One of the standout matches announced for next weekend’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door event is the AEW Women’s World Championship bout between “Timeless” Toni Storm and Athena. Since earning a world title contract at AEW All In last month, Athena has been gearing up to face Storm, and their intense rivalry was highlighted again on the latest episode of AEW Dynamite. Bully Ray praised their encounter but felt the segment could have been elevated with a more dramatic finish, as shared on “Busted Open After Dark.”
Bully suggested adding a memorable moment, such as Athena putting Storm through a table, to deliver a stronger impact at the end of the segment. He also complimented the crispness of the tag team match featured ahead of Wednesday’s episode but noted that the audience’s reaction, particularly in Cincinnati, Ohio, was somewhat subdued. Bully expressed hope that the crowd would be more energized for the upcoming events.
Next week will provide another chance to build excitement with tag matches involving Athena, Mercedes Mone, and Alex Windsor, leading up to the Forbidden Door event scheduled for August 24th at London’s O2 Arena. Besides the Storm vs Athena title clash, the show will also feature Mone and Windsor competing in a four-way match for the TBS Championship.
Fan Take: This build-up between Toni Storm and Athena is crucial as it showcases AEW’s commitment to elevating women’s wrestling on a global stage. The Forbidden Door event could be a game-changer for AEW fans, blending top talent from AEW and NJPW and raising the bar for inter-promotional competition in pro wrestling.
