The "Forbidden Door" before AEW

[Vastardikai]

Basically, I just wanted to mention a few times the so called "Forbidden Door" was opened before AEW made it a big thing. In no particular order.

1. Title vs. Title Matches: This was a really big thing before WWF went national under Vince. You would, on occasion, get Harley vs. Graham, Harley vs Bockwinkel, Harley vs Backlund, Flair vs. Martel, and Flair vs. Backlund. They'd almost always go to some kind of non finish, so the fans knew the champs were on even levels. But, a couple things came of them. Flair vs Martel made Flair realize that the "10 lbs of Gold" wasn't as big as the AWA title, which led to the creation of the Big Gold Belt that we know and love. I'd also argue that Harley vs Backlund in WWF would lead Vince Jr. to realize that he would need a top guy that can talk (Backlund took 2 minutes to say nothing, Race sold the match in 1) when he bought his dad out less than a year later.

2. New Japan "Excursions": New Japan has a formula for training their "Young Lions." They start off in the Dojos, and they'd be around the ring to get their asses kicked by the Gaijins, get brutalized by the veterans. After that, they would go on "Excursion," which is getting further seasoned outside of Japan and use the time to develop a proper character and be freshened up come time for their eventual return. It is done to this day, but some famous "Excursions" include Keiji Mutoh going to the NWA, being billed as the Great Muta in Crockett and being a huge star, Tetsuya Naito going to Mexico and going from the guy no one wanted to becoming "Ingobernable." And Okada becoming "Kato" in TNA (didn't say they were all good.)

3. Smoky Mountain Wrestling: Corny always seems to be ahead of the curve. He brought the last territory as we knew it to WCW for a brief spell, leading to a Heavenly Bodies vs. Rock n Roll Express match. He did the same in WWF, as well as a banger between the Bodies and the Steiners. Jim also got more duties up North, including being Yokozuna's "American Spokesman". This one didn't really do as much as the first two, but noteworthy things included the Buddy Landell "My Own Worst Enemy" promo leading up to his match with Shawn Michaels. The Gangstas interacting with the Undertaker. They were kind ended as a Proto-Developmental program for WWF, bringing us guys like Kane and Al Snow.

4. Texas vs Tennessee: Memphis. We always seem to end up in Memphis. CWA merged with World Class out of Dallas, and the feud to justify it was this one. This was a major war where some Texas stars, including Eric Embry, Tom Pritchard (a future Heavenly Body), The Texas Hangmen, and a couple folks I will mention in a second had a big program with the Tennessee boys that included Eddie Gilbert and Ron Fuller, Jeff Jarrett, Tennesseean by way of New Zealand Bill Dundee, and "the Nightmare" himself Danny Davis. Lawler was involved in the beginning and the end. This one was kind of noteworthy because we would get Eric Embry's idea of the "Perfect Woman:" Ms. Texas (Jacqueline) and some young blonde kid with a lot of promise by the name of Steve Austin. Whatever happened to him?

5. Taz(z) vs. Mike Awesome: aka that time A WWF guy beat a WCW guy for the ECW Title. really not much to mention on this one, is it?

I'm sure there's a few others. But discuss.