AEW is still the house of Swerve Strickland.

The AEW World Champion defended his title against Will Ospreay in a hard-fought match in the main event of the Forbidden Door 2024 PPV from UBS Arena in New York.

Both the competitors got special entrances for the match. Will Ospreay entered first paying tribute to the legendary Hayabusa with a mask during his entrance.

Strickland then got a special introduction from rapper Jim Jones who came out with the AEW Title and handed it to Swerve when he appeared.

The match was every bit as brutal as expected with both the stars missing no opportunity to take things to the extreme. This included a crossbody Ospreay delivered to Swerve over the top rope very early in the bout, taking the champion outside.

The ending of the bout saw Ospreay accidentally knocking out the referee with a Hidden Blade. Don Callis then appeared at the ringside to hand his client a screwdriver, before being tackled by Prince Nana.

Ospreay thought about using the screwdriver on Nana but then threw it away. The distraction allowed Swerve to recover and he hit Will Ospreay with a House Call.

A new referee showed up to continue the match and Strickland then delivered a second and third house call to finally put Will Ospreay down.

• Former World Champion Returns To Confront Mercedes Mone At Forbidden Door

What’s Next For Will Ospreay?

Will Ospreay appears to be moving away from the world title picture for the moment as his next feud has already been teased on AEW Programming.

After an opening segment between Ospreay, MJF and Daniel Garcia on this week’s Dynamite, both MJF and Garcia were shown to be watching tonight’s world title match very closely.

The tease at Forbidden Door only further confirms that AEW is building towards an MJF vs Will Ospreay match for the upcoming All In PPV from London, with Garcia playing a crucial part in this rivalry.

A massive Will Ospreay match is currently not in the backstage plans for All In, according to some latest AEW rumors.

Fightful Select confirmed as part of their AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2024 scoops thread that Ospreay vs Ricochet was not currently on the docket for the Wembley Stadium event in August.

“We’re told that AEW has had a general outline of the top matches they want at AEW All In for quite some time. As of early this month, Ricochet/Will Ospreay wasn’t one of them” the site reported.

Read More – AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2024 Odds: Massive one-sided for key matches

AEW Rumors: Could Ricochet appear at Forbidden Door?

Whilst a number of fans are hoping that we could see Ricochet appearing tonight on the show to set up a massive rematch with Ospreay, it very likely will not be happening anytime soon.

Fightful also confirmed that “Ricochet and Natalya are still technically under contract to WWE,” so unless they were both let out of their deals early we won’t be seeing them pop up tonight.

Ospreay is set to challenge Swerve Strickland tonight for the AEW Championship, and he is the underdog heading into the bout (at least according to the latest odds). With the “Aerial Assassin” getting a pretty baffling title shot a month or so before Wembley Stadium, there will probably be something huge tonight that costs him the match and sets up the rematch in England.

You can keep an eye on the rest of the AEW Forbidden Door rumors as we head into the show right here!

Fans could be seeing much more of Will Ospreay in Soft Ground Wrestling Uganda as the two sides are said to be currently in positive talks. 

SGW Uganda has become a hit online in recent months after notable names began sharing the promotion on social media. Ospreay, as well as TNA Wrestling’s Jordynne Grace, donated to a GoFundMe fundraiser aimed at providing a standard wrestling ring as well as other operating needs. 

• Wrestlers Raise Over $28,000 For Popular SGW Uganda Promotion

Ospreay has spoken in the past about wanting to compete for Soft Ground Wrestling Uganda and that could soon be the case. Responding to an article about the reigning AEW International Champion, the official SGW Uganda Twitter account confirmed that their promotion and Will Ospreay had been in talks. 

Very true @WillOspreay reached us and anytime dropping something contagious. We are in good talks with the goat just timing now. pic.twitter.com/MbHNNPPv1L

— SGW @soft ground wrestling Uganda (@SGWug) June 2, 2024

What’s Next? 

It’s possible that Ospreay will challenge for the newly-instated SGW Uganda Championship which was introduced earlier this year. The first-ever champion is Anoa who won the title in the finals of a tournament that saw him beat Tate Mayfairs

• More on SGW Uganda’s First Champion

Back in the United States, Ospreay has his sights set on capturing more gold in All Elite Wrestling. On the most recent edition of AEW Dynamite, Ospreay won a Casino Gauntlet Match to earn an AEW World Championship match at AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door. Ospreay has held the AEW International Title since Double or Nothing and barring a last-minute title change, he will challenge Swerve Strickland later this month in 

Several names took part in creating the blueprint for the Casino Gauntlet match that went down on the 5/29 episode of AEW Dynamite, but one significant name was a catalyst, as expected.

According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, Khan was instrumental in laying out the main event match for AEW Dynamite, which happened to be the fallout show for this past weekend’s Double Or Nothing. 

Internally, Khan was listed as a coach on the match and had help from QT Marshall, Colt Cabana and Serpentico at laying out the match. AEW has been very happy with the reception as it will be Will Ospreay challenging Swerve Strickland for the AEW World Championship at Forbidden Door.

• Will Ospreay Pitches Scott D’Amore To Run ROH

Some surprise names were implemented into the bout including Mistico, Shota Umino, Lio Rush and Hechicero. The other competitors were PAC, Claudio Castagnoli, Orange Cassidy and Jay White.

Ospreay happened to also be the winner of the first Casino Gauntlet, a match that actually earned him the right to face Roderick Strong for the AEW International Championship at Double or Nothing, who Ospreay ended up defeating.

Many were speculating that Strickland and Ospreay would first go head-to-head later this year at ALL IN at Wembley Stadium, but fans will get at least an early sample of that fight next month when Forbidden Door takes place in Long Island.

This news of Tony Khan laying out the fight comes not long after the AEW President was accused of booking AEW television last minute by Bryan Alvarez.

Other matches that went down on the 5/29 AEW Dynamite was Jon Moxley in another IWGP World Title Eliminator Match against Rocky Romero, Mercedes Mone took on Skye Blue and Swerve Strickland faced Killswitch.

