Will Ospreay Updates Recovery at NJPW New Year Dash

Will Ospreay, the All Elite Wrestling star sidelined by a neck injury, made a surprise appearance at New Japan Pro-Wrestling's New Year Dash event on January 5, 2026, in Tokyo, where he updated fans on his recovery and addressed tensions within his former faction, United Empire.

Ospreay has been out of action since August 2025, when he last competed at AEW's Forbidden Door pay-per-view. He underwent neck surgery later that year and has been focusing on rehabilitation. Speaking at the Tokyo Dome during the post-match segment following United Empire's victory in an eight-man tag team bout, Ospreay shared that while his return remains some time away, he is making steady progress. "I can't come back right now. I still need to recover. It's going to take me a long time, but I'm getting closer and closer. I'm getting better and better, and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel," he said.

The appearance centered on Ospreay's efforts to reconnect with United Empire, the stable he once led before departing NJPW for AEW in 2024. The group, featuring members including HENARE, Great-O-Khan, Jake Lee, and Callum Newman, defeated a team from Bullet Club War Dogs—David Finlay, Drilla...