Will Ospreay Provides Injury Update, Declares War on the Death Riders

Will Ospreay made his way to the ring for an in-ring interview with Tony Schiavone, just eleven days removed from a vicious attack by the Death Riders at AEW All In: Texas.

Ospreay opened by revealing that his appearance hadn’t been cleared in advance; even Tony Khan didn’t know. “I flew myself over. 3 p.m., knocked on his door. Jumped out of his seat, super excited as always, couldn’t believe I was walking,” Ospreay explained. “I said, can I have five minutes just to come talk to everybody, just to give everyone an update, let everyone know what’s going on.”

The update was deeply personal. Ospreay admitted that he’s been wrestling through a neck injury for nearly ten months. “Usually with our medical staff, they’re on it straight away. As soon as they hear ‘neck injury,’ they want to stop it. They want to ensure our safety. The difference is… I haven’t spoken to anyone. I’ve been keeping this to myself. That’s on me,” he said.

He continued, “I should have been telling the medical staff. I should tell referees. I should tell the wrestlers. But I just … I really wanted to get us over the finish line.” Ospreay reminded fans that he made promises: to Swerve Strickland, to Hangman Page, and to everyone watching. “I will play a part in retrieving that World Championship,” he said. “And although that sacrifice was great, I’m proud to say, we got that belt back, boys.”

Ospreay then shared the full extent of the damage from the Death Riders’ ambush. “I was rushed to the emergency room. I was put on an MRI. In my C2 and my C6, I have two herniated discs that have gone into my spinal cord.” Though the news was serious, there was a glimmer of hope. “Every doctor I’ve spoken to said it is treatable. So with the right treatment… I should be back for Forbidden Door.”

Before wrapping up, Ospreay had messages for the men who stood beside him and for those who betrayed him. “Swerve, love you brother. Thank you so much for what you’ve done. Hangman Page, it was an honor fighting by your side and I’m proud to call you my World Champion.” But to the Death Riders, his message was sharp and unforgiving: “The moment I’m feeling healthy? Where I’m from, it’s an eye for an eye. So you better believe I’m coming for each and every one of you little dickheads.”

As he finished his speech, Shane “Swerve” Strickland came out to embrace his friend and comrade, raising Ospreay’s hand to a massive ovation from the Chicago crowd. The war may have paused for now, but it’s far from over.

Swerve Strickland def. Hechicero by Disqualification

In a highly technical and hard-hitting bout on AEW Dynamite, Swerve Strickland squared off with the Don Callis Family’s submission specialist Hechicero. Don Callis joined the commentary desk, proclaiming Hechicero to be “better than El Santo… better than Bandido,” and warning that Swerve “can’t out-wrestle a killer.”

The early goings were a clinic in Lucha mat grappling. Swerve worked a top wristlock, but Hechicero quickly countered with double overhooks and tied Strickland in knots, manipulating his jaw and searching for a triangle choke. Swerve rolled out and attempted an abdominal stretch, but Hechicero reached the ropes to break the hold. Callis noted, “There’s no submission move you can put on Hechicero that he hasn’t seen countered 10 times before”.

After absorbing shoulder blocks and chops in the corner, Strickland hit a vertical suplex to shift momentum. A roundhouse kick followed, and Swerve went up top and connected with a 450 splash, but Hechicero kicked out at two.

Hechicero battled back, using a sleeper hold and transitioning into a cross armbar, forcing Swerve to roll him into a pin for a two-count. Strickland rebounded with a rolling thunder reverse STO and looked poised to take control when disaster struck. Just as Strickland readied for the killshot, Lance Archer hit the ring, attacking him without provocation. Referee Rick Knox had no choice but to throw the match out.

The Don Callis Family wasn’t finished. Archer and Hechicero continued the assault until Bandido and Brody King charged in to even the odds. But Kazuchika Okada appeared from behind, looking to take out Strickland with a steel chair. Swerve, however, was ready. He wriggled out of Okada trying to hit a Tombstone on the chair after he smacked Swerve across the back, then attempted to take out Okada with the chair himself, only for Okada to narrowly escape, stunned but not broken.