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AEW has done an exceptional job of handling Swerve Strickland’s organic rise to the top of the card over the last year. The only drawback has been how it’s coincided with the arrival of Will Ospreay from New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
When Strickland bested “Hangman” Adam Page in a Texas Death match at Full Gear in November 2023, it was the same night Ospreay announced he had signed with the company.
Five months later at Dynasty, despite Strickland winning the AEW World Championship in the main event, he was overshadowed by the Match of the Year contender the Englishman had with Bryan Danielson.
Strickland’s title defense against Ospreay at Forbidden Door on Sunday was all about reminding the world why he belongs in the upper echelon of AEW with stars the caliber of The Aerial Assassin.
Not only did he have the performance of a lifetime, but Strickland also managed to put his rival down for the count in clean fashion.
That unquestionably cements Strickland as the face of AEW. Ospreay doesn’t fall far behind whatsoever, and after the stellar showing he had, there’s no reason to think he won’t be back in contention for the championship at some point in the not-too-distant future.