Will Ospreay vs Konosuke Takeshita - AEW Revolution 2024 (Greensboro Colliseum)

Will Ospreay vs Konosuke Takeshita - AEW Revolution 2024

The highly anticipated in-ring debut of Will Ospreay since signing with AEW in late 2023, going head to head in a first time ever matchup with his Don Callis Family colleague Konosuke Takeshita. A tough test for Ospreay as he competes against someone who beat Kenny Omega twice in seven days in 2023. 

The fans on their feet at the start of the match as Ospreay looks to the crowd for his match under the AEW umbrella. A frantic start from both with Ospreay getting the better of Takeshita in the early stages. A hard hitting beginning as both men show signs of the strong style of Japanese wrestling which they are both accustomed to. 

Ospreay catches Takeshita off guard as he hits a corkscrew kick flush to the face of his opponent. Over the top rope from Ospreay as he gets the crowd involved with “oi, oi, oi” chants to take down Konosuke on the outside. 

The momentum quickly shifts back to “The Ace” as he comes back with fast offense of his own, diving on the outside with “shades of Kenny Omega” as Don Calis points out on commentary. A failed senton from the top rope gives the control back to Ospreay as he gets his knees up. However, Takeshita then reverses as Ospreay tries from the top rope which is dodged into a German suplex, which gets Ospreay “folded onto the top of his neck” as Excalibur reiterates.

The brutal back and forth action continues as Ospreay counters his opponent with a backflip off of Takeshita’s chest, quickly followed by a step up kick to the face by Ospreay. Then an immediate response with another perfect suplex by Takeshita, which he tries to follow up on the ropes, to then be met with a Spanish Fly by Osprey in a breathtaking exchange by both men. With the crowd on their feet in the Greensboro Coliseum and chants of “this is awesome”. 

An amazing atmosphere starts to build with the familiar heel vs babyface boo’s and cheers as both men exchange blows in the middle of the ring. Another showcase of the strong blows from Japanese wrestling, with two former DDT and NJPW athletes going toe to toe in this match. 

With Ospreay then dropping Takeshita with an almost super kick and sweet chin music style kick to the face and a powerful rolling elbow strike. A worried sounding Don Calis saying “Takeshta is in trouble right now”, possibly making him question making this match to begin with. 

Match official Bryce Remsburg checks on a visibly rocked Takeshita, but The Ace waves off the official. Then thunderous right arms to the face of Ospreay, with Ospreay wanting more with a version of the Ultimate Warrior coming out as he bangs on the ropes in the corner to keep himself going. The final blow to Ospreay seems to put him out but Takeshita was too exhausted for an immediate cover to try to win the match. 

Exchange after exchange in this battle as both continue to counter each other, leading to a pump kick, enzuigiri, thrust kick and Tiger Driver combination only leading to a 2 count for the Aerial Assassin. Then looking to finish the match Ospreay looks for the Oscutter but is sensationally reversed into the Blue Thunder Bomb by Takeshita. But still this breathtaking match continues. 

Both the crowd and commentary team show their appreciation for this match. The 16,000+ crowd to their feet, chanting “fight forever”. Tony Schiovane says “repeated blows” as Osprey repeats various kicks to get Takeshita onto the mat. However, a beautiful Oscutter off the ropes is needed to keep The Ace down but still not enough for the win. 

Ospreay then wants to put an end to the match with the Hidden Blade. Takeshita with a heavy right arm to counter this, in which Ospreay just manages to have the strength to “just barely get the shoulder up” as Excalibur says in disbelief, before the three count to keep the match alive.

The hard hitting continues in the match with both men on the turnbuckle in the corner. Takeshita then hits a standing spear as Ospreay is sat on the top rope, to which Ospreay replies with a superkick then the “Cheeky Nando’s” with Takeshita lying near lifeless on the turnbuckle. 

A hurricanrana attempted off the top rope to Takeshita from Ospreay but was reversed, leading to a turnbuckle brainbuster to Ospreay. Not quite executed perfectly as Ospreay seems to miss the turnbuckle and slide down the turnbuckles. With his lower back taking the impact as spotted by the commentary team, saying “look at the contusion on his back” not visible until the camera zooms in for the audience, then it can be heard as shock fills the arena.

After looking for the Wagamama, which is blocked, there is a back and forth until Ospreay lands a heavy superkick then a stundog millionaire, into a poison rana. As the Aerial Assassin looks to finish the job he goes for the storm breaker which is countered by Takeshita, then Ospreay is caught and planted on his neck/shoulders, followed by a suplex from that position. Ospreay then shows superhuman strength to deliver the… which is then kicked out at one by The Ace to the surprise of all. Don Calis can be heard on commentary in disbelief but seemingly relieved saying “HE KICKED OUT AT ONE!!”. 

After yet another high tempo exchange, Takeshita then sends Ospreay flying and flipping through the air via a clothesline off the ropes. Followed up with an attempted Wagamama again, which Ospreay catches and reverses into a power bomb before lifting him up into a Styles Clash. The crowd noticed this and realising the signature move of former NJPW talent AJ Styles. Yet still not enough to get the three count for Ospreay. 

A gasp through the arena as Ospreay deploys one of the only tools left in his arsenal. The Tiger Driver 91’. A “Oh no, no, no, no, no” heard on commentary from a concerned sounding Don Calis. But Ospreay isn’t finished yet. He goes to the corner taking off his elbow pad and throwing it in the air, to deliver a thunderous Hidden Blade. 

One…two…three. Finally, an end to this war between two men leaving everything on the battlefield having given their all. The Greensboro Coliseum rises to their feet to congratulate the newest member of the AEW family. Both men kneel to each other to show respect for the battle they have just been through, a nod to their Japanese wrestling backgrounds.  

A debut win for Will Ospreay. A match of the year candidate. A match that will live long in the memory for fans, for AEW and for Will Ospreay.