Tony Khan Confirms Callum Newman Was Supposed To Be Part Of AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door

Callum Newman and Tomohiro Ishii were originally scheduled for Forbidden Door.

AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door underwent a number of changes due to injuries, including two NJPW wrestlers who were unable to make it.

Will Ospreay had been pulled in multiple directions in recent months as he’s been aligned with Jon Moxley and the Death Riders, but still had loyalty to United Empire in New Japan. The United Empire were part of a Dynamite episode in April, but had not been back since.

Speaking to Case Lowe of Q101, Tony Khan revealed Newman was supposed to be part of Forbidden Door.

“There were plans to use Callum Newman and the United Empire, and when Callum Newman got injured, they held him back from the show. That was a major change and we made the best of that. Whether it was injuries with Callum Newman or Tomohiro Ishii, who I would’ve loved to have participate in the main event. I originally slotted Ishii to participate in [Death’s Door cage match],” he said.

Newman suffered the injury at NJPW Dominion when he faced Yota Tsuji. Ishii has been out since February with an injury, and was attacked on television to explain his absence from the 12-man cage match.

Elsewhere during the interview, Khan revealed other names he wanted for Forbidden Door. You can find his answers here.

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