AEW brought the fallout from Double or Nothing with plenty of action. Dynamite ended with a Casino Gauntlet match to determine who will face AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland at Forbidden Door.

The match began with Jay White and Pac, and Juice Robinson, back from injury, was with the Bullet Club Gold faction. Mistico and Will Ospreay joined next, and the first pinfall or submission would determine the winner.

Shota Umino, from NJPW, entered the situation next, and he received a very good response from the LA crowd. Claudio Castagnoli came in next, immediately chasing Jay White out of the ring. Shota and Claudio exchanged forearms, and Umino endured The Swing during the commercial break.

Despite being beaten down by Trent Beretta earlier tonight, Orange Cassidy rolls the dice for his chance to walk through the #ForbiddenDoor!

Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@OrangeCAssidy | @ClaudioCSRO pic.twitter.com/HmfOZeTgrN

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 30, 2024

Lio Rush made his AEW return as a member of the NJPW roster, joining the match through the Forbidden Door. Orange Cassidy, bandaged from an earlier beatdown by Trent, came out next. Hechicero from CMLL joined, diving right into the action.

The Mad Scientist Hechicero goes straight to work!

Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@_ReyHechicero pic.twitter.com/VxFAoKbGIY

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 30, 2024

In the end, Will Ospreay nailed a cutter on Orange Cassidy and secured the win. Already the AEW International Champion, Ospreay now has a chance to become a double champion at Forbidden Door.

THE BILLY GOAT DID IT!

Will Ospreay will challenge #AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland at #ForbiddenDoor on June 30th!

Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS!@WillOspreay | @SwerveConfident pic.twitter.com/Ywzbx7Eelf

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 30, 2024

After the match, Swerve Strickland came out to give his new challenger a closer look.

2024 Forbidden Door Event

Forbidden Door event and will take place on June 30, 2024, at the UBS Arena in the Long Island hamlet of Elmont, New York.

We already know that a ladder match will take place for the vacant TNT Title. Adam Copeland was stripped of the title this week during Dynamite due to an injury he suffered at Double or Nothing. 

Will Ospreay loves the passion of Scott D’Amore and he thinks that incorporating him into the AEW product would be extremely valuable to the company.

Speaking with Adrian Hernandez ahead of AEW Double Or Nothing, Ospreay expressed how much he respects the former TNA President and praises D’Amore for being the catalyst for the continued success of TNA despite no longer being with the promotion.

“I can’t tell you enough how much respect I have for Scott D’Amore. If there was anything that I want to put out there; if there was a way that AEW could hire Scott D’Amore in any type of fashion.”

Ospreay had one idea in mind as to how Tony Khan could utilize the talent and mind of Scott D’Amore.

“Have that guy run Ring of Honor or something. The passion that he had for TNA, and just how he completely single handily transformed that company.”

• Arn Anderson Announces Exit From AEW

Tony Khan purchased Ring Of Honor years back and made the brand its own entity. Much to the chagrin of many, all the new programming resides on the ROH Honor Club. Khan has been criticized as to how he has handled the brand as a great deal of the product flies under the radar due to it solely being on Honor Club.

D’Amore was let go by TNA after he was the primary proponent for rebranding the company and since then, D’Amore has trademarkedd “Maple Leaf Wrestling” and is putting on a Border City Wrestling event later this year. Ospreay spent a “cup of coffee” in TNA as a free agent before signing on full-time with All Elite Wrestling.

H/t to Fightful for the transcription.

Will Ospreay has challenged any wrestler in the world who thinks he is the best, to come and challenge him for the AEW International Championship.

The Aerial Assassin took part in the post Double or Nothing 2024 media scrum after defeating Roderick Strong to win the title at the PPV event. The AEW star was asked if he was thinking about his family while winning the title.

Ospreay explained that he is always thinking about his family and they are the most important aspect of his life. He also took a jab at the people who criticize his decision to pick a lighter work schedule, asking them to show anyone who is better than him:

“I think about my family in every decision I ever make. My family is the most important aspect of my life and yeah more time with my family was the main reason why I took this job but also becoming one of the best professional wrestlers on the planet. I think a lot of people want to look past that. They just think I’m not working as hard but like if you can show me a wrestler that is working at the same level as I am…like, be my fucking guest bro. This is the one thing that I’m like, very stern upon and very happy to say.”

I Dare You To Step Through The Door: Will Ospreay

Will Ospreay later expanded on his comments about testing AEW’s partnerships with different companies around the world as the International Champion. He claimed that in his hands the International Title is the best title in the world and anyone who thinks they are better can come and challenge him:

“I’m opening the doors to any professional wrestler that is willing to step through the door and to try and take this championship off me because right now, for me this championship has the lineage of kind of like the workhorse title, right? That’s kind of like what everyone wants to call it. When it’s in my hands, this title is the best wrestling title in the world. And if you think that you are the best wrestler in the world, then I dare you to step through that door. I’ve got the keys to that forbidden door, and it’s very hard to knock through it.”

• Wrestling World Reacts To AEW Double or Nothing 2024

You can check out the full Double or Nothing media scrum below:

Will Ospreay is the new AEW International Champion and it appears that he is planning to make the title truly international in his reign.

The high-flying star challenged Roderick Strong for the title at the Double or Nothing PPV from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The ending of the bout saw Orpreay countering a backbreaker with a running forearm and then he used the Storm Breaker to become the new champion.

AEW cameras caught up with the Aerial Assassin after his big win. Commenting on his future plans, Will Ospreay said that he is a man who hunts for gold and this title won’t be his last:

“This championship might be the International Championship to a lot of people, but this is the Billy GOAT Title for now. Allow me to tell you all, just because I hold this treasure, just because I hold this championship, doesn’t mean that I am done. I am a man that hunts for more gold. I am a man that voyages to other places to collect championships. Anywhere, and everywhere. This championship was forged and made on the day of Forbidden Door. Luck has it, Forbidden Door is right around the corner and let me tell you guys, I am the Forbidden Door.”

