Most Likely Heel or Face Turns at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2023

AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door may be the single biggest show either All Elite Wrestling or New Japan Pro-Wrestling will produce in 2023.

With huge matches including Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay, Bryan Danielson vs. Kazuchika Okada and MJF vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, the show could easily eclipse last year's incredible event.

However, it can be more than just a moment in time. Both promotions are walking into a big show that could bring new fans to the product. This is a night when big twists and turns could hook fresh fans and bring the fanbases closer together.

One of the best ways to deliver those moments is a timely heel or face turn. Perhaps this could be the moment for "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry or Sammy Guevara to make their next move.

CM Punk and FTR could do something unforgettable, while Ospreay can prove himself against Omega and build a new direction for his career.

This show has major potential and implications no matter what, but these are the most likely heel and face turns that could make Forbidden Door a can't-miss pay-per-view.

Face: Will Ospreay

Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay is the biggest story going into Forbidden Door. The first match between these two men stole the show at Wrestle Kingdom 17, arguably the front-runner for Match of the Year.

From the beginning, this feud has mixed up the face and heel dynamic with these two wrestlers.

Ospreay wanted to prove himself against The Best Bout Machine but fell just short at Wrestle Kingdom, and he cannot afford to lose again. He must bring everything in his arsenal to beat the man who still looms over him.

If Ospreay can defeat Omega in decidedly clean fashion, this could be a passing-of-the-torch moment. The Commonwealth Kingpin could take this moment to rise up the ranks once more in NJPW.

He can do that as a heel, but it may be more impactful for him to turn face and do it all on his own from here on out. United Empire can move on without him or support him as a group, changing direction as a complete stable.

A change in perspective following the passing of the torch could lead to a G1 Climax victory and an IWGP World Championship run that can make up for his unfortunately abbreviated first run.

Heel: 'Jungle Boy' Jack Perry

All signs point to a major heel turn for "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry sooner rather than later. He has made a promise that he will win championship gold before the end of the year.

Each time he fails to live up to that promise, he moves closer to a villainous switch that will likely come at the expense of his friend, Hook.

Sanada has not quite proved himself as a top star in New Japan just yet and needs big wins. Jungle Boy will just be one of many hurdles he will need to overcome in 2023 when they go head-to-head on Sunday.

Hopefully, both will get a good rub from the victory, which may be enough to delay the turn for a while longer.

However, there is a real chance that losing in back-to-back shots at the world title could be enough to tip the scales for Perry.

Face: Sammy Guevara and/or Daniel Garcia

The Jericho Appreciation Society is struggling to stay together. Much like Chris Jericho's first WWE stable, The Wizard is on the verge of losing Sammy Guevara, and Daniel Garcia could follow.

Both are young stars ready to take the next step in AEW, but they cannot do that in the veteran's shadow. The JAS is built to put over the 52-year-old above all, which is a fine spot only for those that cannot get over on their own.

Guevara has regained fan appreciation through steady hard work and playing off AEW's top heel, MJF. Garcia has always been a pure wrestler, not quite fitting into the "sports entertainment" aesthetic of the crew.

If The Spanish God walks out on The Wizard during their six-man tag team match, that could set the stage for The Dragon Slayer to do the same. He may lose out on championship gold again by focusing too much on entertaining rather than wrestling.

Both will be better off in the long term embracing the crowd as professional wrestlers. The AEW audience has always backed young talent that have worked their way up in the company.

Heel: FTR (and CM Punk)

This could be too soon, but CM Punk is certainly already working like a heel, even in his hometown of Chicago. His main allies, Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler, are popular babyfaces but can also play the villains when needed.

Their association with The Best in the World has already caused some division when discussing FTR, but fans are still behind the workhorse tag team.

If they were to fully embrace Punk after a complete heel turn, though, it would require them to turn with him, creating an interesting trio at the head of AEW Collision.

Punk will face the beloved Satoshi Kojima at Forbidden Door while FTR are seemingly off the card. They could help The Best in the World survive a match with the NJPW star, continuing the slow heel turn.

Heel: El Phantasmo

El Phantasmo may not be a household name for AEW fans, but he has been rising in the ranks in NJPW. He recently broke off from Bullet Club following Jay White's departure from the company.

Bullet Club Gold needs more members, and ELP has already shown what he can do with White and Juice Robinson. Alongside them, he could rebuild himself as a top heel in AEW.

This is assuming NJPW would be willing to lend out The Headbanga for a while. It would be an interesting way to continue blending the rosters together between AEW and NJPW.

White is certain to have an impact at Forbidden Door, even without an announced match. It would be appropriate for him to grow Bullet Club Gold at the show where the group that cast him out will also perform.

If it isn't El Phantasmo who joins the crew, others could make their own statement by choosing White's side in the growing Bullet Club war.