FTR is riding pretty high right about now following their big win at AEW x NJPW's Forbidden Door.
Despite a scare early on in the three-way championship match alongside Roppongi Vice, and the United Empire duo of Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan, where Dax Harwood had to be taken backstage to tape up his shoulder, the duo were able to finish out the match, secure the win, and become not only one of the most decorated tag teams in wrestling history but one of the most popular too, as their reaction from fans in the United Center clearly showcased.
But why? How did FTR go from cocky heels perfectly compatible with an MJF-led staple into one of the most popular babyface teams in AEW, Ring of Honor, and soon New Japan Pro Wrestling? Well, a big part of it has to do with their repackaging and the new theme song they debuted late last year, both of which, according to the post-Forbidden Door media scrum, came courtesy of the man himself, Tony Khan.
Yup, you read that correctly, the rainbow jackets, the colorful merchandise, and the theme song, written by Mikey Ruckus, all came from the mind of Mr. Khan, and while the fans, not to mention the boys themselves, didn't quite know what to think about it, it rapidly caught on and turned the duo into one of the brightest parts of AEW television ever since, especially in the short but incredibly special period of time where CM Punk was the promotion's champion and FTR looked like the guys in his corner.