AEW star Will Ospreay has not competed since early July following a victory with Swerve Strickland over the Young Bucks. Ospreay has revealed on “AEW Dynamite” that he is dealing with a herniated disc in his neck but expects to make a comeback at the Forbidden Door event later this month. According to Dave Meltzer in today’s Wrestling Observer newsletter, Ospreay has been managing ongoing neck issues for several months, only recently realizing the injury’s severity. This situation is somewhat similar to WWE’s Kevin Owens, who is also sidelined by a neck injury but faces a much longer recovery time, with a return not expected until 2026. Meltzer cautions that returning too soon from such a serious injury could jeopardize Ospreay’s long-term career, emphasizing that professional wrestling should be approached as a marathon rather than a sprint.
The Forbidden Door event is set for Sunday, August 24th, at the O2 Arena in London. The only announced matches include Athena facing Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s World Championship and the AEW World Tag Team Champions, The Hardy Syndicate, defending their titles against the winner of an ongoing tournament, with Hiroshi Tanahashi involved in the storyline.
Fan Take: This update on Ospreay’s injury is crucial for AEW fans as it highlights the real risks wrestlers face and the importance of prioritizing health over a rushed return. Ospreay’s recovery journey could shape not only his career trajectory but also how AEW handles athlete injuries moving forward, potentially influencing the sport’s approach to wrestler welfare.
