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Wikipedia

Will Ospreay

William Peter Charles Ospreay[5] (born 7 May 1993)[6] is an English professional wrestler who is currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is the current IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion in his first reign and leader of the United Empire stable. He also wrestles for NJPW's United Kingdom based partner promotion Revolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro), where he is a former and longest reigning Undisputed British Heavyweight Champion.

Will Ospreay
Ospreay at AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door in 2022
Birth nameWilliam Peter Charles Ospreay
Born (1993-05-07) 7 May 1993 (age 29)
Havering, London, England
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Dark Britannico
Neo Britannico
Will Ospreay
Billed height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Billed weight105 kg (231 lb)[1]
Billed fromEssex, England[2]
Trained byLondon School of Lucha Libre[3]
Debut1 April 2012[4]

Currently considered to be one of the greatest professional wrestlers in the world, Ospreay began his career in United Kingdom in 2012, on the UK independent circuit. In 2016, after being recommended by AJ Styles, he began to work with Japanese promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling as part of the junior heavyweight division, becoming a three-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and the winner of the 2016 and 2019 Best of the Super Juniors. In 2019, Ospreay also won the NEVER Openweight Championship. That same year, Ospreay participated in the G1 Climax, NJPW biggest tournament featuring heavyweight wrestlers. In 2020, he made his transition to the heavyweight division, where he won the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. He is also the winner of 2021 New Japan Cup. In 2022, Ospreay won the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.

Ospreay has also wrestled periodically in the U.S., appearing in NJPW partner promotions All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Ring of Honor (ROH) – where he is a former ROH World Television Champion – as well as independent promotions like Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG).

Professional wrestling career

Early career

Ospreay cites the three-way match between A.J. Styles, Christopher Daniels and Samoa Joe at TNA Unbreakable as the match that made him want to become a wrestler.[3] He received his training at Lucha Britannia's London School of Lucha Libre in Bethnal Green, London.[3] He made his professional debut at the co-promoted BritWres-Fest on 1 April 2012 as the masked character Dark Britannico, the evil twin of Leon Britannico who was played by Paul Robinson, Ospreay's future tag team partner in the team The Swords of Essex.[4] While wrestling with Lucha Britannia he twice won the Lucha Britannia World Championship. Ospreay said in his interview with the Huffington Post that his nickname, "The Aerial Assassin", is an allusion to the Assassin's Creed video game series and was a persona he adopted to stand out from other British high flying wrestlers, particularly Pac.[7]

Progress Wrestling (2012–2019)

Ospreay soon became a regular for Progress Wrestling, debuting for them at Chapter Two: The March of Progress with Alex Esmail in a loss to The London Riots (James Davis and Rob Lynch). His performance earned him a place in the Natural Progression Series I tournament, aimed at scouting and showcasing new wrestlers. He lost in the first round to eventual winner Mark Andrews in November and again in a rematch the following May. Andrews who, as part of his reward for winning, picked Ospreay to enter the following Natural Progression Series tournament. The two met again in January 2014 in the first round of the Progress Tag Team Championship tournament, with FSU (Andrews' team with Eddie Dennis) defeating The Swords of Essex (Ospreay's team with Paul Robinson).

In his Natural Progression Series II opening match, his opponent Zack Gibson tried to win by holding the ropes. Robinson prevented Gibson using the ropes, which in turn distracted the referee for long enough for Gibson to low-blow Ospreay and make Ospreay submit.[8] On 18 May, The Swords of Essex were one of the final two teams standing in a four-team elimination match to decide contenders to the Progress Tag Team Championship. During the match, Ospreay, having been isolated for some time, reached out to tag his partner but Robinson jumped off the apron and walked out on Ospreay. Ospreay was left on his own and lost the match, after which the Progress Champion Jimmy Havoc came to the ring and ordered London Riots to tie Ospreay. Havoc pulled out a knife and threatened to torture Ospreay, blaming it on Ospreay's popularity with the fans, before other wrestlers came out and intervened, freeing Ospreay.[9] Havoc and The London Riots formed an allegiance known as Regression, which also featured Robinson.