EXCLUSIVE! NEW #AEW INTERNATIONAL Champion, @WillOspreay, has a message for @RoderickStrong, & anyone else looking to come for the "Billy Goat Title"! pic.twitter.com/Hsd5wptnw6

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 27, 2024

All Around The World

Will Ospreay also talked about the working relationship AEW has with different companies such as NJPW and CMLL and hinted that he is planning to defend the title all over the world:

“This championship does not have any inclusion to AEW. We have working relationships with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, CMLL, STARDOM. Unfortunately, I don’t think I can wrestle the STARDOM girls, right? We allow our talent to wrestle at Revolution Pro, DDT, all around the world. The door open, but not politely, because I am the keyholder to that door. I would love to show everyone how easy it is for the international Billy GOAT to hold the door closed with one hand and to carry the world in the other. Mark my words, this ain’t the end. I am Will Ospreay. On. Another. Level.”

Elsewhere in the show we saw the long-anticipated return of The Devil MJF who made his contract status with the company very clear. You can click here to read everything the Salt Of The Earth had to say on his comeback.

Will Ospreay entered AEW months before his NJPW contract was over. He broke into the scene, starting in 2024, and he was off to the races. AEW Double or Nothing saw him win his first championship with the company.

Roderick Strong defended the AEW International Title against Ospreay in the opening match of Double or Nothing.The fans were behind Ospreay the entire time, and they were electric for the entire match.

In the end, Ospreay pulled down the win to capture his first title in AEW. In the middle of his celebration, Adam Cole made his big return to the company, and that shocked everyone. That was followed by MJF’s long-awaited return to AEW television. 

Will Ospreay entered AEW with an impressive list of accolades from his time in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He has held the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship once, the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship twice (being the final champion), and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship three times. Ospreay has also held the NEVER Openweight Championship once. Additionally, he won the New Japan Cup in 2021 and the Best of the Super Juniors tournament in both 2016 and 2019.

WILL OSPREAY IS THE NEW AEW INTERNATIONAL CHAMPION! ?#AEWDoN pic.twitter.com/RIdjEiXHC7

— B/R Wrestling (@BRWrestling) May 27, 2024

Will Ospreay wants to move on from his comments made towards Triple H and makes it clear that he likes the WWE Creative Content Officer. 

Ospreay has a busy weekend ahead of him as the top AEW star will be challenging Roderick Strong for the International Championship at Double or Nothing this Sunday. In light of his big bout in Las Vegas, Ospreay spoke with some of the media, including Adrian Hernandez and was asked about his comments towards Triple H during an AEW Dynamite promo. 

“People within the company were saying, ‘That was a bag at you.’ I’m over it now. I said my bit. My thing was funny. Everyone took it way too personally. All these old f***s that are like, ‘I have a podcast’ and they think they know everything. I couldn’t give a f*** about these guys.”

• Will Ospreay Calls Himself “Officially Grizzled” After 31st Birthday, Sabu Reassures He Has Many More Years

‘The Game’ previously stated that some wrestling talent weren’t willing to be apart of the ‘grind’ of WWE. Ospreay took umbrage with that decided to state that Triple H got his high profile spot due to “grinding on the boss’s daughter.”

Ospreay continued his comments with Hernandez, deciding to dampen down any further tension between he and Triple H, stating that he likes Paul Levesque.

“At the end of it, no harm done. I f***ing like Triple H. It was a little bit hard hearing that s***. I was nothing but respectful in all the talks. I have my own mission, my own objectives, my own goals. Just because it doesn’t fit with your things, it doesn’t mean people should be firing shots my way. I come from a generation where if you fire one at me, I fire one back.”

H/t to Fightful for the transcription.

AEW’s Will Ospreay hopes that Ricochet will soon be ‘All Elite’ as he’s itching for a rematch with the inaugural WWE Speed Champion. 

In the 2010s the pair had an acclaimed series of matches that elevated both men in the wrestling world. The duo’s most recent match came for What Culture Pro Wrestling in August 2017 in a match won by the Aerial Assassin. From there the pair would part ways with Ricochet joining WWE in January 2018 while Ospreay would go on to become one of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s top stars. 

• Logan Paul Says Ricochet “Made It Easy To Look Good” At SummerSlam

Sitting down with ComicBook.com, Ospreay discussed his legendary series of matches with Ospreay. The Aerial Assassin admitted that he does worry that Ricochet isn’t being treated right in WWE. 

“I keep up with him all the time and sometimes I get a little bit sad about it. I hope he’s not sad and I hope he’s real happy. I keep up with him as much as I can, but I feel like people are forgetting who Ricochet was once upon a time.”

It’s not hard to see why Ospreay may be concerned for Ricochet regarding his booking in WWE. On a recent Raw, Ricochet spoke about how he is always losing in a very self-deprecating promo. 

This comment made little sense given that Ricochet recently won the WWE Speed Championship and was victorious throughout an entire tournament to win the gold. In the interview, Ospreay added that WWE valuing Ricochet’s work for minutes at a time, referring to WWE Speed rules, was “appalling.”

Ricochet in All Elite Wrestling? 

While Ricochet has been the victim of stop-start pushes since joining WWE’s main roster in 2019, Ospreay has been a staple of AEW TV since he officially signed in November 2023. Ospreay isn’t sure when Ricochet could be a free agent, but certainly hopes that AEW will make an offer if the One and Only becomes available. 

“I don’t know how much longer he has got in his contract, but I think it might be up soon, man, I don’t know. I want him to know that there are people here that genuinely appreciate his work and I want to wrestle him again. I want him back here.”

As for Ospreay’s more immediate future, the Essex-born wrestler will be a part of this weekend’s AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view. Ospreay is hoping to clinch his first taste of AEW gold when he challenges the International Champion Roderick Strong. 

