It was a reunion well over a decade in the making and there was truly no other way it could have gone.
Adam Copeland and Christian Cage competed in their first tag team match together since 2011 Sunday afternoon, and despite some reluctance on the part of Cage at times, the pair defeated Kip Sabian and Killswitch to open up AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door.
Cope and Christian were a united front in their mission to win the match, but Cage very clearly wanted no part of the 6′ 5″ monster formerly known as Luchasaurus, and that led to Cope having to do much of the heavy lifting early on.
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) August 24, 2025Sabian and Killswitch were unable to capitalize on the lack of early cohesion between the multi-time World Tag Team Champions, largely because they themselves could not get on the same page.
At several points throughout the match-up Sabian attempted to assert his dominance over his tag partner, but after suffering through months of abuse at the hands of Christian Cage, Killswitch was not about to take orders from one of his former sons.
Some rather intentional friendly fire would bust Sabian open around the midpoint of the match, and he would be streaming blood from just above his left eye until the finish.
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) August 24, 2025With Killswitch neutralized on the outside of the ring, Sabian attempted secure the win by dropping his former father figure with his own signature move. Christian would shove him off into the ropes, and when Sabian bounced back, Cage was there to lift him in the air and right into position for a spear from Cope.
Christian would then cover Sabian and score the three count off of the damage inflicted by Copeland.
Cope and Christian would exchange a handshake after their victory, but Cage drew the line at sharing a hug. He squirmed his way out of an embrace attempt, despite the audience’s insistence that they truly bury the hatchet.
Christian Cage and Adam Copeland / Ricky Havlik – All Elite Wrestling
Forbidden Door was just the first stop along the Cope and Christian reunion tour. The pair still have unfinished business with the currently injured Nick Wayne, and then there’s FTR and Big Stoke.
Adam Copeland is desperate to get his receipts on Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler for their brutal assault on him back at AEW Dynasty in April, and it’s possible that quest for revenge leads to Cope and Christian capturing tag team gold once again.
FTR will challenge for the AEW World Tag Team Championship at Forbidden Door in a 3-Way Elimination Match against The Hurt Syndicate and Brodido. Should they emerge victorious, watch out for a showdown with Cope and Christian at All Out next month in Toronto.
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