Top AEW Superstar Dealing With Serious Injury

Newsweek

4 days ago

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AEW star Will Ospreay has confirmed that he is dealing with a legitimate and serious neck injury. On the July 23rd episode of AEW Dynamite, Ospreay made his first appearance since the All In pay-per-view to deliver a difficult and honest update on his health.
In an emotional in-ring promo segment with Tony Schiavone, Ospreay revealed the nature of the injury. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer has since confirmed that the injury is legitimate and not part of a storyline.
Ospreay told the live crowd that he has been struggling with neck issues for about ten months but has been keeping the pain to himself. After being taken to the emergency room following the attack at All In, an MRI revealed the severity of the damage.
He announced that he has two herniated discs (C2 and C6) that are pushing into his spinal cord. Despite the serious nature of the diagnosis, Ospreay offered a glimmer of hope.
Ospreay said that doctors have told him the ailments are treatable and that he hopes to be ready to compete at next month's AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door event in his home country of England.
All Elite Wrestling ALL IN at Wembley Stadium in London on August 27, 2023.
All Elite Wrestling ALL IN at Wembley Stadium in London on August 27, 2023.
Courtesy of AEW
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Neck injuries are among the most feared in professional wrestling, often altering or ending careers. The news is especially concerning given Ospreay's breathtaking, high-impact in-ring style.
Known as the "Aerial Assassin," his matches are a whirlwind of acrobatic, high-risk maneuvers that put immense strain on his neck and spine.
For years, fans and critics have marveled at his ability to perform moves like the Stormbreaker and the OsCutter, while also worrying about the long-term physical toll. This injury appears to be the unfortunate result of that punishing style.
AEW is using the brutal storyline attack from the All In: Texas pay-per-view as the on-screen explanation for the injury. At the event, after Ospreay had already competed in a grueling tag team match, he got involved in the main event. He was then attacked by the Death Riders faction, with Claudio Castagnoli stomping his head through a steel chair.
The violent angle wrote Ospreay off television and now serves as the justification for his real-life injury. After his promo on Dynamite, his All In tag team partner, Swerve Strickland, came out to the stage to embrace him in a sign of support.
The wrestling world now wishes one of its best performers a full and speedy recovery.
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