The main event of AEW’s Forbidden Door pay-per-view on Sunday night concluded with a brutal post-match attack on Will Ospreay, a storyline development designed to write him off television as he prepares to undergo surgery for a legitimate neck injury. After his team emerged victorious in a violent Lights Out Steel Cage match, Ospreay was ambushed by Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli of the Death Riders.
The Grueling Main Event
The main event was an unsanctioned 10-man tag team Lights Out Steel Cage match, pitting the team of Ospreay, Darby Allin, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, and Hiroshi Tanahashi against the Death Riders (Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli), The Young Bucks, and Gabe Kidd. After a chaotic 32-minute battle that featured tables, ladders, and barbed wire, Tanahashi pinned Matt Jackson to secure the victory for his team in what was billed as his final match in England.
The Post-Match Attack
After his teammates celebrated and exited the cage, Ospreay remained in the ring alone to soak in the adulation from the London crowd. As he exited the cage, he was blindsided by a European uppercut from Castagnoli. Castagnoli then locked the cage door, trapping Ospreay inside with Jon Moxley. The two Death Riders proceeded to beat down Ospreay, hitting him with DDTs before wrapping a steel chair around his neck. Moxley then stomped on the chair, targeting Ospreay’s already injured neck.
Ospreay’s Real-Life Neck Injury
The on-screen attack serves as a storyline explanation for Ospreay’s upcoming, real-life absence from AEW. In the weeks leading up to Forbidden Door, Ospreay publicly revealed that he has been dealing with a serious neck injury. He stated in interviews and on an episode of AEW Dynamite that he has two herniated discs (C2 and C6) that are pushing against his spinal cord.
The brutal nature of the post-match assault, specifically targeting Ospreay’s neck, directly plays into his real-life medical situation. The angle effectively writes him off of television, allowing him the time he needs to have surgery and recover. It also perfectly sets up a major, personal feud for his return, as he will have a clear reason to seek revenge against Jon Moxley and the Death Riders. Following the attack, trainers and other wrestlers rushed to check on Ospreay as the pay-per-view went off the air.
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