On 27 July, Ospreay entered the eight-man, staggered entry elimination Thunderbastard match, the winner of whom can pick a time for a Progress Championship match. Ospreay entered the match third and was immediately low-blowed by Robinson, who had already entered, who disqualified himself in the hopes of taking out Ospreay. Ospreay recovered and eventually eliminated Marty Scurll last to win Thunderbastard.[10] The following show saw Ospreay team up with FSU and Noam Dar in an eight-man tag team match with FSU and Havoc's respective titles, Ospreay's title contendership and everyone else's Progress contracts at stake, depending which individual lost. During the match, Ospreay moonsaulted from the Electric Ballroom's balcony onto his opponents, on the floor.[4] Later, he had Havoc in position to be pinned but as he jumped from the top rope, Robinson dragged Havoc outside, leading Ospreay to pin Davis and end the London Riots' contract with Progress.[11]

At the next event, Ospreay defeated Robinson and announced he would invoke his Thunderbastard right to challenge for Havoc's championship at the following show. He lost the championship match in January after Havoc loosened the top rope, making it more difficult for Ospreay to do high-flying moves, and used it as a weapon.[12] During the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, Ospreay defeated El Ligero, Mark Haskins, Roderick Strong and Zack Sabre, Jr across two days to win the first Super Strong Style 16 tournament and once again lay claim to Havoc's championship.[13] Their rematch took place on 26 July in a no disqualification match where the reinstated London Riots neutralised the threat of Robinson's interference and Ospreay ended Havoc's 609 day reign to become Progress Champion.[14]

Ospreay successfully defended his title against the 2015 Thunderbastard Haskins and then Robinson. Robinson attacked Ospreay after losing to him, but Ospreay was saved by a returning Mark Andrews. Ospreay went on to finally beat Andrews to defend his title. Ospreay also headlined Progress' first main show outside of London in Manchester, in a triple threat match against Zack Gibson and Morgan Webster to close out 2015.

He lost the championship on 24 January 2016 to Marty Scurll when the referee stopped the match as Ospreay had passed out while being handcuffed in Scurll's chickenwing submission. Ospreay lost a rematch with Scurll at WrestleCon Supershow in Texas, USA in April and also lost a contendership match against Haskins on 31 July. He spent the rest of the year in showcase matches against non-regular Progress wrestlers, losing to Zack Sabre Jr., Shane Strickland, Matt Riddle and Adam Cole. Finally on 30 December, at a card composed exclusively of unannounced matches, Ospreay lost to Havoc. After the match Havoc invited Ospreay to join him in his fight against British Strong Style, who held the World and Tag Team Championship. Ospreay instead attacked Havoc and then realigned with Swords of Essex partner Paul Robinson. Ospreay attacked Havoc again, during the latter's Progress World Championship match leading to a Fans Bring The Weapons match in March. During the match, Ospreay challenged Havoc to put their Progress contracts at stake before losing the match and leaving the promotion.

Ospreay returned at the last event of 2017 as a mystery opponent for Progress Champion Travis Banks, however he lost the match.[15] On chapter 61, Ospreay defeated Adam Brooks, this was his first victory in the promotion since losing the Progress Championship in 2016.[16] At Progress Chapter 66, Ospreay defeated Mark Haskins.

On 7 May 2018, day 3 of the 2018 Super Strong Style 16 tournament, Ospreay challenged Jimmy Havoc to a match at Wembley Arena on September 30, 2018, but was forced to withdraw due to contractual obligations with New Japan Pro-Wrestling. The match was then set for Chapter 75, with Ospreay emerging victorious in a no disqualification, 2 out of 3 falls match with former tag team partner Paul Robinson as referee. At Chapter 82: Unboxing Live, Ospreay and Paul Robinson defeated Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) to become the Progress Tag Team Champions.

