The hits just keep on coming. Just a few minutes after the introduction of the brand new All-Atlantic Championship, AEW kept the surprises coming as Will Ospreay and United Empire made their presence felt beating down Trent Beretta and FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) to continue an angle that started a few weeks prior on Dynamite.
In the midst of a fantastic and competitive Ring of Honor Tag Team Championship match between champions FTR and challengers Roppongi Vice (Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta), United Empire’s Great O-Khan and Jeff Cobb showed up unexpectedly causing a DQ as the duo wrecked both teams. Tonight, Trent made a point to remind FTR of that interference as he argued that he and Romero should get a rematch given they never lost. Before FTR could grant that request, however, a familiar song hit, and out came Will Ospreay, making his AEW debut. But while all eyes were on Ospreay, the other half of the United Empire (Aaron Henare and Aussie Open‘s Mark Davis and Kyle Fletcher) charged the ring, attacking Beretta and FTR from behind.
Look who is here at #AEWDynamite! It's the leader of the #UnitedEmpire, @njpwglobal's @WillOspreay, and he's brought reinforcements in #AussieOpen (@kylefletcherpro/@DUNKZILLADavis) & @HenareNZ! #AEWDynamite is LIVE on @TBSNetwork! pic.twitter.com/CBSpgo8gCW
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 9, 2022
A message has clearly been sent. The United Empire has been a force to be reckoned with, both in New Japan Pro Wrestling and across the pond in NJPW Strong. Ospreay’s band of vicious soldiers has wreaked havoc wherever they have gone, with O-Khan and Cobb even capturing the IWGP Tag Team titles on one occasion. But the star of the group is undoubtedly the 29-year-old Ospreay who has ascended as one of NJPW’s top gaijins over the past few years. Ospreay has plied his craft around the world, having recently worked for promotions including NJPW, NJPW Strong, ROH, as well as Warrior Wrestling and RevPro, where he is currently the top champion in both promotions. Formerly a mainstay in NJPW’s juniors division, Ospreay took the step into the heavyweight title scene a few years ago and hasn’t looked back. In his career, Ospreay has won 21 titles and has had countless five-star and five-plus star matches.
Ospreay made his intentions for Forbidden Door known a few months ago shortly after the show was first announced. And while the Commonwealth Kingpin was aware of the dream match potential awaiting him, he said he would prefer to face one of AEW’s lesser established stars. That could still be the case, though right now, all roads are heading toward this Friday night’s Rampage as it was announced that Ospreay will make his AEW in-ring debut teaming with Aussie Open to take on FTR and Trent Beretta.
Trios match announced between FTR and Trent vs Will Ospreay and Aussie Open for AEW Rampage this Friday! #AEWDynamite #AEWRampage pic.twitter.com/92o8sKf9uY
— Denise 'Hollywood' Salcedo (@_denisesalcedo) June 9, 2022
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world. As well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can catch AEW Dynamite Wednesday nights at 8 PM ET on TBS and AEW Dark: Elevation (Monday nights) and AEW: Dark (Tuesday nights) at 7 PM ET on YouTube. AEW Rampage airs on TNT at 10 PM EST every Friday night. You can catch Forbidden Door live on PPV on June 26th.