• Will Ospreay ‘Bonded By Blood’ With AEW International Championship

Will Ospreay has only one goal in mind – to dethrone Roderick Strong and capture the AEW International Championship at AEW Double Or Nothing pay-per-view.

This week’s AEW Dynamite emanated from Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield, California. The show kicked off with Ospreay teaming up with Orange Cassidy and face Roderick Strong and Trent Beretta. In the final moments of the match, Wardlow interfered in the match and assisted Strong to pick up the win. Following the match, Strong and his Undisputed Kingdom teammates brutally assaulted ‘The Aerial Assassin’. The AEW International Champion hit Ospreay with the title belt as the English wrestler was busted open. 

In a AEW Digital Exclusive, Will Ospreay, who was still bleeding, delivered a passionate promo. He sent a stern message to his opponent at AEW Double Or Nothing. Ospreay boasted his endurance and asked if the attack was the best shot that Strong got. He said:

“You think I look pretty bad right now, right? No, this is nothing. Mate, I’ve been on four-day bender, had a bowl of Cocoa Puffs, got on a plane to Japan, called out the toughest guy, and whooped him in front of his wife and kids while I was smiling, bruv. You think this is the end, Messiah? What, you think that this scares me? [Slaps himself] Nah, I live for this, bruv. I flew all the way from England on a ten-hour flight, got transferred over to Bakersfield, and this? This is the best that you’ve got? My Messiah, am I meant to believe in you, man? Am I meant to believe?  No, man.”

Ospreay added that he believes in what goes down inside the squared circle when the bell rings. He said Strong’s actions have ‘bonded” him with that championship as his blood is on the title belt. The 31-year-old wrestler further declared that it’s his life mission to win the AEW International Championship at the upcoming pay-per-view this weekend. He said:

“The only thing that I believe in is bell-to-bell, internationally known, no one is better than me inside that ring, and now what you’ve just done, Roderick, what you’ve just done is it’s bonded me with that championship. My blood is on that championship. So now, it is my duty, it is my spirit that is bonded with that championship. So Sunday, in the perfect city to do it in, bet it all. Gamble your life on it, son. Because now, it is my life’s mission to take the International Championship away from you, come hell or high water. Nobody is better than Will Ospreay because I am on another level.”

EXCLUSIVE! After being left beaten and bloodied on #AEWDynamite at the hands of the Undisputed Kingdom, an INCENSED @WillOspreay has a final message for #AEW International Champion @RoderickStrong before their match at #AEWDoN! pic.twitter.com/SFw2AKAlun

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 23, 2024

Roderick Strong had captured the AEW International title by defeating Orange Cassidy at AEW Revolution in March. This will mark his second PPV title defense. He retained the title over Kyle O’Reilly at AEW Dynasty last month. 

At the same pay-per-view, Will Ospreay emerged victorious over Bryan Danielson in a match that was heavily praised. However, there were some concerning scenes following the match as ‘The American Dragon’ looked hurt after being hit with the Tiger Driver 91.

Soft Ground Wrestling (SGW) Uganda is making a mark on the pro wrestling world and one of its wrestlers Sanjuki The Bull is looking for a match against AEW’s Will Ospreay.

SGW, the promotion based in Uganda has gained some massive popularity on social media in recent months and several prominent wrestlers have supported the promotion. They have gone the extra mile as Sanjuki has already inked a contract of honor and has challenged ‘The Aerial Assassin’ for a Forbidden Door Centurion Match. 

In a video clip posted on SGW’s X account, Sanjuki delivered a passionate promo and said that Ospreay has no idea what’s coming for him. He made it clear that he’s not afraid of the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and it’s “bad news” for the latter.

Sanjuki Signs a contract of honor for a match against will ospreay of AEW. Forbidden door. Centurion match. pic.twitter.com/ApVs1Q6rWi

— SGW @soft ground wrestling Uganda (@SGWug) May 8, 2024

SGW features a soil ring instead of a traditional pro wrestling ring. They also use string ropes similar to pro wrestling ropes. The steel posts are replaced by bamboo posts at the four corners. This is a unique setup that garnered attraction on social media. SGW Uganda is not only a wrestling promotion but they also train over 180 aspiring wrestlers. 

Fans on social media were impressed with the effort of the promotion and set up a GoFundMe campaign to extend support. It soon came to light that the ground where they perform is rented and faced financial issues. Will Ospreay was among the first wrestlers who came across SGW. ‘The Aerial Assassin’ had contributed $2,000 to the promotion. 

Will Ospreay is heading to SGW 

Last month, during the AEW Dynasty Media Scrum, Ospreay said that he was eager to wrestle in Uganda. Recently, speaking on Swerve City Podcast, the 31-year-old confirmed that he would make an appearance in the Ugandan promotion. He said:

“You have no idea what’s coming lads. Listen I will come. Don’t you worry”

It was recently revealed that wrestlers have been able to raise a whopping amount for SGW which will help them keep the momentum going for the better things to come.

Soft Ground Wrestling Uganda will benefit greatly from the money raised by WWE alum Mace and Mansoor, as well as others. 

SGW Uganda has become a hit online in recent months after notable names began sharing the promotion on social media. Both AEW’s Will Ospreay and TNA Wrestling’s Jordynne Grace donated to a GoFundMe fundraiser aimed at providing a standard wrestling ring as well as other operating needs. 

Now Mace and Mansoor have been able to raise more money for SGW Uganda. On Twitter, Mansoor revealed that through a live stream, they had raised over $28,000. This stream included some notable names in wrestling, including AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland, TNA X-Division Champion Mustafa Ali, Maven Huffman, YouTuber Matt McMuscles, and others. 

Incredibly excited to announce we have raised $28,731.89 for @SGWug thanks to all of your generous support!

We couldn’t have done this without all our wonderful friends who joined us for the fundraiser. Thank you to all who participated and donated.