United Kingdom independent circuit (2012–2017)

Ospreay has regularly wrestled for International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom (IPW: UK) since September 2012 in singles matches, with Robinson as Swords of Essex and with Tom Dawkins as Spitfire Britannia, playing off their alter egos Pure Britannico and Neo Britannico for Lucha Britannia. Ospreay made it through to the final of the UK Super 8 tournament in both 2014 and 2015, losing to Zack Sabre, Jr and Rampage Brown respectively. He won the 30 man Battle Royale 2014 in April but failed to win it the following year when the All England Championship was on the line. On 28 March 2016, Ospreay lost a Loser Leaves Town match to his former Spitfire Britannia partner Dawkins.

The Swords of Essex began wrestling for Future Pro Wrestling (FPW) in May 2013 and after a series of wins became the first FPW Tag Team Champions after winning a four-way match. They held the titles for nine months and eventually became embroiled in a Best of Four match series against both The London Riots and The Alpha Males (Iestyn Rees & Charlie Garrett) for the FPW Tag Team Championship. The Swords of Essex failed to win a match in the series, with Ospreay wrestling the final match, which also had the London Riots' IPW:UK and New Generation Wrestling Tag Team Championship on the line, without Robinson. Ospreay has been unable to replicate similar success as a singles wrestler, twice entering the Zero G tournament but failing to win.

Ospreay also became a regular for Southside Wrestling Entertainment (SWE) from March 2014 onwards. After failing to win the Speed King Championship from Kay Lee Ray in a co-promoted show with Combat Zone Wrestling in October, he won it a fortnight later in a Six-Way Elimination match. He defended it over the following months to many SWE and guest wrestlers, eventually putting it on the line in the annual Speed King Tournament where he beat Mark Andrews in the semi-final in a Best of Three falls match but lost the title to El Ligero in a Six-Way Elimination match on 30 May 2015. The following March he unsuccessfully challenged Joseph Connors for the SWE Heavyweight Championship but on 7 August won the Speed King championship for the second time from Andrew Everett.

On 27 August 2016 Ospreay posted a Facebook live video unveiling a new British Triangle Championship with his three Swords of Essex partners Paul Robinson, Jerry Sevanchez, and Scott Wainwright. They announced that the trios championships were not specific to any promotion and could therefore be defended anywhere.[17]

Ospreay wrestled a series of shows across 2016 for What Culture Pro Wrestling for both their weekly YouTube broadcast and iPPV shows, scoring wins over Noam Dar, Marty Scurll and feud with Martin Kirby.[18] On WCPW Loaded #15 Ospreay defeated Martin Kirby with help from Adam Pacitti, Paul Robinson & Scott Wainwright, joining the Pacitti Club.[citation needed] At WCPW True Destiny, Ospreay teamed with Scotty Wainwright and defeated El Ligero & Gabriel Kidd and Johnny Moss & Liam Slater and Prospect (Alex Gracie & Lucas Archer) in a four-way ladder match to become WCPW Tag Team Champions.[citation needed] They lost the title to War Machine on an episode of Loaded. In August 2017, Ospreay made it to the finals of the Pro Wrestling World Cup, before losing to Kushida.[19]

On 4 January 2017, Ospreay, along with fellow British wrestler Ryan Smile, started their own promotion, known as Lucha Forever,[20] with their first show, The Dawning of Forever, taking place on 17 April in Birmingham.[21]

Revolution Pro Wrestling (2013–present)

Ospreay debuted for Revolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro) on 10 February 2013 with a win over Mike Hitchman. He soon started appearing in tag matches with Paul Robinson as The Swords of Essex and, after earning contendership with a win over The London Riots, won the British Tag Team Championship on 15 June 2013 during RevPro's first show at York Hall by defeating Project Ego (Kris Travis and Martin Kirby). After losing to Ricochet in a singles match, The Swords of Essex lost their British Tag Team Championship to Ricochet and his partner Rich Swann, The Inner City Machine Gun on 15 March 2014.

On 19 October, Ospreay beat Josh Bodom for the British Cruiserweight Championship in a match that also included Swann. The day before, he had lost a match to Matt Sydal and so in May 2015 the two had a rematch. Although Ospreay won the rematch, with their series at 1–1 the two were booked in a Best of Three Falls match with the British Cruiserweight Championship on the line. After losing the first fall, he retained the title with two straight falls. After an eleven-month reign, with a number of title defences Ospreay lost the title back to Bodom on 5 September 2015.

