In the main event of the AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door 2024 PPV, Swerve Strickland defeated AEW International Champion Will Ospreay to retain the AEW World Championship.
Former WCW President Eric Bischoff was impressed by this booking decision and praised AEW President Tony Khan. Here’s what Bischoff said on his podcast:
“I’m gonna say this right off the f**king bat, kudos to Tony Khan in his creative decision, perhaps the best one he’s ever made. Having Will Ospreay put over Swerve and not only, by the way, put over Swerve but make Swerve look like a billion bucks. Ospreay can make himself look really, really good, he made Swerve.
Swerve got the opportunity and he was in there with a pro in Ospreay. Ospreay did everything he could in his power to make that a phenomenal freaking match. Not taking anything from Swerve but Swerve couldn’t have done what he did to the level he did it without someone as professional and as talented as Ospreay.
I can’t say enough good things about it. It gives me some hope, it actually does, it was powerful enough to give me hope.”
Ospreay, a longtime friend and in-ring rival of Strickland, grew frustrated with the notion that Swerve’s title reign was merely a placeholder for him to eventually claim the championship at All In. Fightful Select reported that this perception prompted Ospreay to take action.
Will approached AEW management to pitch the idea of putting over Strickland, aiming to dispel the placeholder narrative. Those close to Ospreay and within All Elite Wrestling said that Ospreay wanted to demonstrate that AEW’s success required a collective effort.
This initiative came after Ospreay won the International Title, emphasizing that no one should be above losing to the World Champion. Some within the promotion believed that Ospreay was proving a point through this push.
Despite rumors, an Ospreay vs. Swerve match at All In was never planned. Both wrestlers have different opponents lined up.
Ospreay has received internal praise for his willingness to help others in the company with their matches, reinforcing his commitment to AEW’s team-oriented approach.
This was Ospreay’s first pinfall loss in All Elite Wrestling.
Reacting to his loss, Ospreay shared the following promo from former 2-time UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno:
— Will Ospreay • ウィル・オスプレイ (@WillOspreay) July 1, 2024
On the other hand, Strickland tweeted the following after his successful title defense:
“There’s being on another level. Then there’s Swerves level.”
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