AEW’s Forbidden Door 2025 wasn’t just about dream matches—it also came with a major announcement from AEW President Tony Khan that could reshape how future title opportunities are handled.
During the event, MJF once again tried to reclaim the AEW World Championship, challenging reigning champion “Hangman” Adam Page. As expected, Friedman leaned heavily on his usual bag of tricks in an attempt to steal the victory, but the plan unraveled when Mark Briscoe got involved, ensuring Hangman kept the gold.
While MJF walked away without the championship, he’s not out of the picture. Thanks to his win in the Casino Gauntlet, he still holds a contract guaranteeing him another AEW World Title shot. But coming out of Forbidden Door, Khan made it clear that this kind of contract will look very different going forward.
Speaking at the post-show media scrum, Khan explained that AEW will no longer allow surprise, spur-of-the-moment cash-ins similar to WWE’s Money in the Bank concept. Instead, all contract holders will now be required to give at least one week’s notice before their title opportunity.
“I don’t think stripping him of the contract is in the spirit of the sport,” Khan said. “But I’ve been listening to the fans, and I think people want championships in AEW to have integrity. Going forward, I want these matches to be advertised, and for title changes to feel meaningful—not shock decisions.”
The change means MJF will still get his one last crack at the AEW World Championship, but he’ll have to declare it in advance. That leaves fans speculating not just about when he’ll cash in, but whether Adam Page will still be champion when Friedman finally decides to pull the trigger.
One thing is for sure: the next time MJF steps up for the gold, the spotlight will be squarely on him—and in AEW, that’s exactly how Tony Khan wants it.
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