ACHIEVE THE DREAM! S-G-DUB! pic.twitter.com/yQWOzIGnQk

— Mansoor (@suavemansoor) May 8, 2024

In a subsequent tweet, Mansoor explained that this money can be put towards six months of food, beds and mosquito nets, an extension on their lease and a storage unit for a wrestling ring. SGW Uganda has been using a ring made of mud so far, but that will hopefully change given the money raised. 

One thing SGW Uganda won’t have to put this money towards is a van that’ll allow the promotion to take their show on the road. In a follow-up tweet, Mansoor explained that his mother has donated enough to buy a van in memory of her father who gifted them a win when Mansoor’s sister was born. 

My mother, my actual shoot mom, has told us she is donating enough money to purchase a van for @SGWug

She wants to honor my late grandfather, George Vrakas, who gifted us a van when my little sister was born ??

Now, SGW can go on the road and tour in Uganda. Thank you Mama! https://t.co/29l4LFqOuF pic.twitter.com/LU20umF7fE

— Mansoor (@suavemansoor) May 8, 2024

SGW Uganda isn’t just a wrestling promotion but is a school that trains over 180 students. With this money, SGW Uganda will be able to take huge steps to the future with fans excited to see what’s next. 

Will Ospreay may think he old in wrestling, but one ECW legend in Sabu believes the top AEW star is quite far from that. 

Ospreay only turned 31 on May 7, and youth is wasted on the young as Will thinks he’s well beyond his years going past 30. The top AEW star made note of his assumed state in the world of wrestling on social media.

“I’m 31 now. I’m officially grizzled,” Ospreay mentioned in a post on X. The Tweet got a kick out of pro wrestling legend Sabu, who reassured Will that he’s got a ways to go before he truly hits grizzled status.

“Officially grizzled? Lol. I wish I wasn’t officially grizzled. Lol you have many more years until you are grizzled.”

Officially grizzled ? Lol . I wish I wasn't officially grizzled. Lol u have many more years until you are grizzled.. https://t.co/UpZZ6bGFfX

— Sabu (@TheRealSabuECW) May 8, 2024

• Will Ospreay Says He’s Nowhere Near The Level Kurt Angle Is

Will has basically just started his in-ring career with All Elite Wrestling, but Sabu has had already had some involvement with the promotion. He played a primary role in a program with Chris Jericho almost a year ago at AEW Double Or Nothing. Jericho took on Adam Cole in an unsanctioned match and Sabu played the enforcer of the fight. While he was dressed to the nines, he wasn’t afraid to get physical and did just that to take out Jericho.

A suit won't stop Sabu… 😳💥 #AEWDoN #AEW pic.twitter.com/izEjwt6QjK

— 1 Of A Kind With RVD – RVDTV.com (@RVDPod) May 29, 2023

Quite the dream birthday present for Will Ospreay would have to be a dream fight against Sabu. The legend actually has been getting himself back into ring shape to have one last match, stating that he’d love to involve AEW regular and best friend, RVD.

Pro wrestling fans are no strangers to witnessing wild videos appear on their timeline. We’ve seen backyard wrestling before, as it was the genesis for some people’s fandom, but playground wrestling is on another level.

A video went viral showing playground wrestling in New York City. This video was incredibly hard, and it is also stirred some fond memories with a lot of people. That being said, it was new to many as they saw it pop up on their feeds.

https://twitter.com/BvDpro/status/1784264029327794219

AEW Stars React

The AEW locker room keeps their pulse on the heart of what’s trending on social media. When Ortiz saw the crazy playground wrestling display, he shared a bit about his own history on Twitter/X. Seeing a video like this brought back fond memories for him.,

“We did this every Saturday rain or shine for years.Kept me out the streets../ Developed friendships I still have to this day.where I developed my love for pro wrestling. Now a decade later it’s catching traction all over social media.we would of killed for this attention back then!”

Will Ospreay is now lighting up the AEW roster after making his way from Japan. He has seen what the pro wrestling world has to offer, and he responded to say the playground wrestling video is fire.

2KW ??

— Will Ospreay • ????????? (@WillOspreay) April 28, 2024

Playground wrestling legend King Tek also chimed in. He had nothing but great memories to share, and one of them included the art of taking a powerbomb in a very unconventional setting.

That is me taking the powerbomb into the crowd

I loved every minute I spent wrestling here

Awesome people Awesome atmosphere pic.twitter.com/0c4n1afyur

— KingTEK (@_TekTweets_) April 27, 2024

Unconventional Pro Wrestling Viral Videos

Pro wrestling is very much engrained in popular culture, so you never know when it will pop up in a viral video. We’re getting a lot more gender reveals based around pro wrestling matches. Logan Paul and Nina Agdal just revealed the gender of the upcoming addition to their family with a match.

You also never know when a pro wrestling fan will throw a match into their wedding reception. We’ve also seen fans use pro wrestling themes, like The Bloodline, in their actual ceremony as they make their way to the altar.

Fans have seen wrestling matches break out in public while they were in town for big events. These may be organized in a manner of speaking, but it certainly has a violent avant-garde vibe.

Professional wrestling is a physically demanding sport, performed by trained professionals in controlled environments. Wrestling on asphalt playgrounds increases the risk of injuries in massive fashion. That being said, always prioritize safety and don’t try this at home, or at your local school/park.

Will Ospreay doesn’t plan on taking shots at WWE again on AEW programming after recently taking aim at Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque. 

On an episode of AEW Dynamite, Ospreay spoke about the ‘grind’ and said that Triple H only reached the top of WWE due to ‘grinding’ on Stephanie McMahon. The dig was in response to comments made by the Game over WrestleMania week in which he said some wrestlers opt not to sign with WWE due to the ‘grind’ and choose a promotion with a lighter schedule. 

Ospreay’s dig sparked a discussion as to whether he crossed a line given that Triple H hadn’t mentioned him and that his comment took place in front of Renee Paquette, a friend of both Triple H and Stephanie. Speaking on the AEW Dynasty media scrum, Ospreay shared his belief that Triple H’s comment was about him. 

