Who will Jay White, the current IWGP World Champion, wrestle at the AEW/New Japan Pro Wrestling co-promoted Pay-Per-View Forbidden Door?
Well, we know who it won't be, as after being called out on Dynamite, White declared that neither “Hangman” Adam Page nor Adam Cole will be afforded a chance at his championship belt, suggesting that one or both of the performers should instead turn their sights to Kazuchika Okada, who, according to reports, won't even be at Forbidden Door.
Now granted, could that change? Could we collectively roll into Forbidden Door with a question mark next to White's name only to find out that Tony Khan and Gedo have ignored the requests of “King Switch,” and either or even both of the Adams end up being in the co-main event of the Pay-Per-View? Sure, that's absolutely a possibility but for the sake of argument, let's say White's wishes are granted; let's say Cole and Page end up in a number one contender's match to earn a future title shot in either AEW or NJPW – a Face of the Revolution brass ring meets Money in the Bank briefcase if you will – and the co-main event is left open for another performer. Who would be an ideal opponent for White? Bryan Danielson? Jay Lethal? Keith Lee?
Well, if Forbidden Door is all about fan service, the choice is obvious: AEW needs to book Jay White versus Kenny Omega.
Kenny Omega and Jay White is the dream match for AEW fans the world over.
Forbidden Door was literally made for Kenny Omega. He was the top guy in NJPW before leaving the promotion, the man who led Bullet Club when it went from indie darling to legitimate merch-selling force to Hot Topic stalwart, and the performer who turned in the highest-rated three-match program in the history of Dave Meltzer's rating system over at The Wrestling Observer.
If Omega can go, he needs to be on the card. If Omega is healthy, or at least healthy enough to make the trip, he needs to be the mystery surprise return at Forbidden Door that every fan who has ever watched a Tony Khan-booked promotion knows is coming, even if for no other reason than to have the lights drop, and the opening notes of “Battle Cry” to explode the ring back to life in a way AEW fans haven't witnessed since CM Punk's return to wrestling at the United Center in Chicago.
Omega returning at the end of a Jay White match, regardless of who his opponent might be, would be money. It would set up the potential for further Forbidden Door Pay-Per-Views – which are reportedly already in the cards – and potentially signal the return of one of NJPW's top performers later in the year, presumably on another big show like, say, All Out. But could you imagine if Omega actually took to the ring and went to battle with the man who kicked him out of Bullet Club in the first place?
Goodness gracious, that could be a match of the year candidate.
Historically speaking, Omega and White have shared the ring six times, four as part of tag teams and two as solo performers. While Omega holds the historical lead 4-2, the duo are 1-1 in solo competition, with the former securing a win at NJPW Road To Invasion Attack 2016 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and the latter dethroning the then-Bullet Club leader for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Title belt in a fantastic 30-minute match that freed up “The Cleaner” to take a shot at NJPW's biggest prize of all – at least at the time – the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
So Omega-White 3 could not only be a very real possibility, but could it be a revenge match by “The Belt Collector” to secure his second-time reign with the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and presumably at least one more match against Kazuchika Okada, only this time in an AEW ring?
Goodness gracious indeed; either TK has been playing the long game for the past six months to deliver some of the greatest matches in modern wrestling history, or a lot of people are going to be very disappointed.
Who knows, maybe this is all coincidental. Maybe June 26th was the best day Tony Khan could secure for the United Center in Chicago, and the return of Kenny Omega is being saved for a date down the road. But considering late June was right around the timeframe Omega suggested for his return in the past, who knows, maybe Jay White will have a date with another former IWGP Heavyweight Champion at Forbidden Door, and the entire wrestling world will be treated to a match with incredible potential.
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