[SPOILERS] Post AEW Forbidden Door Match Discussion: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Nigel McGuinness for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship

[u/gloomchen]

ZSJ retains!

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[u/Mr-GameAndWrestling]

...and y'all were getting a little distracted about Daniel's towel. LOL.

I kid. That was a damn fun match.

[u/dogsontreadmills → u/Mr-GameAndWrestling]

I was 100% convinced a turn was coming

[u/intersectv3 → u/dogsontreadmills]

I deadass thought they missed the turn showing ZSJ on the outside

[u/Esquilax21 → u/Mr-GameAndWrestling]

I was convinced he would throw in the towel and cost Nigel the match

[u/Bout0067 → u/Esquilax21]

For an exhibition match sure, but the IWGP champ winning over a semi-retired announcer due to a fuck finish would be so insulting

[u/PeaceAlien → u/Bout0067]

Wrestler Nigel is being booked as a former RoH champion and legend, not an announcer, though

[u/Bout0067 → u/PeaceAlien]

be realistic, the match doesn't exist in a vacuum and the fans in Japan have already been pissed at how the IWGP title has been used in AEW, I doubt they'd give it that leeway with a fuck finish.

[u/Huffjenk → u/Bout0067]

Making it the second FD IWGP title match that was used to turn an AEW guy would have blown too 

[u/JorSimpson45]

[u/senorjoe95 → u/JorSimpson45]

ZSJ vs Nigel with Johnny Saint in the front row of the O2. The ultimate London dream match.

[u/theREVERSEsystem]

Technical wrestling is so beautiful and getting to watch Nigel in 2025 is a gift

[u/Jamarcus316 → u/theREVERSEsystem]

Nigel

He is still so good

[u/Mr_Know_It_All0408 → u/theREVERSEsystem]

As someone who never got to watch him 15 years ago I’m absolutely loving seeing him

[u/LesnarsBattleScream → u/Mr_Know_It_All0408]

Go back and look him up. Outstanding.

[u/AgeingChopper]

That was technical beauty.  McGuinness truly still has it.   Sabre is just a wizard.

[u/noreligionforus]

Wanted this for so many years, and got it. Worth it.

This match meant something to me.

[u/Shinkopeshon]

Proper tekkers right there

[u/AwareofAnaLucia → u/Shinkopeshon]

I don't know why but this image (even without the text) always makes me laugh. I don't even know if the colors and the beanie are real

[u/Shinkopeshon → u/AwareofAnaLucia]

It's the round glasses that get me the most lol

[u/nWo1997 → u/AwareofAnaLucia]

I just noticed the bottom text is slightly crooked, and now I love it even more

[u/NostalgiaCory]

TECHNICAL FUCKING WRESTLING

[u/fttxdd666]

What a unique run of 3 great matches man, that was wonderful. Also Garcia is spooking me out

[u/Marc_Quill → u/fttxdd666]

actually surprised he didn't actually turn after the match, but i guess they're saving that for either dynamite or collision.

[u/nycgwa → u/Marc_Quill]

I thought he was going to take off his jacket and have “TMDK” on the back and beat down Nigel with a Danielson save

[u/EffingKENTA → u/nycgwa]

That would’ve made zero sense because TMDK is a face-leaning faction.

[u/nycgwa → u/EffingKENTA]

My fault. I’m not update to date. My bad

[u/DrHuxleyy]

ZSJ is obviously phenomenal, but Nigel McGuinness putting on this level of performance this late in his career for so many years away from the ring is unreal. Imagine coming back and only doing like 3-4 matches in two years and one of them is a clear 5 star technical classic.

[u/Unhappy_Gazelle392]

Peak tekkers

Tis the shit i wake up for daily

[u/Most_Yam_1275]

Banger of a match 

[u/GunstarGreen]

Imagine saying five years ago that ZSJ and Nigel McGuinness would tear it up for the IWGP title in London. 