“If you throw a jab, I throw one back. And although I wasn’t mentioned by name, it was clearly about me.”

Ospreay added that he’s finished with taking aim at WWE as he doesn’t feel such ‘tribalism’ is good for anyone involved. 

“I don’t wanna do that anymore because I feel like I lowered myself to that standard. I don’t need to do that anymore… that’s the first time I’ve ever experienced true tribalism between the two. It’s not nice. It’s unnecessary.”

Though Will is done taking aim at WWE, he does not regret what he said as Triple H’s comment did “piss me off.” Ospreay couldn’t help but take one last swipe, however, as he finished speaking on the matter, saying he doesn’t need to “f***ing f*** with guys below me.”

AEW Dynasty saw Ospreay defeat Bryan Danielson in an instant classic that went over 30 minutes. Ospreay got the win after hitting the Tiger Driver 91 which led to a worrying scene after the match. 

Will Ospreay has confirmed that he will be retiring the Tiger Driver 91 after the scary spot with Bryan Danielson in their match at tonight’s AEW Dynasty PPV.

The high-flying star had talked about the dangers of the move at the post-Revolution media scrum last month after he used it to pin Konosuke Takeshita at the PPV event.

Bryan Danielson seems to be in real pain. Hoping it's nothing too badpic.twitter.com/uQ7Y4mN7pi

— Anutosh Bajpai || SEScoops || Wrestling News (@AuthorAnutosh) April 22, 2024

During the Dynasty Media scrum, the AEW star spoke about the incident with Bryan on the PPV and revealed that he didn’t see the referee call for the medics:

I’m super glad that everybody enjoyed the match. A little bit of a dampener on how it’s all kind of [turned out] the dust has settled now. I’ve reviewed the footage myself. It seems Bryan got hurt on the storm driver and I didn’t see the doctor call, the referee called for the doctor and I just didn’t see it.

So I want to apologize on that. Obviously like within the confines of wrestling I do go like I said in the ring it is more or less it’s your life vs mine until you kind of see it staring at your face sort of the way it did.”

Will Ospreay Says He Feels Awful

Will Ospreay said that he feels awful about the spot. He apologized to Danielson for continuing the match after that and confirmed that he will be retiring the Tiger Driver 91, also known as Storm Driver 93:

“Honestly I feel awful about this. So even though 90% of the time that move has been absolutely fine. Seeing the damage that it has kind of done, I am gonna retire using the Storm Driver 91. I don’t think it’s right for me to continue using it after seeing what it did to Bryan. Someone that I’ve got huge amounts of respect for.

This was kind of my dream match. This is something I’ve wanted since I was a kid. So to see the outcome although I’m happy everyone enjoyed the match, I’m kind of disappointed in myself. So I apologize to Bryan. I apologize to AEW medics, I apologize to Tony.”

Ospreay defeated Bryan in what many are already calling the match of the year during the latest AEW PPV. The ending of this match, however, left a lot of people concerned. 

The finish of the bout saw Ospreay hitting the Tiger Driver 91 and the referee called for the medics as Danielson appeared to be hurt from the spot. Ospreay however, missed the referee’s call and he hit the former WWE star with an elbow to the back for the pin.

The quotes in the article have been edited for clarity

All Elite Wrestling returns on pay-per-view for their first Dynasty event tonight. The event will occur at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri. AEW has been building towards the card for weeks, and the PPV is set to have 12 matches.

In the main event, AEW World Champion Samoa Joe will defend his title against Swerve Strickland. The challenger earned an opportunity after defeating  Konosuke Takeshita to become the number one contender on the March 27 episode of AEW Dynamite. Strickland enters the matchup motivated to dethrone Joe and become the first black AEW World Champion. However, he won’t have an easy task, as Joe has yet to lose in over six months. 

Elsewhere on the card, Will Ospreay will face Bryan Danielson in a highly anticipated match. Since officially joining the roster at AEW Revolution last month, Ospreay has quickly become a threat in the men’s division. He has won five matchups in the company to join the conversation of being a potential AEW world title contender. That said, Danielson stands in his way and will try to humble the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. 

Start Time & How To Watch

AEW Dynasty will kick off their event with a pre-show at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT. The pre-show will have three matches and be streamed live on AEW’s YouTube channel for free. 

After the pre-show, the event will move toward pay-per-view at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT. AEW fans must pay $49.99 to watch on Bleacher Report, AEW’s YouTube channel, or Triller TV. The PPV portion will consist of nine matches, including the AEW World Championship main event. 

AEW Dynasty Full Match Card

(Match Card Is Subject To Change)

Pre-Show Card:

• Matt Sydal vs. Trent Beretta
• Katsuyori Shibata & Orange Cassidy vs. Shane Taylor Promotions (Lee Moriarty & Shane Taylor)
• (C) Billy Gunn & The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) vs. (C) Bullet Club Gold (Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn & Jay White)-AEW World Trios / ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championship Match

PPV Card:

• (C) Hook vs. Chris Jericho-FTW Championship Match
• (C) Roderick Strong vs. Kyle O’Reilly-AEW International Championship Match
• (C) Kazuchika Okada vs. PAC-AEW Continental Championship Match
• (C) Toni Storm with Luther & Mariah May vs. Thunder Rosa-AEW Women’s World Championship Match
• Adam Copeland, Eddie Kingston & Mark Briscoe vs. House Of Black (Brody King, Buddy Matthews & Malakai Black)-Six Man Tag Team Match
• The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson) vs. FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood)-Vacant AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament Final Ladder Match
• (C) Julia Hart vs. Willow Nightingale with Stokely Hathaway-AEW TBS Championship House Rules Match
• Bryan Danielson vs. Will Ospreay
• (C) Samoa Joe vs. Swerve Strickland with Prince Nana-AEW World Championship Match

Will Ospreay downplayed Dave Meltzer’s five-star match philosophy while with the Dick Cavett of our time, RJ City.

