AEW Forbidden Door 2026 predictions and picks for every match on the card, including Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr. and more.
AEW Forbidden Door is always one of the more difficult pay-per-views to predict. Between interpromotional dream matches, championship bouts, and wrestlers who rarely cross paths, there are plenty of outcomes that feel genuinely up in the air heading into this year’s event.
Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr. is the type of match wrestling fans have wanted to see on a major stage for years, while Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay will battle for a chance to cement themselves as the next challenger for the AEW World Championship. Mercedes Moné and Maya World meet in the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Final, and multiple championships will also be on the line throughout the night.
Below are my full predictions, picks and analysis for every match at AEW Forbidden Door 2026, including quick picks for the full card followed by a deeper breakdown of each matchup.
Looking for the full match card, start time, and streaming information for the event? Check out our AEW Forbidden Door 2026 how to watch guide.
| Match | Prediction |
|---|---|
| MJF & The Don Callis Family vs. The Conglomeration, Darby Allin & Konosuke Takeshita — Steel Cage Match | The Conglomeration, Darby Allin & Konosuke Takeshita pick up the victory |
| Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr. | Kenny Omega defeats Zack Sabre Jr. |
| Swerve Strickland vs. Will Ospreay — Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament Final | Will Ospreay wins the Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament |
| Mercedes Moné vs. Maya World — Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Final | Mercedes Moné wins the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament |
| Thekla (c) vs. Starlight Kid — AEW Women’s World Championship | Thekla defeats Starlight Kid to retain the Women’s World Championship |
| Cage & Cope (c) vs. The Dogs — AEW World Tag Team Championship | Cage & Cope retain the World Tag Team Championship against The Dogs |
| Jon Moxley (c) vs. Bandido — AEW Continental Championship | Jon Moxley retains the AEW Continental Championship |
| El Sky Team vs. Young Bucks vs. Unbound Co. — Three-Way Tag Team Match | The Young Bucks pick up the victory |
| Shota Umino (c) vs. PAC — IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship | Shota Umino retains the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship |
Following MJF’s latest AEW World title win at Double or Nothing, his previous feud with Mark Briscoe has added a new chapter. Now, Briscoe has an AEW World Championship opportunity on the line at Forbidden Door. But Briscoe and MJF will face off in a six-on-six Steel Cage match. Mark Briscoe is teaming with Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong, and Kyle O’Reilly from The Conglomeration alongside Konosuke Takeshita and Darby Allin. MJF’s alliance with The Don Callis Family continues as Kevin Knight, Kyle Fletcher, Jake Doyle, Kazuchika Okada, and Andrade El Idolo have joined his team. These teams faced off last week, with Team MJF coming out on top. Briscoe and his team have more cohesion, which should give them the edge in this contest. It is possible that The Don Callis Family turns on him during this match at some point.
MJF & The Don Callis Family vs. The Conglomeration, Darby Allin & Konosuke Takeshita Prediction: Team Mark Briscoe defeats Team MJF.
The best match on this card, featuring two wrestlers from different promotions, is Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr. This is the second singles match between the two and the first since they faced off in the G1 Climax in 2018, which Omega won. Omega has won two straight singles matches and is trying to work his way back to a shot at the AEW Championship.
Kenny Omega vs. Zack Sabre Jr. Prediction: Kenny Omega defeats Zack Sabre Jr.
For the third time, Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay will go one-on-one. Although this isn’t for a championship, the stakes are still extremely high as the winner of this match not only wins the Owen Hart Tournament but also a title shot at All In. I would be shocked if Ospreay doesn’t win this match, as he has discussed what headlining at Wembley Stadium would mean to him. Strickland is a former AEW World Champion, as he’s already gotten to the top of the mountain, but Ospreay hasn’t been there yet. This is another step toward Ospreay finally achieving his goal of headlining All In and winning the AEW World Championship.
Swerve Strickland vs. Will Ospreay Prediction: Will Ospreay wins the Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament.
Mercedes Moné made her long-awaited return to AEW a few weeks ago in the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament and immediately became one of the favorites to win it. Now she faces Maya World with an AEW Women’s World Championship title shot at All In on the line. During Moné’s AEW career, she has challenged for the World Championship but hasn’t won it. I think Moné beats Maya World, leading to an All In match with Thekla.
Mercedes Moné vs. Maya World Prediction: Mercedes Moné wins the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament.
Since winning the AEW Women’s World Championship, Thekla has defended it six times over the last four months. In her last title defense at Double or Nothing, Thekla defeated Hikaru Shida, Jamie Hayter, and Kris Statlander. Although this is the first singles match between Thekla and Starlight Kid, they have faced each other 10 times in tag team competition in Stardom. Since Thekla left Stardom and joined AEW, she has quickly ascended to become one of the best women’s wrestlers in the promotion. Given Thekla’s current run, it would be shocking if she lost the title so soon.
Thekla vs. Starlight Kid Prediction: Thekla retains the AEW Women’s World Championship.
The Dogs have been an excellent addition to the AEW Tag Team division, but their winning the titles seems too soon. Cage and Cope recently won the Champiosnhip at Double or Nothing, making it highly unlikely that they would lose them right now. If Cage and Cope can get past The Dogs, a potential matchup with The Young Bucks would be highly entertaining and a dream match.
Cage & Cope vs. The Dogs Prediction: Cage and Cope retain the AEW World Tag Team Championship.
Jon Moxley has held the AEW Continental Championship since December, and last defended it against Shane Taylor. Bandido is the current Ring of Honor World Champion, but in AEW, he has struggled against the top wrestlers one-on-one. Bandido has suffered three straight losses in singles competition in AEW, with his last win coming against Sammy Guevara. Yes, Bandido is one of the most exciting wrestlers in AEW, but Moxley will likely use his power and veteran prowess to break him down.
Jon Moxley vs. Bandido Prediction: Jon Moxley retains the AEW Continental Championship.
The Young Bucks from AEW are taking on El Sky Team representing CMLL and Unbound Co. from NJPW. El Sky Team and Unbound Co. have faced each other before, but neither has been in the ring with the Young Bucks. This event is taking place in California, the home state of the Young Bucks. At Forbidden Door, the Young Bucks are 2-2 and lost at last year’s event, making them due for a win.
El Sky Team vs. Young Bucks vs. Unbound Co. Prediction: The Young Bucks pick up the victory.
Shota Umino recently defeated Andrade El Idolo and Drilla Moloney to win the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship and will now defend it against PAC. PAC and Shota Umino first faced off at RevPro in 2022, where PAC picked up the victory. Since Umino is from NJPW and recently won the title, I don’t see PAC winning this contest.
Shota Umino vs. PAC Prediction: Shota Umino retains the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship.
My pick for the Forbidden Door Match of the Night is Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland. Ospreay and Strickland have faced each other twice in singles competition, and both delivered a spectacular match. With an opportunity to headline All In at Wembley Stadium on the line, I expect Strickland and Ospreay to take it up a level.
Forbidden Door has plenty of intriguing and excellent matches, but the build to the event has been a bit lackluster. Although this PPV will likely deliver, as all AEW PPVs do, it seems like the Forbidden Door concept is outdated at this point. With that said, whenever AEW is on PPV, their talent always goes above and beyond to give fans everything they expect and more.
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