Original Plans: Major AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door Match Not Happening, New Match Set

What almost was. We are less than a week away from one of the most interesting shows of the year, as AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling will present Forbidden Door. The show will feature a series of interpromotional matches featuring top stars from both promotions. That alone should be a huge card, but now we know what could have been a huge match that will not be happening.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: They’re In: Two Pro Wrestlers Set To Appear On The Amazing Race

According to Fightful Select, a match between CM Punk and Kenta was planned for Forbidden Door but the match will not be taking place. Kenta reportedly told AEW officials that he would not be taking the match for reasons that are not clear. This week on AEW Dynamite, it was announced that Punk will be facing Satoshi Kojima in a first round match in the Owen Hart Foundation tournament.

This could be interesting. Check out what could have been and who we’ll be getting instead:

Opinion: While the Punk vs. Kenta match had potential, it does not seem like something that Kenta is interested in doing anytime soon. Instead we could be in for quite the showdown, though it might not have the same sizzle as a Punk vs. Kenta match would have had. If nothing else, we won’t be having a battle over the GTS, which would have een an easy story to tell.