Ospreay bounced back with wins over P. J. Black, René Duprée, and Ricochet, which put him in line for a three-way match for AJ Styles' British Heavyweight Championship, which also featured Marty Scurll, where the champion retained. The following day, on 3 October 2015 he lost to New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Kazuchika Okada. Okada, impressed with Ospreay, went on to recommend him to NJPW officials. This, along with endorsements from AJ Styles and Hiroshi Tanahashi, eventually led to Ospreay being signed by NJPW.[22] In 2016 Ospreay beat Scurll and the new Cruiserweight Champion Pete Dunne in a non-title triple threat match, as well as beating Mike Bailey, which saw him earn a Cruiserweight Championship match against Dunne on 10 July which he won. The following month Ospreay headlined York Hall in a match against Vader. The feud began after Vader had criticised an NJPW Best of the Super Juniors match between Ospreay and Ricochet in May, comparing the match to "a gymnastics routine". The debate escalated over Twitter, with many wrestling journalists and veterans weighing in on the debate.[23] Their match eventually took place on 12 August, with Ospreay losing to Vader after Dunne interfered while the referee was distracted. On 13 April 2017, Ospreay lost the British Cruiserweight Championship to interim champion Josh Bodom.[24] Following a non-title contest against Zack Sabre Jr at 'Monday Night Mayhem' in Portsmouth in which Ospreay won, On 10 November 2017 at Global Wars, Ospreay failed to win the Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship from Zack Sabre Jr.[25] At High Stakes on 14 February 2020, Ospreay defeated Sabre Jr. to win the Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship.[26]

Various international promotions (2016–2017)

On 29 January 2016, Ospreay made his debut for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), during the promotion's tour of the United Kingdom. Ospreay unsuccessfully entered the 2016 Joker's Wild tournament and challenged for both the TNA King of the Mountain Championship and TNA World Tag Team Championship. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that TNA had plans to push Ospreay, but upon finding out that he had signed to appear for NJPW relegated him to a short match on their secondary television programme.[27]

On 1 April 2016, Ospreay made his debut for Evolve, losing to Zack Sabre Jr. at Evolve 58 and Ricochet at Evolve 59, both in Dallas, Texas, USA.[28][29] On 12 July, Paul Heyman, during a speaking tour of the United Kingdom, offered Ospreay an Evolve contract on behalf of Gabe Sapolsky while clarifying that the contract would not affect his NJPW deal.[30] On 20 July, Pro Wrestling Torch reported Ospreay had signed the contract to make Evolve his American home promotion,[31] but the Wrestling Observer Newsletter disputed this, reporting Ospreay did not sign and was still in talks with Evolve, PWG, TNA, and ROH, another American promotion who had a relationship with NJPW which Ospreay later confirmed.[32][33]

In August 2017, Ospreay made his debut appearance for Pro Wrestling Australia (PWA) at their Sydney event Call to Arms. Originally scheduled to face PWA Heavyweight Champion Robbie Eagles in a non-title match for the main event, Eagles made the last minute decision to put his title on the line. Ospreay ultimately defeated Eagles, and won the PWA Heavyweight Championship for the first time. Afterwards, Ospreay announced that he was moving to Australia and would begin working regularly for PWA and other local independent promotions. Ospreay stated that he felt he could help the Australian wrestling scene grow, while the U.K. scene did not need him.[34] Days later, Ospreay faced Adam Brooks in the main event of a Melbourne City Wrestling show, Ballroom Brawl; defeating him to win the MCW Intercommonwealth Championship.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion (2016–2018)

 
Ospreay as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion in November 2017

After the Global Wars UK event, where Ospreay faced Kazuchika Okada, New Japan wrestlers Hiroshi Tanahashi, AJ Styles and Okada recommended him to NJPW.[35] On 3 March 2016, Ospreay was announced as the newest member of the NJPW stable Chaos. Appearing in a video, Ospreay challenged Kushida to an IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match at Invasion Attack 2016 on 10 April.[36] On 10 April, Ospreay failed in his title challenge against Kushida.[37] Following the match, it was reported that NJPW had offered Ospreay a contract to become a regular for the promotion.[38]

