Under two weeks away, the card continues to stack and anticipation for the 2025 Forbidden Door pay-per-view event, taking place from London, England. AEW Dynamite 8/13/25 kicks off with an extremely tense face-to-face verbal confrontation between the AEW World Heavyweight Champion “Hangman” Adam Page and challenger the CMLL Light heavyweight champion, MJF.
MJF gets clever with some near-fourth-wall breaking comments. Referring to themselves as characters, protagonists, and antagonists. The inner scriptwriter in me appreciated it. MJF continued to call Adam Page by a supposedly dismissive nickname in Seabiscuit, until Hangman reminds the brash challenger that Seabiscuit wins in the end. This leads to one of the best verbal thrashings Hangman delivers, and a rarity where MJF is left speechless.
To return, MJF then glows that the contract is his insurance policy, to cash in when he chooses to and will likely hold on to it for some time just to antagonize the champion. This gambit appears to backfire as Hangman infuriates Friedman enough where he demands to cash in at Forbidden Door. The sudden outburst shocks MJF, realizing the gravity of what he just did. with the live crowd chanting something I will not repeat here. It seems as though MJF has been outsmarted.
I do wonder if this is part of a long-term plan where MJF wants to make Page believe that he has the upper hand. MJF’s character, as he put it himself, is cunning, ruthless, and can be methodically diabolical. It wouldn’t surprise me if the premise of trying to make the Champion angry only to appear to backfire could be his plan all along. If this is the case it’s brilliant.
Jon Moxley defeat Kevin Knight
Much like last week’s encounter with Mike Bailey, it appeared Moxley was in a weakened state. However, the outcome remained consistent. despite a valiant effort, Kevin Knight tapped out.
A post-match brawl broke out, with the Death Riders taking their unchecked aggression out. Bailey and Knight are rescued by Will Ospreay and Darby Allin. This is where Ospreay challenges Mox to a five-on-five “lights out” Steel Cage match at the PPV.
The Death Riders have moved away from any championship picture, which is a good thing. That run and come and gone. Obviously it leaves us to question where they progress from here. Darby’s war continues and now Ospreay rejoins the fight.
It is revealed later Ospreay recruited Hiroshi Tanahashi. Later in the show, after “Slick Nick” and Mr. Instant Replay lose their match, Mox seems stunned by. He then goes to the jobber locker room where the Jackson Brothers are sulking.
Towards the end of the show the BIG reveal sees Team Allin as Allin, Ospreay, Tanahashi, Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi. Opposing them will be Mox, Claudio, The Young Bucks, and Gabe Kidd.
My gripe is the announcement came a bit too casually. Omega and Ibushi should have been made into a bigger deal.
Back on track, Alex Windsor, Queen Aminata, and Willow Nightingale defeated Mercedes Mone, Skye Blue, and Thekla.
First, just let Thekla and Aminata have a no-time limit match. Ever since day one, these two appear to have death out for each other. It works masterfully. Windsor quickly has become a great fit for AEW. Her antics not just with AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm, but other members on the roster have been great.
Not to take away from the match, but Toni Storm and Athena were on opposite sides in the crowd goading each other. Brilliantly executed.
Rare to see Mone teaming with anyone. Perhaps she won’t be so out-of-reach anymore. Meaning, she can interact and be involved in other stories. The end result was a babyface victory where Windsor gets the submission victory, boosting her momentum towards Forbidden Door where she challenges for the TBS Championship.
After the match, Athena and Mone attack their respective rivals. Next week, in Scotland, Storm and Windsor will team up to face Athena and Mone. Oh boy, this is gonna be good.
Adam Copeland defeated Stokely by DQ
Poor Stokley was thrown all over the place and even ridiculed by the fans. Before Copeland could pin his opponent, FTR broke the deal and attacked Copeland.
This led to the moment we’ve been waiting for, Christian Cage made the save. However, Kip Sabian and Nick Wayne attacked afterwards. At Forbidden Door, Cage and Cope will face Wayne and Sabian.
My guess is FTR will wind up facing the Hurt Syndicate, winning the championships at Forbidden Door, then will feud with Cage and Cope, giving them one last potential run with Tag Team Championships.
Brody King, Tomohiro Ishii, Hologram, and mystery partner Hiromu Takahashi defeated The Young Bucks, Kyle Fletcher, and Josh Alexander
Fun match and the addition of Takahashi added it’s “Forbidden Door” component. It began to feel like most matches at the PPV were strictly AEW bouts, but now we’ve got some more going on. Takahashi wins the match for his team, and will face Fletcher at the PPV.
Forgot to mention, the Jackson brothers were so upset about the lack of entrance, they superkicked Justin Roberts and were later fined $10K each!
Swerve and Okada have a brief face-to-face, giving the impression Okada is coming in as the underdog as Swerve does a great job of asserting himself as unstoppable.
Main Event of AEW Dynamite 8/13/25: The Opps defeat LFI
A fun match to close out the show, all six got plenty of time to showcase their stuff. Would have liked to see more, despite it running past 10pm eastern time. There was a promo before the match for Hook, one has to wonder if he will fit back into the stable in the future.
As the show closes, MJF attacks Adam Page in the parking lot. It seems MJF might have been luring Page all along which left his guard down. MJF promises to make his life hell in the weeks before the PPV. If history has taught us anything, MJF will deliver on it.
With less than two weeks to go, I’m psyched for Forbidden Door. Are you?
