AEW President Tony Khan praised Will Ospreay following the conclusion of Forbidden Door, stating the star “came to AEW at a time where we really needed him.” Khan’s comments came after Ospreay was stretchered out of the arena, the result of a post-match assault by the Death Riders.
The situation is compounded by Ospreay’s scheduled surgery for two herniated discs pushing against his spinal cord. He has reportedly been competing with the injury for ten months, with the procedure potentially sidelining him for at least a year.
In the post-show media scrum, Khan drew a parallel between Ospreay’s arrival and Ric Flair’s move to the WWF. “When Ric Flair… came in I watched the standard of wrestling go up,” Khan said. He described Ospreay as a “workhorse” who “injected new life into the promotion” and set an unparalleled standard of excellence.
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Khan also expressed his disapproval of the actions of Jon Moxley and his stable. “I was pretty disappointed at what happened after the match tonight,” Khan stated. “What could have been a great moment… ended in a very serious situation.”
The uncertainty following the attack overlays a period of significant personal anxiety for Ospreay. Leading up to Forbidden Door, the 32-year-old admitted to being “anxious,” “scared,” and “generally, terrified” about his first-ever operation.
His 10-man “Lights Out” steel cage match was framed as a final performance before the lengthy recovery. Ospreay viewed it as a crucial moment to perform as the wrestler fans know, in case the surgery permanently alters his in-ring abilities. “If there’s even the smallest chance that I’m not going to be the same… I need to go out there and be me,” he stated before the match.
A primary source of his fear is the possibility of having to abandon his signature “Aerial Assassin” style. However, Ospreay has drawn inspiration from performers like Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger and AJ Styles, who successfully adapted their styles after injuries. He has also received support from Adam Copeland, who advised him on the mental challenges of recovery from career-threatening surgery.
Khan concluded his scrum appearance by reiterating his gratitude and concern for the departing star. “That was probably not how I would have wanted a storybook ending for Will Ospreay, but I just want to thank him for everything he’s been doing for AEW… I was sorry to see him leaving in the condition he left in.” h/t 411mania.
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