Will Ospreay slammed the door shut on Jon Moxley’s bid for a record fifth AEW World Championship, retaining his title at All Out on Saturday in a high-stakes showdown. This wasn’t just any title defense for Ospreay; it was his first pay-per-view defense since grabbing the gold from Kenny Omega last month at All In, and it came loaded with history and a complex relationship that had everyone in the league watching.
The Killer Instinct That Started It All
Ospreay’s journey to the top of AEW wasn’t some fluke; it was a calculated ascent that started with a shocking win. He clinched his first-ever AEW World Championship by beating Kenny Omega in the main event of All In. That wasn’t just any win, either; that was a “match of the year contender” in Ospreay’s hometown of London at Wembley Stadium. Talk about making a statement! What’s even wilder is the path he took to get there. Ospreay had been heavily influenced by none other than Jon Moxley and The Death Riders. He’d actually agreed to train with them, specifically to develop that killer instinct he needed to reach the pinnacle. Moxley’s guidance helped Ospreay secure the Owen Hart Cup, which then paved the way for his championship opportunity against Omega at All In. This whole saga laid the groundwork for the clash we just saw.
Mentor, Rival, Denied: The Moxley Saga
The relationship between Ospreay and Moxley has been a rollercoaster. They started as rivals, with Moxley and The Death Riders actually putting Ospreay out of commission with a neck injury after attacking him last year at Forbidden Door. Yet, somehow, a bond formed. Even after a brief falling out at Redemption, where Ospreay refused to attack Omega after Omega defended his title against Kevin Knight, the bad blood didn’t stick around. Before Ospreay made his entrance at All In, Moxley himself emerged, handed Ospreay a flag, and gave a nod of approval for Ospreay’s title pursuit. So when Moxley got the first shot at Ospreay’s new title reign, it made total sense, given his resume and their shared history. But Ospreay wasn’t about to give an inch. He not only got his reign off to an ideal start by beating the “most decorated performer in AEW history” in Omega, but he also firmly denied Moxley’s attempt to extend his own record by becoming a five-time AEW World Champ.
Ospreay’s reign is off to a scorching start, shutting down a legend’s bid for history. What’s next for the champ? Everyone in the league is watching, because right now, this guy looks unstoppable.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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