Several top AEW stars are expected to be sidelined “for a while” following recent incidents that removed them from television appearances. At the Everything in Texas event, Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay defeated Matthew and Nicholas Jackson, leading to Ospreay losing his $1 EVP Young status. Ospreay reappeared during the main event where Hangman Adam Page bested Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship. During that match, Ospreay tried to help Page but was assaulted by Deathriders, who then took him away on a stretcher.
According to the latest Wrestling Observer newsletter, the attack was a storyline device to write Ospreay off AEW TV temporarily, but his injuries are more serious than initially expected. Dave Meltzer noted that Ospreay planned to rest and be fully evaluated in the U.S. next week, though there is no set timeframe for his return due to the severity of his injuries.
Ospreay had been highlighted in the promotion of the first AEW and NJPW joint event in London. Additionally, Samoa Joe was stretchered off after OPPS (Samoa Joe, Katsuyori Shibata & Powerhouse Hobbs) defeated Death Riders and Gabe Kidd. Members of OPPS are also set to appear in the second season of the Twisted Metal TV series. On a personal note, Ospreay recently announced his engagement to AEW star Alex Windsor.
Wrestletalk sends their best wishes for a speedy recovery to all injured stars.
Fan Take: This news is significant for AEW fans as it highlights the physical risks top stars face and the impact on storylines and event dynamics. It also underscores how AEW’s partnerships and larger media projects are interconnected with the wrestlers’ careers, making their health crucial for the sport’s growth and fan engagement.
