Last September, former AEW International Champion Will Ospreay successfully underwent neck surgery after an MRI revealed he was suffering from two herniated discs. Recently on “AEW Dynamite,” Ospreay appeared in a video package where he expressed his determination to focus on physical recovery in appreciation of the fans’ ongoing support. However, according to Dave Meltzer from Wrestling Observer Radio, this doesn’t indicate a near-term return for “The Aerial Assassin.”
Meltzer stated, “He’s not coming back anytime soon. Last I heard, he was scheduled to begin very light training this month, but that’s still a long way off. He had major surgery, and although everyone hopes he’ll be fully back, it feels too early right now — but of course, that’s the ultimate goal.”
About two weeks ago, reports revealed that Ospreay went to Orlando, Florida, to be evaluated by AEW’s medical staff backstage during “Dynamite.” This assessment marked the initial step toward his possible comeback in AEW, offering optimism to fans who feared he might be sidelined for a year or more.
Ospreay’s last match took place on August 24th at the AEW x New Japan Pro-Wrestling Forbidden Door event in England. During that show, he and other fan favorites won Lights Out Steel Cage matches against The Young Bucks, Gabe Kidd, Jon Moxley, and Claudio Castagnoli. To write him off television, Castagnoli and Moxley theatrically wrapped a chair around Ospreay’s injured neck and stomped on it, reinforcing the severity of his condition on the storyline level.
Fan Take: This update is crucial for AEW enthusiasts as it sets realistic expectations about Ospreay’s return timeline, highlighting the serious nature of his injury. His eventual comeback could bring a thrilling dynamic back to AEW, inspiring hope for compelling matches that blend high-flying athleticism with intense storytelling.
