WWE’s 2025 European Tour Blocks AEW’s Forbidden Door Venue, Sparking Tensions
WWE’s highly expected return to Europe in early 2025 has sent ripples through the professional wrestling global, with a ways-accomplishing implications for AEW. The corporation, which has been expanding its international presence, has introduced that it’ll be website hosting three predominant episodes of Raw and 3 of SmackDown throughout Europe, along with numerous live activities. Starting on March 14th in Barcelona and concluding on March 31st in London at the long-lasting O2 Arena, the tour marks a key second in WWE’s worldwide approach.
This assertion intensifies WWE’s ongoing international enlargement, following full-size international activities like Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia and SmackDown’s regular remote places declares. However, as WWE’s European plans take shape, the timing and places of its events can also have accidental effects for AEW’s own strategies, in particular in regards to its upcoming Forbidden Door occasion in London.
AEW’s Forbidden Door Set to Clash with WWE’s European Tour
The wrestling community has been eagerly expecting information on AEW’s Forbidden Door 2025, a prime cross-promotional occasion between AEW and NJPW. AEW had already showed that the event would be hosted in London on August 24th, 2025, but a key element has remained unresolved: the venue. For months, speculation has swirled approximately the place, with many assuming that the event would take location on the O2 Arena, the equal venue that WWE may be using in past due March for its SmackDown tapings.
Wrestling insider Dave Meltzer has now cautioned that WWE’s tremendous use of the O2 Arena can be in the back of AEW’s problem in securing a venue for Forbidden Door. As is commonplace inside the industry, venues often area regulations on advertising and marketing for rival events within a certain time frame. In this case, WWE’s March dates are likely tying up the arena’s availability, preventing AEW from securing the venue or announcing it to the public.
As a result, AEW lovers may be left ready until at least April earlier than the employer is able to confirm the Forbidden Door region and positioned tickets on sale. The timing couldn’t be worse for AEW, which were hoping to build momentum and excitement for its largest international occasion. With WWE’s domination of the European wrestling scene, AEW’s route to securing its spot in London has been complex, and the clock is ticking.
WWE and AEW: A Growing Rivalry in Global Markets
This ongoing conflict among WWE and AEW is a part of a larger battle for dominance inside the worldwide wrestling marketplace. While WWE has long been the undisputed leader in American wrestling, AEW’s developing presence—especially in the UK and Europe—has made it a powerful competitor. For the beyond years, AEW has efficaciously hosted All In at Wembley Stadium, a main fulfillment that drew lots of fanatics. However, AEW will have to face a new assignment in 2025, with All In shifting to Texas while Forbidden Door stays the enterprise’s largest European providing.
Despite the looming challenges, AEW stays centered on its bold international schedule. In addition to Forbidden Door, the company can also be a part of the inaugural Wrestle Dynasty occasion in Tokyo, set to take place at the Tokyo Dome on January fifth, 2025. Featuring high-profile fits like Ricochet versus IWGP Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. And a ability in-ring go back for Kenny Omega, Wrestle Dynasty guarantees to exhibit AEW’s commitment to crossing borders and constructing global partnerships.
While WWE’s European tour may be visible as a strategic flow to fasten down key markets, AEW is rarely backing down. Fans of both corporations are gearing up for an thrilling year ahead, full of ability move-promotional matchups and, unavoidably, fierce competition between these two wrestling powerhouses.