Early Buyrate Estimates Released for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door – Just days after AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door took place at The O2 in London, early pay-per-view estimates have begun to surface. the crossover event drew between 122,000 and 130,000 buys. This places it in the same range as May’s Double or Nothing and on the lower end of AEW’s 2025 pay-per-view performances.
According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, one factor influencing the numbers was the start time. The main card began at 1 p.m. EST due to the London location, a significant shift from AEW’s usual 8 p.m. EST start. The earlier broadcast came two hours sooner than July’s All In, which aired at 3 p.m. EST. While cable and satellite buys were reportedly down in the United States and Australia, the show’s placement in prime time for the U.K. audience helped offset those declines.
So far in 2025, AEW’s reported PPV estimates are:
- Revolution (March): 135,000–140,000
- Dynasty (April): 110,000–120,000
- Double or Nothing (May): 122,000–130,000
- All In (July): 180,000–185,000
- Forbidden Door (August): 122,000–130,000
Forbidden Door’s performance is consistent with AEW’s mid-tier events, though it falls short of the company’s bigger draws. Historically, the highest AEW buy rates remain:
- All Out 2021 – 205,000 buys
- All In 2023 – 200,000 buys
- All In 2025 – 180,000–185,000 buys
- Revolution 2024 – 180,000 buys
- Revolution 2022 – 175,000 buys
While Forbidden Door didn’t set records, it maintained a steady performance, continuing its reputation as a reliable annual crossover showcase for AEW and NJPW.
