Published: 4 hours ago by Dave Adamson | Last Updated: 12 hours ago by Dave Adamson
Dave has been a website writer for WrestleTalk since October 2022, having previously written for Den of Geek, among a number of wrestling, movie and television-related sites. Dave has been around the independent wrestling scene for more than a decade, including behind-the-scenes.
AEW
With two opposing exchanges, the final moments of AEW WrestleDream and a backstage conversation suggest a trial ahead for Will Ospreay.
At AEW WrestleDream, Will Ospreay retained the World Championship in Clockwork Carnage, scoring the final pin to secure his victory over Cope.
Adam Copeland has made it clear that 2027 will be his final year as a full-time in-ring competitor, but it looks like he will be going out in style, as was seen in the ring and through backstage comments:
What was said in the AEW WrestleDream ring?
It wasn’t a bombastic promo where both stars praised the quality of each other, but an up-close and personal exchange that didn’t have the benefit of a microphone.
A handshake saw Cope bring the AEW World Champion close, with the veteran star pointing at the title and appearing to say:
“I want that.”
The moment appeared to leave Ospreay momentarily shaken, before regaining his composure and celebrating in the ring with the fans at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Florida.
What happened after AEW WrestleDream?
A conversation with Renee Paquette shared on X saw Ospreay share the pride he felt as AEW World Champion, representing his company and people.
He would end the interview but find Cope around the corner, calling his defense against the two-time TNT Champion “a dream come true”.
Asking Cope if next year is really the last ride for the veteran star, Ospreay would go on to ask Cope to save a date for him during his retirement run.
When will that match happen?
“Next year” doesn’t suggest that we’ll be seeing Ospreay vs. Cope at either Full Gear or Worlds End, with the next pay-per-view on the AEW calendar being Dynasty in February 2027.
AEW Dynasty takes place in Liverpool, England, and while it may not be Ospreay’s home town, it’s certainly his home country, and the current World Champion is likely to want to represent it with the same pride as his title reign.
Cope has nothing to lose
A first-time singles match, the outcome could see Cope add the AEW World Championship to his tally of the TNT Championship and World Tag Team Championship.
Arguably, in his last year, he has little to lose with a win or a loss, but, by the same reasoning, he has everything to gain through an AEW World Championship reign in 2027. The idea of a reckless, merciless and unrelenting Cope, proving to a new generation of stars that the “old dogs” have more than just bark, would be a lasting legacy for a star who is coming up on his 35th year as a professional wrestler.
Setting the standard
For Ospreay, a victory over Cope in singles action would also have impact, with the Aerial Assassin clearly respecting everything that Copeland has achieved.
There’s opportunity to not deliver quickly, too, with Ospreay and a United Empire teammate able to step into the ring with Cage & Cope before the singles match pay-off.
Whenever the singles match happens, this could very well be the “I’m sorry, I love you” moment for a new generation of stars.
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