AEW Grand Slam France Recap: Will Ospreay Tops Kazuchika Okada in Paris Show

On Tuesday, October 6, AEW held its inaugural event in Paris at the Adidas Arena, treating fans to a packed card featuring four championship bouts. While no belts switched hands, every match offered plenty of action and thrills.

Main Event Magic: Ospreay vs. Okada

The AEW World Championship match between Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada lived up to expectations. Both wrestlers displayed why they are champions, matching skill with showmanship. Ospreay ultimately secured victory with his signature Hidden Blade after surviving two Rainmaker attempts from Okada. The champion’s greed for a third Rainmaker proved costly as Ospreay countered with a quick Hidden Blade, delivering the decisive blow without the elbow pad.

This finish suggests that AEW is positioning Ospreay’s Hidden Blade like a definitive finisher akin to Kenny Omega's One-Winged Angel—an unstoppable move when landed cleanly. No opponent has kicked out of it so far, reinforcing its significance in Ospreay’s reign. Their bout brought high drama, with Okada looking close to reclaiming the title until his fateful third Rainmaker attempt.

Ospreay now faces the challenge of Clockwork Carnage at AEW WrestleDream 2026 next Saturday, a multi-competitor match he introduced to the promotion.

Chaos and Carnage in the TNT Title Match

Darby Allin defended his TNT Championship against Kyle Fletcher in a wild contest that erupted into violence late when Allin was slammed onto the exposed top turnbuckle with a devastating Brainbuster. After locking in the Scorpion Death Lock and following up with two Coffin Drops, Allin retained his title. Fletcher is set to challenge The Young Bucks for tag-team gold alongside Kevin Knight at WrestleDream, assuming The Bucks overcome The Dogs on Saturday.

ROH World Title and Future Feuds

Bandido kept hold of the ROH World Championship by defeating Kofi Kingston in the opener. Kofi’s presence still feels unusual given his long WWE tenure, but the match served as a prelude to an intense upcoming feud. The New Level and Swerve Strickland will face the former champions in a Two-Out-Of-Three Falls match at WrestleDream, promising chaos and continued tension between Strickland and Hangman Adam Page. The rivalry seems far from over, highlighted by their intense ringside exchanges.

French Crowd Steals the Spotlight

The local fans were undoubtedly the highlight beyond the ring. From the moment the show opened, the Paris crowd energized the event with their passionate reactions, especially during the main event. AEW's debut in France was met with enthusiasm, adding an electric atmosphere that lifted every contest.

Final Thoughts

The AEW Grand Slam France show was fast-paced and packed with excitement. Though the outcomes were mostly expected, the quality of matches made for an entertaining night. We rate this event an 8/10.

Full AEW Grand Slam France Results and Grades

• AEW World Championship: Will Ospreay (c.) defeated Kazuchika Okada — 4.75/5
• AEW Women’s World Championship: Mercedes Mone (c.) defeated Queen Aminata — 3.5/5
• TNT Championship: Darby Allin (c.) defeated Kyle Fletcher — 4.25/5
• The Don Callis Family (Mark Davis and Jake Doyle) defeated Death Riders (Jon Moxley and Gabe Kidd) — 3.75/5
• Clockwork Carnage Qualifying Match: Samoa Joe defeated Jungle Jack Perry — 3.75/5
• ROH World Championship: Bandido (c.) defeated Kofi — 3/5

Match Highlights: AEW World Championship

The main event saw a rollercoaster of near-falls and counters. Ospreay missed his Hidden Blade early, while Okada reversed a move into a Rainmaker. Both men exchanged powerful maneuvers including dropkicks, a Styles Clash, and a Phenomenal Forearm, with multiple kick-outs to build suspense. The crowd was electric, reacting wildly to each moment, culminating in Ospreay removing his elbow pad to land the winning Hidden Blade.

Women’s Title Update

Mercedes Mone secured her AEW Women’s World Championship defense by hitting the Lungblower and finishing with the Mone Maker against Queen Aminata. Post-match, Thekla confronted Mone and landed a Spear, narrowly missing a stomp before Mone escaped.