The following month, Ospreay entered the 2016 Best of the Super Juniors tournament. On 27 May, Ospreay faced Ricochet in the tournament in a match, which received widespread attention in the professional wrestling world. William Regal praised the match.[39] Vader, however, compared the match to a "gymnastics routine".[23][40] Ospreay won his block in the tournament with a record of four wins and three losses, advancing to the finals.[41] On 7 June, Ospreay defeated Ryusuke Taguchi in the finals to win the 2016 Best of the Super Juniors, becoming the youngest winner in the history of the tournament as well as the first English and the fifth gaijin wrestler to win tournament.[42] Following the win, Ospreay was granted another shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, but was again defeated by Kushida on 19 June at Dominion 6.19 in Osaka-jo Hall.[43]

On 20 July, Ospreay entered the 2016 Super J-Cup, defeating Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) representative Titán in his first round match.[44] On 21 August, he was eliminated from the tournament in the second round by Matt Sydal.[45] On 8 October, Ospreay received his first shot at the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship, but he and his Chaos stablemates Beretta and Rocky Romero were defeated by the defending champions, David Finlay, Ricochet and Satoshi Kojima.[46] On 11 February 2017 at The New Beginning in Osaka, Ospreay unsuccessfully challenged Katsuyori Shibata for the British Heavyweight Championship.[47] In May, Ospreay won his block in the 2017 Best of the Super Juniors tournament with a record of five wins and two losses, advancing to his second consecutive final.[48] On 3 June, Ospreay was defeated in the final by Kushida.[49]

On 9 October at King of Pro-Wrestling, Ospreay defeated Kushida to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship for the first time.[50] With the win, Ospreay became the first British IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.[51] He lost the title to Marty Scurll in his first defence on 5 November at Power Struggle.[52] Ospreay regained the title from Scurll on 4 January 2018 at Wrestle Kingdom 12 in Tokyo Dome in a four-way match, also involving Hiromu Takahashi and Kushida.[53] On 10 February, Ospreay retained the title against Hiromu Takahashi at The New Beginning in Osaka. On 1 April, Ospreay successfully retained the title against Marty Scurll at Sakura Genesis.[54] During the match, Ospreay was legitimately injured after his foot hit the rope mid-rotation after attempting a Spanish Fly off of the ring apron, causing him to land on his head on top of the apron and begin bleeding profusely from his scalp. At Wrestling Dontaku 2018 after successfully defending his title in a rematch against Kushida, he was attacked by the newest Bullet Club member, Taiji Ishimori.[55] He entered the 2018 Best of the Super Juniors, finishing the tournament with 5 wins and 2 losses, but didn't advance to the finals due to his loss against Ishimori on the first day of the tournament. Ospreay lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship to the winner of the tournament, Hiromu Takahashi at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall on 9 June in his fourth defense.[56] At Fighting Spirit Unleashed, Ospreay entered a tournament to crown a new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, due to Takahashi getting a neck injury and forcing him to vacate the belt, and lost against Marty Scurll.

Move to the heavyweight division (2018–2020)

At King of Pro-Wrestling (2018), Ospreay teamed with Hirooki Goto and Tomohiro Ishii in a winning effort against Suzuki-gun, represented by Minoru Suzuki, Takashi Iizuka and NEVER Openweight Champion Taichi. Ospreay pinned Taichi for the win.[57] After the match, Ospreay called out Taichi for a NEVER Openweight Championship match and doing so, hinting going to the Heavyweight division, although, it's still possible that Ospreay might be staying in the Jr. Heavyweight division as the Openweight title can be held by people from either division. The match was made official for Power Struggle (2018), however, it was announced on Twitter that the match had been cancelled due to Ospreay's injury. On the final day of World Tag League, Ospreay returned to New Japan, where he defeated Taichi. On the same night, he challenged the new NEVER Openweight Champion, Kota Ibushi, to a championship match at Wrestle Kingdom 13.

