AEW standout Will Ospreay has been noticeably absent from in-ring competition since early July, when he teamed with Swerve Strickland to defeat The Young Bucks at All In. While Ospreay recently addressed his absence on AEW Dynamite, revealing that he’s been dealing with herniated discs in his neck, there’s now more insight into just how serious his condition might be.
According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reports that Ospreay has been battling neck issues for months. The severity of the injury, however, only became fully apparent to him recently. That delay in diagnosis mirrors a similar situation WWE’s Kevin Owens faced earlier this year—though in Owens’ case, the damage was reportedly worse and may keep him sidelined into 2026.
Ospreay had expressed optimism about returning by Forbidden Door, which is set for Sunday, August 24 at London’s O2 Arena. However, Meltzer is skeptical that timeline is realistic, suggesting a rushed comeback could jeopardize Ospreay’s long-term health and potentially shorten his career.
“Pro wrestling should be viewed as a marathon, not a sprint,” Meltzer wrote, emphasizing the importance of patience when it comes to injury recovery.
As of now, Ospreay is not officially booked for Forbidden Door. The show currently features “Timeless” Toni Storm defending the AEW Women’s World Championship against ROH Women’s Champion Athena, the Hurt Syndicate putting their AEW World Tag Team Titles on the line against the winners of an ongoing tag tournament, and a featured bout involving NJPW legend Hiroshi Tanahashi as he nears the twilight of his in-ring career.
Fans are hoping for a speedy recovery for Ospreay, but all signs point to AEW playing the long game with one of their top international stars—a wise move if they want him at 100% for the long haul.
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