This past Sunday at AEW’s Forbidden Door, fans witnessed an electrifying showdown as AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland defended his title against AEW International Champion Will Ospreay. While the match received widespread acclaim, many fans were left scratching their heads, wondering why this high-stakes bout took place so early in the summer instead of at next month’s All In in London, Ospreay’s hometown.
The Backstory: Ospreay’s Unexpected Move
A recent report from Fightful Select has pulled back the curtain on the surprising timing of this match. According to sources within AEW and those close to Ospreay, it was the high-flying Brit himself who pushed for the match to happen at Forbidden Door.
Ospreay reached out to AEW higher-ups, expressing his desire to elevate his long-time friend Strickland and dispel any notions that Swerve’s reign was just a temporary placeholder until All In. Ospreay, a true team player, wanted to show that even top-tier talents are not above putting over the reigning World Champion. One insider noted that a “point was being proven” with this decision.
Setting the Record Straight
The report also clarifies that an Ospreay vs. Strickland match at All In was never actually in the cards. Ospreay has significant creative plans lined up for the rest of 2024, so he was more than willing to use Forbidden Door as a stage to support Strickland’s reign and make a statement about the value of teamwork and sportsmanship in AEW.
What’s Next for AEW?
As fans speculate about Ospreay’s next opponent when AEW returns to Wembley Stadium, one thing is certain: Swerve Strickland’s championship journey continues. His next defense will be against the winner of the Men’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament, with the semifinals kicking off tomorrow night on “AEW Dynamite: Beach Break.”