"AEW is on a different level" - Kazuchika Okada discusses difference between Forbidden Door and Wrestle Kingdom

Kazuchika Okada has described the difference between AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door and the Pro Wrestling NOAH collaboration at Wrestle Kingdom 16.

NJPW and All Elite Wrestling will join forces on June 26 to co-promote the Forbidden Door pay-per-view. Details are scarce at the moment, but the upcoming event has generated discussion among the fanbase since it was announced.

New Japan worked with fellow Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling NOAH during Night Three of Wrestle Kingdom 16. Okada admitted ahead of the January event that he was unaware of NOAH's product and who they were. Naturally, the topic came up regarding Tony Khan's promotion at the Wrestling Dontaku press conference.

The Rainmaker noted that he is aware of Tony Khan's promotion, as it's a larger company than NOAH. He further explained how NJPW and All Elite Wrestling can expand their respective audiences with Forbidden Door:

"Well, AEW is on a different level to NOAH, so yes, I’m aware (laughs). They definitely have world class talent, but no matter how many great wrestlers they may have, I’m sure there are a lot of people who have never heard of them. And it goes both ways - there are AEW fans who only watch AEW and will be seeing Kazuchika Okada for the first time."

Okada has plenty of history with AEW's top-level talent. For example, his now-legendary rivalry with Kenny Omega took the wrestling world by storm in 2017. The Rainmaker recently teased that he'd be open to revisiting it in the future. Okada also participated at All In, the 2018 supershow that served as the prelude to All Elite Wrestling.

Kazuchika Okada will have to defend his IWGP World title ahead of AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door

Kazuchika Okada has already expressed his desire to compete at Forbidden Door. However, it's unclear if his reign as the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion will continue into the Chicago event.

After Okada retained the title against Tetsuya Naito at Wrestling Dontaku, Jay White made his return to Japan and attacked The Rainmaker. It has since been confirmed that Switchblade will challenge for the title at Dominion, which will take place just a week before Forbidden Door.

White has stepped through the proverbial Forbidden Door before, as he made his in-ring AEW debut against Trent Beretta in February. He emerged again during the initial announcement of the event on Dynamite. There, he declared his intentions to use the supershow as his and Bullet Club's statement piece.

No matches have been announced for Okada or Jay White at Forbidden Door thus far, although their upcoming title match could impact the card for the show.