF [MJF, Kevin Knight, Kyle Fletcher, Jake Doyle, Kazuchika Okada and Andrade el Idolo] vs. Team Mark Briscoe [Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly, Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong, Konosuke Takeshita and Darby Allin] – Steel cage match
As Mark Briscoe will be owed a World Title match if his team wins, it feels like the babyfaces are the favourites in this one, especially as team MJF won the regular 12 man tag on Dynamite. While Team MJF are on the same page now, it feels that things won’t be the same when it’s time for the pay-per-view. Expect dissension and members of the Don Callis Family to leave, leaving MJF outnumbered. Briscoe will likely pin MJF here, but will come up short when the title match happens.
Winners: Team Mark Briscoe
AEW Forbidden Door 2026 will air live on select pay-per-view platforms on Sunday, June 28.
Featured image: AEW