Ospreay was the latest guest on RJ’s “Hey! EW” and City, the longtime adversary of David Arquette, noted that Dave Meltzer must really like Ospreay. He asks Will if he thinks he’s as good as Meltzer really thinks Ospreay is. Instead of putting himself over, Ospreay decided to make sure Kurt Angle was given the praise worthy of an Olympic Gold Medalist.

“No, cause when you talk about guys like Kurt Angle and he hasn’t got like one five-star match, I’m nowhere near the level Kurt Angle is.

“Stuff that Kurt Angle could never do, I could do, but stuff that I could never do, Kurt Angle could do.

“I think it’s just his opinion, you know what I mean? Opinions are like a**holes, everyone’s got one.”

Ospreay very much shares the same sentiment as his rival Kenny Omega, who on several occassions noted how much he appreciates the in-ring work of Kurt Angle. Kurt has also reciprocated Omega’s praise, putting “The Cleaner” over for the work he does in the ring as well.

Much ado has been made about Meltzer’s star-ratings system and it’s validity, but Meltzer himself did reiterate Ospreay’s thoughts in that those ratings are just his opinion. 

Perhaps the more controversail discussion point was that Meltzer decided to break his own ratings system by adding more stars to his judging criteria, giving Omega a whopping seven-star match.

Will Ospreay is very open about his learning disabilities, but he does not see it as a deterrent at all. He is rising above his ADHD and dyslexia diagnoses, and he wants to change how those things are perceived while inspiring others.

Speaking to RJ City on Hey! EW, Ospreay’s struggles came up in the conversation. Ospreay was jokingly asked if he is “shaming people without autism.” The Aerial Assassin quickly replied, “f**k yeah, I am.” He continued by discussing some of the challenges he has faced, expressing his desire to serve as a motivation for others.

“I just want to show people that, yeah I have autism. I have ADHD as well. I’m super dyslexic, I can’t read. I had to have someone f**king read my contract out for me. So, it’s like, it’s super embarrassing, man, it really is. But, I feel like I’ve got to the point where I am because of those things that make me who I am, and I wand to inspire people. So, like a lot of people don’t take risks in my area, like autism, and I hope seeing me inspires other people.”

Ospreay Speaks on his Diagnosis

Will Ospreay was diagnosed with ADHD in 2019, having previously discovered he was dyslexic after struggling in school. In his class, Ospreay only managed to pass in drama and physical education, failing the primary subjects that he needed for college admission.

Ospreay has been diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, but he wasn’t officially called autistic by a doctor as of 2023. In an interview with Renee Paquette on her The Sessions podcast, he said he was seeking answers to his autism questions, but the pandemic interrupted that effort.

“The autism thing, I went through a doctor thing, I think it was the start of 2020, the pandemic kicked in, and I’ve never wrote back. I do feel I’m on the spectrum, but I haven’t had that guarantee. The other two, I got diagnosed, the other one, I’ve still yet to have answers for.

The wait list is f***ing long. Even if I did have it, I don’t see it as a detriment. I see it as a superpower. All of us autistic kids, we’re so much better than regular, normal people. We can lock into sh*t and do it. To all my autism kids out there, we’re top.”

Will Ospreay in AEW

After appearing in AEW a few times in 2022 and 2023, Ospreay officially signed with the company and joined its roster once his NJPW contract ended in February 2024.

Since making his full entrance into AEW, Will Ospreay has captured several headlines. The former IWGP Champion has also been involved in a war of words with Triple H. After The Game seemingly referred to the young star during a media scrum, Ospreay got back at Triple H during a recent Dynamite promo.

The Aerial Assassin is set to take on Bryan Danielson at AEW Dynasty in Saint Louis on April 21. 

Will Ospreay took Triple H’s comments about wrestlers who pick AEW over WWE personally. He returned fire on the 4/10 episode of AEW Dynamite.

While speaking to the Pat McAfee Show during WrestleMania weekend, Triple H said, “When I see people trying to make it, and they pick the job where they go, ‘Well I work less and the schedule’s lighter,’ okay I’m glad I didn’t get you. Because if you’re not in it for the grind in that point in your career, you have no business being here.”

Will Ospreay cut a promo on AEW Dynamite, where he answered Triple H’s comment about wrestlers who pick AEW over WWE.

“Normally I wouldn’t rise to this type of bait, right? But seeing how the guy who said it is only in the position because he was grinding the boss’ daughter, you have no business telling me what the grind is all about, my friend, because you have no idea what I fight for.

Will Ospreay takes aim at Triple H’s comments of running from the grind:

“The guy that said it is only in the position he’s in because he was grinding on the bosses daughter.”#AEWDynamite

pic.twitter.com/zXW6dXwX1K

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) April 11, 2024

It Was Ospreay’s Idea

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reports that it was all Will Ospreay’s idea to throw a dig at Triple H into the promo on Dynamite. He collaborated with the creative team on the promo. The media’s recent portrayal of him confused wrestlers from various organizations. A WWE member noted his efforts to honor the process and WWE, despite choosing AEW for his family’s benefit.

AEW’s Recent Signings

AEW signed three big names in a row with Will Ospreay, Kazuchika Okada, and Mercedes Mone. All of those stars were talking to WWE at one point, and they decided to take Tony Khan’s deal instead.

Mone and WWE came to a financial roadblock. She signed an incredibly lucrative deal with AEW, one that is reportedly the largest woman’s deal in pro wrestling history.

AEW locked down Kazuchika Okada with a three-year contract valued at approximately $13.5 million. Okada is earning about $4.5 million a year with his All Elite deal.

Will Ospreay has been open about why he turned down a WWE contract. Ospreay acknowledged the offer from WWE, but he emphasized the trust he has in Tony Khan, a significant factor influencing his decision to sign with AEW.

“I want to know what I’m doing within the ring, and the rest, for me, is easy. What more could you want from a boss?”

Will Ospreay was approached about performing stunt work for an Assassin’s Creed movie sequel, the All Elite Wrestling star recently revealed. 

