A recent report has provided more details about the upcoming match between Will Ospreay and AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door.
The surprising announcement of this match for the pay-per-view event caught many fans off guard, especially considering Ospreay’s rapid rise in AEW and Strickland’s relatively short two-month championship reign.
According to the insights shared by Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, sources disclosed that Ospreay, who shares a close friendship with Strickland, grew tired of the perception that Strickland was merely holding the title as a temporary placeholder. In a bid to dispel this narrative, Ospreay took the initiative to approach AEW management and express his willingness to elevate Strickland. He reportedly envisions significant creative opportunities for the year ahead and viewed this match as a chance to demonstrate the spirit of collaboration essential for AEW’s success.
Ospreay’s decision to engage with AEW management followed his victory in securing the AEW International Championship, underscoring his belief that no one should consider themselves exempt from losing to the reigning world champion.
Sapp additionally noted that originally, a match between Ospreay and Strickland was not on the agenda for AEW All In, as there were already different opponents lined up for each wrestler.
Don’t miss out on WrestleZone’s coverage of the upcoming AEW Dynamite episode on July 3.
