Backstage Reaction to Tony Khan’s Mystery “Forbidden Door” Signing for AEW

As noted before, AEW CEO Tony Khan recently announced on Twitter that a “top wrestler will walk through the Forbidden Door” and will make their official debut for the company at this Wednesday’s episode of AEW Dynamite. Khan also stated that this mystery talent will be competing against Isiah Kassidy in a qualifying match for the Face of the Revolution ladder match on the show.

Fightful Select reported that several talent spoken to within AEW stated that they have not been told who this mystery person is but the unanimous feeling is that it is likely former WWE talent Keith Lee. At least one talent spoken to reportedly was confused over Khan’s announcement of this free agent being a “forbidden door” type talent since it gave the assumption that this new signee is someone who was recently active in another promotion.

In regards to other potential names, the Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer reported that Jeff Hardy and John Hennigan, former John Morrison in WWE, are very unlikely to be potential candidates due to both still having plenty of time left on their non-compete clauses with WWE. Meltzer speculated that Lee, Shane “Swerve” Strickland (former Isiah “Swerve” Scott in WWE), Samoa Joe, and Windham Rotunda (former Bray Wyatt in WWE) could all be potential candidates due to all of their non-competes have expired.

Another potential name could be Guerillas of Destiny’s Tama Tonga who recently announced on Twitter that his contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling expired at the end of this past January. Tonga also recently tweeted to Khan stating “Hey @TonyKhan wanna burn bridges? I love burning bridges. #F—AForbidenDoor.”