Surprising AEW Star To Challenge Zack Sabre Jr. For IWGP World Title (Spoiler)

Zack Sabre Jr. will be in action at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door.

British star Zack Sabre Jr. has been flying high in 2025 after winning the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship back in June.

Given NJPW’s relationship with AEW, that win immediately sparked speculation about a whole host of potential matches at Forbidden Door.

In the past, the event has been a somewhat mixed affair for the star after losses in 2022 and 2023, although he beat Orange Cassidy in 2024.

Zack Sabre Jr. Heading To Forbidden Door

In the main event of the August 16 edition of AEW Collision (taped on August 14), Nigel McGuinness, Daniel Garcia, Lee Moriarty, and Hechicero met in a “Technical Spectacle” Four-Way match. But more importantly, the winner would earn a shot at the self-proclaimed ‘Best technical wrestler in the world’, Zack Sabre Jr., and the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

When all was said and done, it was McGuinness who grabbed the win by forcing Moriarty to submit. After the match, the British star asked Garcia to be in his corner for the match at Forbidden Door, and the former TNT Champion agreed.

McGuinness and Sabre Jr. have never met one-on-one, but that will all change on August 24 in London, England.

The other huge story to come out of the show was the surprise AEW debut of former TNA star Ace Austin. The popular star ended his six-year run with TNA back in June before heading out onto the independent scene.

On Collision, Austin made a shock appearance to face Ricochet. Although he lost the match, Tony Khan announced that the star is now All Elite.

Austin is a former three-time X-Division Champion and three-time TNA World Team Champion alongside Chris Bey.

Elsewhere at the taping, there were wins for Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta, Juice Robinson, and Kris Statlander.

You can find the full list of spoilers for AEW Collision here.