A 2024 pay-per-view headliner pairing will be run back next week as part of AEW’s 2025 Summer Blockbuster card.
Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland will face off in singles competition next Wednesday at the Theater of the Clouds at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, as confirmed on this week’s Fyter Fest TV special.
Ospreay called out Strickland to open Wednesday’s broadcast. His reasoning behind wanting to battle it out against his own friend is due to a growing fear that Strickland’s feud with Adam Page will prevent “Hangman” from dethroning Jon Moxley and claiming the AEW World Championship at All In 2025.
.@WillOspreay wants @SwerveConfident next week at #AEWSummerBlockbuster?!
Watch #AEWFyterFest LIVE on TBS & MAX pic.twitter.com/idJJRYbxsn
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 5, 2025
“I never want to have a fight with Swerve, he’s been my friend for about 12 years. I’ve known him since I was about 20 years old. Look, it’s not my brightest idea to try and get Swerve and Hangman on the same page. I mean, they actually hate one another. I can’t even stress that enough. I just think they’re not the enemy here. The enemy is Jon Moxley. If I could just put aside their differences for one night, one bloody night, retrieve the belt, then kill each other.
[…]
I’ve given Hangman Page my word, my word means something. I will play a part in ensuring that world title comes back. Last week I said to Swerve, who’s the bigger threat: Hangman or the Death Riders? I can’t help but feel, maybe Swerve’s that threat as well. Hangman said that he doesn’t want to see Swerve as champion. Swerve wants to do the same thing to Hangman, and, I can’t let that happen. So if I have to be the one to stop you… [Crowd chanted: ‘Who’s house?’] If I don’t step in, Swerve ain’t got a house. Full stop. So here’s what’s happening: Swerve, listen to me, and listen to me clear. Swerve, I love you brother. I seriously do. I would take a bullet for you, in a heartbeat. But before I would take a bullet for you, I would take a bullet for AEW. So next week, at Summer Blockbuster, I’m calling you out for a fight, lad.”
Later on in the broadcast, it was confirmed that Ospreay and Strickland will face off during next week’s show.
The last singles meeting between Ospreay and Strickland took place in the main event of last year’s Forbidden Door card for the AEW World Championship. Strickland prevailed in that encounter, defeating Ospreay in 27 minutes.
Next week’s show, much like Wednesday’s Fyter Fest card, will be a four-hour TV special on TNT.
The show is also expected to feature the first-ever tag match with MJF alongside the Hurt Syndicate. The former AEW World Champion will team with Shelton Benjamin and Bobby Lashley to take on Kevin Knight, Mike Bailey and Komander, who were given a match against the Syndicate after winning their trios bout on Wednesday evening.
It’s also expected that CMLL talent Mistico will be in action. It was teased this week that the upcoming bout could set up a matchup between him and MJF at AEW Grand Slam Mexico.
Other additions to the card include Thekla’s second AEW appearance, a match featuring world champ Toni Storm, and a contract signing for the upcoming Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada bout at All In.
Here’s an updated look at next week’s show:
- Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland
- Toni Storm vs. Julia Hart
- Kenny Omega & Kazuchika Okada All In contract signing
- Shelton Benjamin, Bobby Lashley & MJF vs. Kevin Knight, Mike Bailey & Komander
- Kyle Fletcher vs. Anthony Bowens
- Thekla vs. Queen Aminata
- Mistico in action
