Update On AEW Return Plans For Will Ospreay

Will Ospreay is working towards his return to action in All Elite Wrestling.

Fightful Select has reported that Ospreay was scheduled to be backstage at AEW Dynamite on Wednesday night in Orlando, Florida to begin the process of being checked out by AEW's medical team for a potential return.

The exact timetable for Ospreay's return is unknown but AEW were hopeful the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion could be factored into plans by the spring of 2026. Fightful noted they were told around Ospreay's appearance at Wrestle Kingdom 20 that he wouldn't be out of action for as long as many others who have sustained neck injuries.

Will Ospreay has been on the shelf since August 2025's AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view. He underwent neck surgery soon after, with Ospreay revealing in the summer of 2025 that he had two herniated discs in his neck.

After initially making AEW appearances while contracted to NJPW, Ospreay became a full-time AEW wrestler in early 2024. He is a two-time International Champion and has had widely praised matches with the likes of Konosuke Takeshita, Bryan Danielson, MJF, Kyle Fletcher, Swerve Strickland, Kazuchika Okada and Hangman Page.

In addition to his Wrestle Kingdom 20 appearance for Hiroshi Tanahashi's retirement ceremony, Ospreay appeared at New Year Dash and announced he would return to NJPW when he recovers from his neck injury and help Callum Newman lead the United Empire. Newman teased turning heel on Ospreay but he was blocked from using a chair by HENARE and Great-O-Khan.