Ospreay announced at Full Gear 2023 that he was joining the company, but was allowed to finish off his time with New Japan Pro Wrestling. His first official match as an AEW-contracted wrestler took place at AEW Revolution 2024 and saw the Essex-born wrestler defeat Konosuke Takeshita. 

Will Ospreay’s Assasin’s Creed Offer

Ospreay has spent years making a name for himself in the ring and nearly had the chance to flex his muscles in the world of stunt work. Speaking with Dale Driver of IGN, Ospreay explained how he was at one time considered for a role in a planned Assassin’s Creed movie sequel. 

“I was in New Japan when the Assassin’s Creed film came out [in 2016.] They wanted to use some of my photos from New Japan to help advertise the movie coming over! 

“They said if there was going to be an Assassin’s Creed 2, I might be able to do some stunt work in it and I got excited. Nothing ever came of it but I’d love to be a part of Assassin’s Creed.”

An Assassin’s Creed Sequel? 

While Ospreay is still holding out some hope, the odds of an Assassin’s Creed movie sequel continue to look slim. Despite a star-studded cast including Michael Fassbender, Maron Cotillard, and Jeremy Irons, the film underperformed at the box office. A sequel was planned but was reportedly canceled by Disney following their 2019 acquisition of FOX. 

Will Ospreay and Assassin’s Creed

Ospreay’s love for the popular historical action video game franchise is hardly a secret. At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18, the Aerial Assasin dressed as Assassin Creed Syndicate’s The Ripper for his entrance. Ospreay had the franchise’s signature hidden wrist blade and entered to official Assassin’s Creed music. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1rtJ4VhywT

In the interview, Ospreay said it’d be “sick” for him to get a themed skin in the next Assassin’s Creed game. He added that he’s “completely open” to any AC plans, whether it be for a game or movie, that he could be involved in. 

Newly signed All Elite Wrestling superstar Will Ospreay has been getting plenty of action on TV lately. He made his in-ring debut as a talent in a win against Don Callis Family ally Konosuke Takeshita at AEW Revolution on March 3. Since then, he has racked up wins over Kyle Fletcher and Katsuyori Shibata on AEW Dynamite.

On Twitter, AEW President Tony Khan has shared that Ospreay will again be featured in a match on the April 3 episode of the company’s flagship show. The ‘Commonwealth Kingpin’ will take on Powerhouse Hobbs on the upcoming AEW Dynamite. Khan also revealed that Callis will be on commentary as he watches two people from his faction face off. 

The decision to have Ospreay challenge another Don Callis Family member is interesting, as it could cause a split within the group. AEW currently positions Ospreay as a ‘Babyface,’ while the faction remains ‘Heel.’ It may not happen in the next week, but the company may be laying the groundwork to eventually separate their newly signed superstar from the faction. 

Ospreay is also expected to defeat Hobbs next week, as he is set to face Bryan Danielson at AEW Dynasty on April 21. The matchup was announced on the March 7 episode of AEW Collision. Both superstars have been gaining wins on TV to build anticipation for their pay-per-view bout. 

A win for either Ospreay or Danielson would immediately put them in the running for the AEW World Championship. That said, the former IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion must first get through Hobbs on April 3. 

What Else Has Been Announced For April 3 Episode Of AEW Dynamite?

Ospreay vs. Hobbs wasn’t the only featured match announced for the upcoming AEW Dynamite episode. The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson) will take on Best Friends (Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta) in the semifinals of the AEW tag team tournament. The winners will move to the finals, where they will compete for the vacant AEW World Tag Team Championships. 

The April 3 episode will also have the contract signing segment between Samoa Joe and Swerve Strickland for their match at AEW Dynasty. It’s expected that they will get enough time to hype up their bout for next month.

Khan may announce more matches as the show approaches next week. The upcoming AEW Dynamite looks to be important as it continues to set the stage for the company’s next PPV. 

A few years back, Bryan Danielson vs Will Ospreay seemed impossible. Well, thanks to AEW, the dream match is taking place next month. Fans are getting hyped up for the hard hitting affair, and ‘The American Dragon’ is as excited as they are.

Danielson and Ospreay, two of the most talented wrestlers in the industry will lock horns for the first time at AEW Dynasty on April 21 in St. Louis. They both recently showcased remarkable performances against their respective opponents. 

Ospreay put up an instant classic with Konosuke Takeshita earlier this month on March 3 at AEW Revolution. On the other hand Danielson squared off against Katsuyori Shibata at March 16 Collision, which was another match that had little chance to materialize a few years ago.

Bryan Danielson feels none can replicate Will Ospreay

Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Danielson expressed his interest in knowing what are the opinions of the younger talents on pro wrestling. He further showered praise on his opponent and revealed which aspect makes the upcoming match exciting. Here is what he said:

“I’m not married to the idea that my take on professional wrestling is the best. I’m really interested in what the younger generation thinks about professional wrestling and what inspires them. Will Ospreay is the evolution of professional wrestling.

If Will Ospreay wanted to do a Bryan Danielson match, he could. If I wanted to do what Will Ospreay does in a match, I couldn’t. I don’t think there is anybody else in the world who can. That makes me super excited for this match.”

Bryan Danielson vs Will Ospreay is not the main event

Bryan Danielson also revealed that his match against ‘The Aerial Assassin’ will not headline the show and teased the fans that some thrilling plans are in the pipeline. He said:

“Me and Will Ospreay won’t be the main event at Dynasty. That tells you what type of show it will be. I have an inkling of some of the things that are lined up, and I think people are going to be really excited.”

He added:

“We have a chance to really stamp Dynasty as the newest brand in the AEW pay-per-view system. I’m really excited to be wrestling Will, especially in a historic wrestling city like St. Louis.”

While Danielson boasts his technical prowess in the ring, Ospreay has aerial offense and lighting-fast strikes up his sleeves. This contrast of fighting styles makes the affair more interesting to witness. The fans will certainly have a treat watching them share the ring at AEW Dynasty next month.