AEW: Will Ospreay on What Cope Told Him Ahead of Neck Surgery, MJF on Himself & Darby Allin Being The Only Genuine Pillars of AEW, Backstage Update on Hurt Syndicate Not Wanting to Lose AEW Tag Titles to FTR

Will Ospreay Comments on What Cope Told Him Ahead of Neck Surgery

CBS Sports held a recent interview with Will Ospreay. One of the topics discussed included Ospreay’s thoughts about what Adam Copeland had told him ahead of his upcoming neck surgery.

“He said, ‘The hardest things are not the surgery, it’s the mental stuff that comes afterwards. Just know that I’ve been here and I’ve done it. So any time that you want to talk and bullshit, here’s my number.”

Ospreay also gave his thoughts about how he would love to come back in the ring and be the same wrestler after the surgery but he understands that might not be realistic.

“I have that stubborn pride about myself that I would love to come back in the ring and continue doing what I was doing. But I feel like that’s what’s happened, and that’s the reason why I’ve gone down this route…I might have to kiss this part of my high-flying offense goodbye now. It’s something that I’m not ready to let go. I’ll be honest with you, I’m not ready to let go of that side of me because I think that should be done on my terms. I don’t know if that’s on the card. So I’ve got to hope that after this, I can still pick up where I left off. But if not, all the greats have done it. Justin Thunder Liger’s done it. AJ Styles has done it. I call myself the Billy G.O.A.T. for a reason. I think I can adapt.”

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MJF Comments on Himself & Darby Allin Being The Only Genuine Pillars of AEW

VICE held a recent interview with MJF. One of the topics discussed included MJF’s thoughts about if he was bothered by Hangman Adam Page being referees to as the “main character of AEW and the past talk about AEW’s “four pillars” of himself, Darby Allin, Jack Perry, and Sammy Guevara and only him and Allin being the genuine pillars.

“No (I’m not offended by Hangman Adam Page being called the main character of AEW), because realistically, the only two pillars that people genuinely thought were pillars were me and Darby (Allin). If we’re being honest here, look, I didn’t have much to work with in those early days. You know what I’m saying? Now, I most certainly do. Sammy Guevara is pretty solid though. I just think he’s really dumb. I don’t feel slighted because the new terminology for me is that I’m the main antagonist.

Which, while I disagree with it, that’s what these fans think of me, and it is what it is. At the end of the day, they’re misinformed, they’re uneducated. But I do agree with the simple fact that since day one, since 2019, your two main homegrown guys have been me and the cowboy. They refuse to say that I’m the best, even though nobody’s a better talker than me. Nobody elicits more emotion; nobody creates more intrigue. Nobody creates higher ratings. Nobody’s better in the ring than me. Nobody has better theme music than me. The list goes on and on. But yeah, I think because they hate me so much, this is frankly the only way they can give me credit. So you want me to be the main antagonist? You want me to be the bad guy? Sure, no problemo.”

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Backstage Update on Hurt Syndicate Not Wanting to Lose AEW Tag Titles to FTR

As noted before, MVP has been dealing with backstage heat within AEW over the growing frustrations over his influence on The Hurt Syndicate’s creative direction for their AEW World Tag Team Championship reign. one of the issues revolves around MVP not wanting the Hurt Syndicate to lose the titles to certain teams including FTR.

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that AEW officials had wanted for some time to put the AEW World Tag Team titles on FTR to do a program with Adam Copeland & Christian Cage leading to a match for it at All Out 2025. Meltzer reported that Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin were not for losing to FTR causing those plans to be stalled.

Meltzer reported that those spoken to stated that two ideas that floated around in recent weeks were to either do a three-way match as a way to get the belts to FTR or have Benjamin do an injury angle and FTR would get the belts that way.

In a follow-up report, Meltzer reported in Friday’s Daily Update that his sources stated that while the idea of doing an injury angle had been suggested, AEW CEO Tony Khan did not like the idea and there was never a chance of it happening.