AEW News: Tony Khan Teases Massive U.S. Show Against WrestleMania 43 in 2027, All Out Opener Revealed, Ospreay’s Surgery Success, and Jim Cornette Blasts AEW
AEW President Tony Khan covered a lot of ground during his media call ahead of AEW All Out 2025 in Toronto, revealing a blockbuster opening match, hinting at a massive future event, and fielding questions about WWE’s WrestleMania 43 plans. Meanwhile, Will Ospreay provided a positive health update following neck surgery, and Jim Cornette delivered a scathing critique of a recent AEW Dynamite street fight.
FTR vs. Copeland & Cage to Open AEW All Out
Khan confirmed that AEW All Out 2025 will kick off with a high-stakes tag team clash, as FTR takes on Adam Copeland and Christian Cage. The match will open Saturday’s card from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto with a 3:00 PM EST bell time.
This announcement sets the tone for what AEW is billing as one of its most stacked pay-per-views of the year.
Khan Teases Huge Show to Counter WrestleMania 43
Khan was also asked about speculation that AEW could run an event opposite WrestleMania 43, which WWE is staging in Saudi Arabia — the first WrestleMania outside North America.
Khan responded that AEW is planning a “huge show” for Spring 2027 in the United States, but stopped short of confirming if it would directly oppose WrestleMania.
If it materializes, this could be AEW’s boldest challenge to WWE yet, strategically timed to appeal to American fans who may not tune in to a Saudi-based WrestleMania.
Will Ospreay Undergoes Neck Surgery, Issues Statement
Top AEW star Will Ospreay revealed on Instagram that his neck surgery to repair multiple herniated discs was a success. Ospreay wrote:
“The road will be long, but it’ll be worth it to see you all again. Surgery was a success.”
He was written off TV after his brutal Lights Out Steel Cage Match at AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door 2025. His timeline for a return is unclear, and questions remain about whether his in-ring style will need to be adapted following recovery.
Jim Cornette Blasts Toni Storm vs. Skye Blue Street Fight
One of wrestling’s most outspoken critics, Jim Cornette, took aim at AEW’s women’s division after last week’s Philly Street Fight between Toni Storm and Skye Blue on Dynamite.
On The Jim Cornette Experience, he called the bout:
“f****** embarrassing… a goddamn clown show of unfunny comedy spots.”
Cornette specifically slammed the use of weapons and what he saw as a lack of believability in the violence, going as far as to describe the match as “German torture p*rn.”
He argued that putting Storm, one of AEW’s most marketable women, in such matches damages the company’s credibility and alienates fans and sponsors alike.
🗣️ Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
AEW is juggling big news on multiple fronts. The All Out opener is smart booking — FTR vs. Copeland & Cage is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser to fire up Toronto early. Tony Khan floating the idea of a Spring 2027 “huge show” in the U.S. feels like a shot across WWE’s bow, though whether it lands opposite WrestleMania remains to be seen.
Will Ospreay’s surgery update is encouraging, but AEW must tread carefully with his return to protect both his health and his drawing power. As for Cornette’s tirade, while his language is extreme, it underscores a debate AEW fans and critics alike have had for years: how far is too far when it comes to gimmick matches? With ratings pressure mounting, AEW needs to balance spectacle with credibility.
