Backstage Update on Why AEW Booked Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland at Forbidden Door 2024

This past Sunday’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2024 event in Long Island, New York featured Swerve Strickland defeating Will Ospreay to retain his AEW World Championship in the main event.

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reported that his sources stated that Ospreay played a major role in AEW officials decision to book his match at Forbidden Door 2024 instead of potentially holding it off until this August’s All In 2024 event. Ospreay reportedly was unhappy with the idea and online perception that Strickland’s title reign was just a placeholder for Ospreay to win it at All In.

Those spoken to close to Ospreay reportedly stated that Ospreay had talked to AEW executives informing them that he wanted to help Strickland look good in his current title reign. Ospreay reportedly was okay with losing to Strickland since he has big plans for this year and wanted to show that teamwork is important for AEW’s success.

Sapp reported that Ospreay made this decision after winning the AEW International Championship to show that even top wrestlers should lose to the World Champion sometimes. Several people within AEW reportedly felt that this was Ospreay’s way to prove a point.

Sapp reported that many people had expected Ospreay and Strickland to face off at All In 2024 but those spoken to stated that was never the actual plan by AEW officials and instead both of them have different matches currently scheduled for the event.

Those spoken to within AEW reportedly stated that Ospreay has been easy to work with and often helps other talents with their matches.