San Jose Settles the Wembley Board

The dust has settled at the SAP Center in San Jose, and the road to Wembley Stadium has its two primary challengers. AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2026 delivered the finality the promotion needed, crowning Will Ospreay and Mercedes Moné as this year’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament winners. Now, the focus shifts to All In on August 30, 2026, where both victors will cash in their championship opportunities.

For Ospreay, the victory was a grueling marathon. For Moné, it was a masterclass in survival and political maneuvering. Together, they represent the absolute peak of AEW's current roster, but their paths to these victories could not have been more different.

The Violence and Overbooking of the Men’s Final

Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland went to war for exactly 35 minutes in the tournament finals. The match was a physical, bloody encounter that pushed both men to their absolute limits. Ospreay took the brunt of the punishment early, including a brutal backdrop onto the apron at the 11-minute mark that visibly slowed his movement.

He countered later with a spectacular Styles Clash off the apron onto the commentary table at the 22-minute mark. The spot drew gasps from the San Jose crowd, highlighting Ospreay's high-risk style.

However, the execution of the final stretch raised serious tactical questions. The sudden appearance of Jon Moxley and his Death Riders faction at ringside felt like a cheap distraction.

Ospreay is at his best when he is the ultimate underdog fighting through pure athletic adversity. Having Moxley’s crew bark instructions and serve as a human wall at ringside diluted the purity of Ospreay's babyface triumph.

The closing sequence was a flurry of high-impact moves designed to protect Strickland while establishing Ospreay's dominance. Ospreay hit a Hidden Blade at the 33:15 mark, transitioned into a modified Buckshot Lariat into another Hidden Blade at 33:40, and executed a double-underhook brainbuster at 34:10.

He followed with a Death Rider at 34:30 and finished the match with a devastating Tiger Driver at 34:50 for the pin. As Wrestling Inc detailed, this win secures Ospreay his shot at the AEW World Championship in London. The interference leaves a sour taste for those who prefer clean finishes in tournament finals.

MJF and the Style Clash at Wembley

Waiting for Ospreay at Wembley is MJF, who is currently in his third reign as AEW World Champion. MJF secured his current run by defeating Darby Allin in a Title vs. Hair match at Double or Nothing on May 24, 2026. Since then, MJF has worked a methodical, old-school style that stands in stark contrast to Ospreay's high-speed offense.

MJF is a master of psychological warfare and pacing. He averages fewer than ten high-risk maneuvers per match, choosing instead to target specific limbs and exploit referee blind spots. Ospreay, conversely, relies on explosive pacing and rapid transition sequences.

The match at Wembley will be won or lost in the first ten minutes. If MJF can slow Ospreay down and force him into a ground battle, the champion will retain. If Ospreay keeps the pace high, MJF's defensive shell will crack.

This match is the biggest test of Ospreay's career. He has the home-field advantage in London, but MJF is a predator in high-pressure main events. We saw how MJF dismantled Darby Allin’s speed with simple, brutal neck breakers.

Ospreay cannot afford to make a single mistake. One bad landing is all MJF needs. The champion will lock in the Salt of the Earth armbar and tear Ospreay's shoulder apart.

The Women's Tournament: A Story of Pivot and Tragedy

The women's tournament was defined by chaos behind the scenes. As Fightful Select detailed, Toni Storm was the original choice to win the entire tournament. Storm was scheduled to win the cup and challenge for the AEW Women's World Championship at Wembley. However, her sudden TV departure in March 2026 forced a massive pivot in the booking room.

The bookers then turned to Willow Nightingale, but she suffered a shoulder injury that forced her to vacate the TBS Championship and pull out of the tournament. Enter Maya World, who stepped in as a late replacement for Sareee. World's participation carried immense emotional weight.

Her brother, Jatwane Anton Wilson, was tragically killed in a traffic accident on June 7, 2026, just days before the tournament began. As PWTorch reported, World chose to wrestle through her grief. She shocked the roster by defeating Skye Blue in the quarterfinals and her mentor, Athena, in the semifinals.

World's run came to an end in the finals against Mercedes Moné. Despite the loss, World proved she belongs at the top of the card. She hit three consecutive fallaway slams at the 12-minute mark that nearly secured her the victory.

Moné, however, was too experienced. She countered a cross-body attempt at the 15:40 mark, locked in the Statement Maker submission, and forced World to tap out.

Moné’s Hostility and the Battle with Thekla

Instead of celebrating her win with class, Moné immediately went to war on social media. In Moné's post-match social media rampage, she mocked World's performance and threw insults at the locker room. When World posted a note about making a rookie mistake, Moné quote-tweeted her with outright derision.

She wrote:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAJAJAJAJA….And now you know #2timeowencupwinner

When Willow Nightingale tried to defend World, Moné responded with a blunt "STFU." This level of hostility shows Moné has fully embraced her role as a toxic heel. She is not here to make friends or support the younger locker room. She is here to collect gold and maintain her spot at the very top of the food chain.

Moné now moves on to challenge the reigning AEW Women's World Champion, Thekla, at Wembley. Thekla won the championship from Kris Statlander in a brutal Strap match on February 11, 2026. She defended it successfully against Starlight Kid on June 28, 2026, at Forbidden Door.

Thekla is a physical, relentless brawler who uses her submission skills to wear opponents down. Moné will have to deal with Thekla's raw aggression. This style matchup could prove difficult if Moné underestimates the champion.

Predicting the Wembley Showdowns

The matches for All In are set, and the stakes are higher than ever. Ospreay vs. MJF will be a classic clash of styles. Ospreay will have 80,000 fans screaming his name.

This hometown advantage should give Ospreay the energy to fight through MJF's psychological games. I predict Ospreay will hit the Hidden Blade and win his first AEW World Championship. MJF's third reign is destined to end in London.

In the women's match, Thekla's physical dominance will face Moné's technical precision. Moné is a two-time Owen Hart Cup winner, and her momentum is unstoppable.

Thekla is a tough champion, but Moné's big-match experience will be the deciding factor. I predict Moné will lock in the Statement Maker and win the AEW Women's World Championship at Wembley. The locker room will hate it, but Moné will walk out of London with the gold.