Ospreay moves to V1, still without the physical title as Juice looks on
The IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship was on the line as Will Ospreay defended his title against Orange Cassidy at Forbidden Door on June 26th. In classic Cassidy fashion, the wrestler’s hands found his pockets as the bell rang. Ospreay quickly became frustrated when Cassidy was able to provide an even matchup without the use of his arms and seemed to tap into that aggression to gain the upper hand. After tossing Cassidy to the outside, Ospreay employed the help of Aussie Open to deliver a devastating stomp to Cassidy against the barricade. Cassidy didn’t seem to have much fight left in him as Ospreay continued to dominate, clearly disrespecting his competitor. The crowd showed their distaste for Ospreay’s antics, and he seemed indignant that they would boo him. When he caught Cassidy in an abdominal stretch, Ospreay dug his hand into Cassidy’s pocket and pulled it out with all of his fingers folded down except for the middle one, which he proudly displayed to the crowd.
Cassidy tried to rally against the dominant force that was Ospreay, but Ospreay seemed to have an answer for every counter. Ospreay looked to be intent on humiliating Cassidy before he beat him and delivered a series of stiff Kawada kicks to the face, then stood on Cassidy’s head while pandering to the crowd. This awakened the anger inside of Cassidy and he rose up despite Ospreay’s efforts to keep him down. Cassidy’s hands found his pockets again and he landed a perfect dropkick on Ospreay. As Ospreay lay stunned on the mat, Cassidy nipped up and delivered a very Cassidy-esque series of Kawada kicks of his own to Ospreay’s face. Ospreay shrugged off the weak kicks and hit Cassidy with a forearm, which again awakened Cassidy. After landing a superkick, Cassidy hit the Kawada kicks again, this time with much more ferociousness. Ospreay tried a desperate OsCutter, but missed, leaving himself open for Cassidy’s Stundog Millionaire followed by a Michinoku driver. To the shock of everyone, including Cassidy, Ospreay managed to kick out.
As the battle raged on, Aussie Open tried to insert themselves into the match after Cassidy dove onto Ospreay on the outside. Unwilling to let the tag team interfere in his chance to become champion, Cassidy took out the United Empire members with a springboard somersault before returning his attention to Ospreay in the ring. After Cassidy hit a diving DDT on Ospreay but only earned a two count, Cassidy and Ospreay found themselves fighting for the upper hand on the middle turnbuckle. Cassidy managed to slam Ospreay’s head into the ring post camera, leaving the current champion stunned. Instinctively, Ospreay lashed back with his elbow and although Cassidy was unphased, he pretended to hit the mat in pain. As Ospreay came to and saw the prone Cassidy behind him, he attempted first one moonsault, then another that was evaded by Cassidy, before finally landing a standing shooting star press. Instead of going for the pin, Ospreay climbed to the top for another moonsault, but Cassidy got his knees up for the counter, earning himself a quick two-count on Ospreay.
Cassidy and the crowd sensed an opportunity for victory, and he hit a clean Beach Break on the reeling Ospreay for a near fall. Then Cassidy went for the Orange Punch, which was countered by an Ospreay cutter, then OsCutter. Cassidy kicked out and Ospreay quickly tried for the Storm Breaker. Cassidy managed an impressive counter with a hurricanrana for another near fall. Ospreay destroyed Cassidy with a lariat, then finally nailed the Hidden Blade. When the resilient Cassidy kicked out again, Ospreay was determined to put him away once and for all. Ospreay hit Cassidy with a vicious Storm Breaker for the win to retain the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship.
Post match, it seemed as if Ospreay and Aussie Open were not done making a statement. As Cassidy struggled in the face of overwhelming numbers, Roppongi Vice were similarly dismissed, but it was Katsuyori Shibata’s music that cut through the melee. The Wrestler headed to the ring to thunderous cheers and landed a signature corner dropkick to Ospreay, before an incredible moment of companionship with Cassidy, donning the infamous shades and appearing just a little casual for one evening only at least.
