Published: Jun 20, 2026 by Sanchez Taylor | Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026 by Sanchez Taylor
Sanchez has over six years of pro-wrestling news writing experience, covering the biggest news stories in WWE, NXT, AEW, TNA Wrestling and more. He has personally interviewed a number of top stars, producing exclusive content with the likes of AEW's Swerve Strickland and WWE's Nick Aldis.
AEW
AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla made a surprise appearance for her former promotion STARDOM ahead of Forbidden Door 2026.
Thekla will be in action at the June 28 crossover pay-per-view, defending her AEW Women’s World Championship against STARDOM’s Starlight Kid.
The upcoming opponents came to blows at the June 20 STARDOM The Conversation event, with Thekla making her first appearance for the company since April 2025.
Thekla attacked STARDOM President Taro Okada, attempting to shave his head before whipping him with her belt.
Starlight Kid then ran down to make the save, dropping Thelka, before Thekla rolled out of the ring to avoid Kid’s moonsault.
Thekla referenced Okada “firing” her during her surprise appearance. Her last match for STARDOM saw her lose to Sayaka Kurara at the April 27, 2025 All-Star Queendom event.
While the match stipulation required Thekla to join the Cosmic Angels if she lost, she attacked Taro Okada, leading to him firing her in storyline and writing her out of STARDOM, ahead of her legitimate departure.
Thekla went on to make her AEW debut on the May 28, 2025 Dynamite episode.
Earlier this year, Tony Khan called Thekla the “MVP of new arrivals” while discussing her AEW debut year.
With Khan thinking so highly of her, we will likely see Thekla working in more prominent roles in NJPW for years to come.
The confirmed card for Forbidden Door 2026 is as follows:
Will Ospreay vs Swerve Strickland – Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Final
Jon Moxley (c) vs Bandido – AEW Continental Championship
Thekla (c) vs Starlight Kid – AEW Women’s World Championship
Christian Cage & Adam Copeland vs David Finlay & Clark Connors – AEW World Tag Team Championship
MJF & The Don Callis Family vs Darby Allin, Konosuke Takeshita & The Conglomeration – 12 man Steel Cage
Another title match slated for Forbidden Door has all but been confirmed, with IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Shota Umino accepting AEW star Pac’s challenge ahead of June 28.
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