Will Ospreay’s future in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) remains uncertain following a recent injury update that reveals his condition to be more serious than initially anticipated. After a key victory on July 12 at the All In event in London, Ospreay faced a setback that has led to an indefinite hiatus as he prepares for a thorough medical evaluation in the United States.
Injury Details and Impact on AEW Appearances
During the July 12 All In pay-per-view, Will Ospreay teamed with Swerve Strickland to defeat The Young Bucks, ending the latter’s dominant spell as Executive Vice Presidents of AEW. Despite this high-profile win, Ospreay’s involvement took a turn when he returned to ringside as Adam Page’s supporter in the main event, only to be assaulted by The Death Riders and carried out on a stretcher. This incident was designed as a storyline device to explain Ospreay’s removal from television due to his developing injury situation.
Additional confirmation came from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, which disclosed that Ospreay’s injuries are considerably worse than he expected. The plan initially was for Ospreay to work through the All In event before taking time off to rest and recover. However, this intention has been altered due to his aggravated condition. According to sources, no definitive timeline has been set for his return, as he is scheduled to visit a doctor in the U.S. for a complete assessment.
“Ospreay has been hurting for a while, and the idea for a while was to go through All In and then rest. His injuries ended up being worse than he thought. There is no time frame on how long he’ll be out of action as he’ll be seeing a doctor in the U.S. next week to be fully checked out then he’ll have a better idea how long he’ll be out.” —Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Will Ospreay had played a pivotal role in promoting the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view, especially since it was set to take place in his hometown of London. His current absence poses challenges for the Jacksonville-based company regarding their plans for upcoming events and storylines.
Ospreay’s Perspective on WWE Talent Joining AEW
Beyond his injury updates, Ospreay previously shared his views on the influx of released WWE wrestlers immediately joining AEW. During a conversation on the JJRBTS podcast, he emphasized the importance of wrestlers proving themselves in other markets before stepping into AEW.
“For example, one of the guys who (just came in) is Speedball Mike Bailey, who was like the Indie King at one point. He was going everywhere and putting on some of the greatest matches ever. I think that’s what we’re looking at more now instead of guys that just got let go from WWE, and my heart goes out to them all, but we’re looking for guys that are appreciative of this position, who are grafting and improving the markets elsewhere instead of they just got let go from WWE and instantly assume they can come here. Nah, go out and prove to other people you’re wanted and desired.My heart goes out to all of them. It should never be assumed that ‘Oh, I got let go here, I can just walk into AEW.’ Nah, bruv. The bar is too high now. I want to see all of these guys cut their teeth elsewhere and improve the houses elsewhere. Go to New Japan, go to NOAH, go to STARDOM. Go elsewhere and improve their houses before you can think ‘Oh, I’ll just come here.’ That’s just me. There are certain guys, like Swerve (Strickland) got let go from WWE and came to AEW straight away.He’s a special one. He’s special. MVP is another, he’s special. (Bobby) Lashley, special. Shelton (Benjamin), special. I want people to be like, you can’t just come walk in. I really do think the independents need it right now. They need someone to help guide this next generation to come through. That’s just me, personally. I don’t mean that in any type of disrespectful way. Right now, AEW we are the best wrestlers right now, and all those guys who have been let go, tragically, are really good pro wrestlers, but you can’t just be good anymore. You’ve got to be elite.” —Will Ospreay
Ospreay stressed that former WWE talents should gain experience and elevate their craft within various respected wrestling organizations such as New Japan Pro-Wrestling or Pro Wrestling NOAH before assuming spots in AEW. He recognized exceptions like Swerve Strickland, MVP, Bobby Lashley, and Shelton Benjamin, who transitioned directly and have proven themselves.
Future Prospects and Recovery Outlook
With Will Ospreay’s condition revealing setbacks, the wrestling community watches anxiously to see how the AEW star’s recovery will unfold. His upcoming medical examinations will provide critical information about the severity of his injuries and potential return schedules. AEW will likely need to adjust its programming and storylines to accommodate his absence, especially given the significance of his role in their cross-promotional events and key story arcs.
As Ospreay focuses on healing, fans and colleagues alike hope for a safe and steady recovery. His eventual comeback will be carefully managed to ensure he returns at full strength, preserving his status as a top competitor in AEW and professional wrestling at large.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. How many 5 star matches Will Ospreay?
A. A total of 290 matches have received 5 or more stars. Will Ospreay holds the record with 52 individual matches.
Ospreay is among five wrestlers given five stars for two matches on the same night. The others are Akira Hokuto, Kyoko Inoue, Manami Toyota, and Toshiyo Yamada.