[u/Vivid_Coconut6999]

Sheamus, analysis

[u/-dxv1ddxg1c- → u/Vivid_Coconut6999]

BANGER

[u/Konnan5051 → u/-dxv1ddxg1c-]

AFTER

[u/UncleDrewfan → u/Konnan5051]

BANGER

[u/PLUX4 → u/UncleDrewfan]

AFTER

[u/Pinkeye69uk → u/PLUX4]

BORGER

[u/abitlazy → u/-dxv1ddxg1c-]

From start to finish.

[u/NekoJack420 → u/Vivid_Coconut6999]

Burger sir, with fries and a diet coke on the side.

[u/NostalgiaCory]

feared danny would throw in the towel the whole match. that finish caught me off guard very well done

[u/Acnolog]

Zack and Nigel are really a wizards with their craft, banger of a match.

[u/reverendkilljoy]

That exceeded my expectations.

[u/Dinobot2_]

Well that was an awkward moment in the ring with Garcia and Nigel. Maybe a heel turn and betrayal from Garcia would have been too obvious.

[u/itsmekelsey_x]

Technical wrestling is beautiful.

[u/TheMegaWhopper]

Having Johnny Saint in the front row and Danielson on commentary for this was awesome

[u/cjsc9079]

Some real graps, Nigel can still go which is great to see

[u/eddie_vercetti]

Adam Cole : I came.

[u/yohanleafheart → u/eddie_vercetti]

Bryan Danielson: same 

[u/glassjaw9]

Having Garcia out there to ultimately be a non-factor felt pretty pointless. If anything, it distracted from an otherwise beautiful display of technical wrestling.

[u/icelink4884]

This was a technical wrestling clinic

[u/not_a_moogle]

I was hoping for a good technical match with some chain wrestling, and that exceeded my expectations.

[u/TheGreendaleGrappler]

Wait technical wrestling is fucking awesome WHAT

[u/RobTheMonk → u/TheGreendaleGrappler]

This was an absolute art form of a match. Mesmerising.

[u/SnizzyYT]

[u/Cloud2110]

[u/Sufficient_Mud_2237]

Fun dream match. Should turned Garcia heel. Was perfect environment to do it.

[u/Jumboliva]

Incredible that they had the courage to send someone out there with a ringside guy and then didn’t have the ringside guy cheat or turn.

[u/BloodyBlazev2]

I think Tony is delaying the Garcia turn just a bit longer so we can have the match at All in next year without the feud getting stale.

[u/The_Potent_D]

[u/-gradmania-]

If not for Zack going outside to confront Danny, this entire match would have been entirely within the wring which is pretty cool in itself, but the match just ruled

[u/NerdLawyer55]

I’m gonna need Nigel to win one of those dream matches 😂

[u/Tobeck]

Booooooo - Garcia should turned on Nigel after the match

[u/WuTangShogun187]

Real Graps

[u/Kenfuu]

Just watched this match. It ruled, so happy for Nigel getting his flowers. Idk if he wants to transition back to full time wrestling but I would love for him to keep power creeping up so that he can win a title.

[u/numbr87]

I was so annoyed that Tony didn't spring for Oasis. NIGEL DESERVES IT.

[u/brown_gentleman]

[u/BatsuGame13]

Apparently I'm the only one who thought this was mid-ass and Nigel is washed.

[u/Vast_Professor7399 → u/BatsuGame13]

Welcome to Being Wrong Town, population you

[u/chungisamongus]

I'm not super hot in ZSJ (I still like him, but he really shouldn't be IWGP champion right now) but this was my favorite match of the year.

[u/HYFPRW]

Great match that could have done with exactly 100% less Daniel Garcia.

[u/IceBlueAngel]

I really do love AEW but this is the kind of thing that drives me crazy. And this is not taking anything away from Zack and Nigel at all. But to have Garcia, to have the towel, to have pieces to do something interesting, and they refuse to pull the trigger. They did it with another wrestler on this card already with Luchasaurus and Christian before Lucha had to leave. And say they do something with Garcia and Nigel, with Garcia saying he would have beaten Zack, on Dynamite or Collision, it just doesn't hit as much as doing it this match or even directly after the match.

[u/Different-Gene3375]

loved it but goddamn they couldve given nigel a better build up to this match; felt too spontaneous lol4-Way Match