Will Ospreay and Kenny Omega pushed each other to the limit for the second time this year at Forbidden Door Sunday night in Toronto. In what seems certain to be a Match of the Year finalist for anyone who gives out such honors, they took huge risks, showed incredible heart and bled what seemed like buckets of blood.
They also probably don’t like each other any more now than they did before the sequel to their equally mesmerizing meeting this January at Wrestle Kingdom. But it sounds like they do respect one another.
In a tweet sent earlier today, Ospreay called his victory over Omega “legitimately the most challenging and yet rewarding task of my life” and said that the Canadian superstar had earned the right to say he was “above elite.”
Kenny Omega is once in a lifetime.
There will never be anyone that will be able to master the craft the way he has.
Overcoming him was legitimately the most challenging and yet rewarding task of my life.While everyone can say they’re “all elite”
You can say you’re above elite
— ᵂⁱˡˡ ᴼˢᵖʳᵉᵃʸ • ウィル・オスプレイ (@WillOspreay) June 26, 2023
That followed Omega saying that the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship — which Omega had claimed from Ospreay in their first matchup — “is in good hands” while imploring Ospreay to keep it away from Don Callis, who aided the new champ by slipping him a screwdriver.
I lost and Will was the better man tonight. The US belt is in good hands. Keep Don away from it. #AEWxNJPW #forbiddendoor
— Kenny Omega (@KennyOmegamanX) June 26, 2023
Omega is apparently OK after a wince-inducing spot during the bout where he appeared to land directly on his head taking a Tiger Driver ’91 from Ospreay. AEW CEO and GM Tony Khan declined to give a detailed update on Omega’s health while talking to the media after Forbidden Door but said he hoped Omega would be fine.
The fact that the series between the two wrestlers is now tied 1-1 raises the prospect of a potential rubber match, with two big events looming as possibilities. AEW is holding its biggest show ever, All Out London in Wembley Stadium, later this summer, and Khan has mentioned that he expects some NJPW talent may be involved.
If that’s too soon to run it back, Wrestle Kingdom is always an option next January in Tokyo. If a third bout does happen, it’s probably not going to see Ospreay and Omega be buddies leading into it, but at least wrestling fans know now the mutual respect between them is definitely there.