The fans already seem very glad to see Will Ospreay in AEW in an official capacity as Daon Callis joins the announce team for this one. Konosuke Takeshita looks ready for him too, and they lock up to a bit of a stalemate.
Ospreay gets in some stiff slaps, then a headscissors before blowing a kiss to the crowd. Here comes strikes in both directions again, and a jumping clothesline from Takeshita to finish the exchange.
Takeshita crotches Ospreay in the corner and smashes a forearm shot, then executes a delayed vertical suplex that’s good only for a one count. He stays in control and hears some jeers from the fans.
A forearm to the chest puts Ospreay back down, but he rises with some chops and an uppercut. Takeshita’s hip toss is countered by an abdominal stretch, and Ospreay takes to the skies for the first time for an elbow strike.
Ospreay’s rebound handspring corkscrew kick lands, and Takeshita finds no respite on the floor as a springboard cross body finds him. A belly-to-back suplex is on target, but Takeshita quickly kicks out at one.
Kicks to the face lead to another big Ospreay chop, but Takeshita fires right back with a facebuster, a big kick and a tope con hilo. Referee Bryce Remsburg is up to about six when both men return to the ring.
Takeshita launches into a senton but catches knees, yet he’s able to avoid an Ospreay top rope move and hit a German suplex for a near fall. Back and forth come the big moves, leaving both men on the mat while the fans rise to their feet.
Loud “this is awesome” chants break out as the combatants deliver forearm shots on their knees. That battle continues on the feet, and Takeshita wilts first.
A rolling elbow strike has the referee checking on Takeshita, but he’s good to go. He even grabs Ospreay’s boot in the corner for his own big forearm shot, wobbling his foe. An even bigger shot is next, dropping Ospreay to his back though Takeshita is too worn out to cover.
A series of counters leads to a series of kicks from Ospreay, as well as a Tiger Driver for two. An Oscutter comes next, but it’s countered by a Blue Thunder Bomb for two right back.
Now it’s a “Fight Forever” chant, and well deserved. More kicks force Takeshita back, and an Oscutter finally connects for a near fall. Can Ospreay seal the deal here? Nope, as Takeshita sees the Hidden Blade coming and very nearly wins it with another stiff strike.
A battle in the corner ends with Ospreay’s thrust kick to his foe’s exposed face. However, Takeshita fends off a hurricanrana and drops Ospreay with a sheer drop brainbuster onto the turnbuckle that is a wicked bump for sure. Neither that nor a running knee, however, are enough to pin Ospreay.
Another exchange of counters leads to a Stundog Millionaire and a poison rana, but Takeshita fights right back with two impressive moves. Ospreay flies across for a clothesline only to have Takeshita kick out at one.
Takeshita runs over Ospreay but sees the running knee countered by a powerbomb. A Styles Clash is next, and yet it’s still not enough to wrap it up.
A Tiger Driver ’91 puts Takeshita down, and the Hidden Blade keeps him there. Kyle Fletcher joins Ospreay in the ring afterward, throwing up the United Empire sign with him.
[lawrence-related id=46215]