AND STILL — Swerve Strickland retained the AEW World Championship at Forbidden Door.
Strickland won a highly exciting main event against Will Ospreay. It took three House Calls and a JML Driver to put away Ospreay, who refused to use the screwdriver offered to him by Don Callis.
Strickland’s reign currently stands at 69 days, as he won the title at AEW Dynasty in April.
AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door results
Check out a recap of the match, courtesy of our live coverage page:
AEW World Championship: Swerve Strickland (c) (with Prince Nana) vs. Will Ospreay
Jim Jones introduces Strickland before his entrance. Ospreay and Strickland feel each other out. They trade blows. The two competitors trade counters, and they’re evenly matched. Ospreay takes control with some strikes, but Strickland fires back with his own. Ospreay drills Swerve with a boot, sending him to the outside. He dives onto Strickland at ringside. Ospreay hits Strickland with a dropkick.
Strickland and Ospreay trade blows. Strickland gains the upper hand. He hits a neckbreaker in the ropes. Ospreay rallies and goes to dive onto the champion, but Swerve evades it. Strickland sends Ospreay into the barricade. Ospreay takes him down with a hurricanrana off the barricade. Strickland catches Ospreay with a back-breaker. He grounds Ospreay and mocks him with some kicks. Ospreay gets in Strickland’s face, and they trade blows. Ospreay plants Swerve with a powerbomb and Styles Clash for a two-count. Both men are down after a flurry of offense. Ospreay kicks Strickland. Strickland hits an avalanche Olympic Slam.
Ospreay nails Swerve with a kick. Swerve evades an Os-cutter, so Ospreay lands hard on the apron. He goes for a Swerve Stomp, but Ospreay rolls out of the way. Swerve calls an audible and hits a Swerve Stomp onto the broadcast table. He spikes Ospreay with a piledriver onto the barricade. Back in the ring, he slams Ospreay for a two-count. Ospreay rallies with an Os-cutter and gets a two-count with another. Strickland counters an Os-cutter. Ospreay hits another Os-cutter and hits the Storm-breaker or a two-count. Ospreay headbutts Swerve, and Swerve counters the Tiger Driver. Swerve hits the Hidden Blade. Ospreay accidentally hits the referee with a Hidden Blade.
Closing Moments
Both men are down after another Hidden Blade. Don Callis runs in and offers Ospreay a screwdriver. Ospreay takes it, and Nana shoves Callis down. Ospreay goes to attack Nana and hesitates. He opts not to, and Strickland blasts him with a kick. Strickland hits Swerve Stomp for a near fall. Strickland hits a House Call for another near fall. Ospreay is out on his feet, and Swerve hits another House Call. He scores the win by slamming Ospreay with the JML Driver.
Winner and still AEW World Champion: Swerve Strickland
Strickland celebrates his victory, and officials check on Ospreay.
READ MORE: Documentary About AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland In The Works
What are your thoughts on this match result? Did the right man leave AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door with the World Championship? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.
