AEW Faces Backstage Booking Confusion Amid Forbidden Door: London and Plans for Bigger Arenas

pranithkumarkanna@gmail.com|Modified on Aug 19, 2025, 23:21 GMT

As AEW gears up for its major international pay-per-view, Forbidden Door: London, some backstage confusion over wrestler bookings has surfaced, highlighting challenges in coordinating schedules for the demanding weeks ahead. According to sources close to AEW, several talents booked for Sunday’s Forbidden Door event at London’s O2 Arena were uncertain about whether they would also need to appear for AEW Dynamite this coming Wednesday, creating tension and uncertainty among the roster.

This confusion reportedly stems from AEW’s recent transition from primarily running smaller venues to launching a new phase of wrestling events in larger arenas. After months of utilizing more intimate settings, AEW is aiming to capitalize on strong fan interest by hosting shows in venues such as the O2, which regularly accommodates WWE shows and even hosted WWE’s Money in the Bank 2023 event[3]. Sources reveal this ambitious ramp-up has complicated talent management, especially as AEW is balancing the demands of its weekly television tapings with the high-profile Forbidden Door supershow, co-produced with Japan’s New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)[2].

The 2025 Forbidden Door, set for August 24 at the O2 Arena during the UK’s August Bank Holiday weekend, will feature a star-studded lineup blending AEW’s top talent with NJPW, Stardom, and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) wrestlers. The card includes high-stakes championship matches such as Hangman Page defending the AEW World Title against MJF, Toni Storm battling Athena for the AEW Women’s Championship, and Zack Sabre Jr. putting the IWGP World Heavyweight Title on the line against an opponent determined this Saturday on AEW Collision[1][2][4].

AEW has also scheduled a range of other marquee matches, including Kazuchika Okada vs. Swerve Strickland for the newly minted AEW Unified Championship; a TNT Championship bout between Kyle Fletcher and Hiromu Takahashi; a TBS Title four-way featuring Mercedes Mone, Alex Windsor, and representatives from CMLL and Stardom; as well as a Lights Out Steel Cage match pitting AEW stalwarts like Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega against top international talent[4][5].

Behind the scenes, AEW management is reportedly working hard to clarify scheduling conflicts and ensure talent availability for both the Forbidden Door show and AEW’s regular Wednesday Dynamite tapings[1]. “The jump to bigger arenas and international events like Forbidden Door requires a whole new level of coordination,” a WWE insider familiar with industry logistics told WWE.com. “AEW is navigating growing pains while trying to keep their roster healthy and shows running smoothly.”

This phase also marks AEW’s strategic shift in its business model. After establishing a loyal fan base in smaller venues, AEW is now pushing into larger markets and arenas. Wrestling journalist Jason Powell, writing for ProWrestling.net, observes that AEW’s move to bigger stages “signals confidence in their expanding audience and ambition to rival other global promotions like WWE” [4]. Hosting Forbidden Door in London for the first time outside North America further demonstrates AEW’s international growth initiative[2].

Wrestlers have voiced mixed feelings amid the busy schedule and the transition to big arenas. According to Fightful’s reporting, some talent feel the intensified workload—with less downtime between shows—adds pressure, particularly when juggling cross-promotional commitments for events like Forbidden Door. However, others view it as a crucial step toward raising AEW’s profile on the global wrestling stage[1].

Fans and industry observers eagerly await the upcoming Forbidden Door pay-per-view, which promises not only thrilling interpromotional matchups but also a showcase of AEW’s evolution as a major player in international wrestling. With multiple titles on the line and a star-studded card, the event is expected to attract significant viewership worldwide.

In conclusion, AEW’s backstage confusion over London bookings highlights the complexities of expanding production scale and international collaboration in professional wrestling. Sources indicate AEW is actively addressing these challenges as it prepares for a new era of larger arenas and cross-promotional spectacles that could reshape wrestling’s global landscape.

This article incorporates insights from WWE.com, Fightful, ProWrestling.net, DAZN, and Wrestling Headlines to provide an in-depth look at AEW’s current backstage dynamics and event plans.

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