On 4 January, at Wrestle Kingdom 13, Will Ospreay defeated Kota Ibushi to capture the NEVER Openweight Championship.[58] He became the first Junior Heavyweight to hold the championship. He made his first title defense at RevPro New Year's Resolution, where he defeated Chris Brookes.[59] On 22 February, Ospreay successfully retained the title against Dalton Castle at Honor Rising: Japan 2018. At New Japan's Anniversary Show, he faced IWGP Heavyweight Champion Jay White in a losing effort.

Despite still being classified as a Junior Heavyweight, Ospreay entered the 2019 New Japan Cup, beating Bad Luck Fale and Lance Archer, before being eliminated by fellow Chaos member Kazuchika Okada. It was announced that Ospreay will face ROH Television Champion Jeff Cobb in a Winner takes all match at G1 Supercard. At the event, Ospreay lost the match, in the process losing his title to Cobb, who retained his title.

Ospreay participated in the 2019 edition of Best of the Super Juniors, where he won his block with a record of 7–2, advancing to the final. In the preliminary rounds, he suffered losses against long-time rivals Robbie Eagles and El Phantasmo. On 5 June Ospreay defeated Shingo Takagi to win the tournament for the second time, earning an IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match at Dominion. The match between Ospreay and Shingo was awarded a 5.75 rating by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the highest rating for a wrestling match in 2019.[60] This was also the first match in which Shingo Takagi was pinned after his debut in NJPW. At Dominion, Ospreay defeated Dragon Lee and became IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship for the third time in his career. With this wrestling match being awarded 5 stars, Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez suggested that Will Ospreay has reached a point in his career where he is a serious contender for being the best wrestler in the world.[61] After winning the title, Ospreay announced his intention to enter the G1 Climax 29 in his quest of bridging the gap between heavyweight and junior heavyweight wrestlers. Later that week, Ospreay was announced as a participant in the 2019 G1 Climax. Ospreay made his first IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship title defense against Robbie Eagles at Southern Showdown in Melbourne.

He started the G1 Climax campaign at G1 Climax in Dallas, where he was defeated by Lance Archer. He obtained his first win by defeating Sanada, but lost in the third round of the tournament against Kota Ibushi in a rematch from Wrestle Kingdom. Between the second and the thirds round, he suffered a legit injury that almost made him unable to participate further in the G1 Climax, but nevertheless, he managed to get cleared in a very short amount of time.[62] Afterwards, Ospreay faced the leader of Chaos, Kazuchika Okada in the main events of Night 7 of the G1 Climax, yet lost in another well-received match.[63]

On January 4, 2020, at Wrestle Kingdom 14, Ospreay lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship to Hiromu Takahashi.[64] He suffered an heel injury during the match, reportedly from landing on his feet when Takahashi dropped him from the top rope.[65]

United Empire (2020–present)

On 2 February at The New Beginning in Sapporo, Ospreay was unsuccessful at winning British Heavyweight Championship from Zack Sabre Jr.[66] On 4 February during the Road to New Beginning tour, Ospreay pinned Sabre Jr. in a tag team match between Chaos and Suzuki-gun. After the match, Ospreay challenged Sabre Jr. to another match for the title which was scheduled at RevPro's High Stakes event. At the event, Ospreay defeated Sabre Jr. to win the British Heavyweight Championship. After the match, Ospreay announced that he will be moving to the heavyweight division.[26][67]

Ospreay was supposed to be part of the 2020 New Japan Cup starting on March 4; however, NJPW suspended all of its activities in late February due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[68] Although the company eventually resumed its activities with the New Japan Cup in June, travel limitations due to the pandemic have prevented most foreign wrestlers from returning to Japan. Ospreay made his return in September, where Ospreay participated in his second G1 Climax in the A Block where he ended his G1 run with twelve points. At the night 17 of the G1 Climax, Ospreay defeated Kazuchika Okada after interference from Ospreay's girlfriend Bea Priestley and the returning young lion Great-O-Khan. After the match, Ospreay attacked Okada, turning heel,[69] leaving Chaos, and forming a new stable called United Empire. Ospreay then won the 2021 New Japan Cup as well as winning the right to challenge Kota Ibushi for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis. At the event, Ospreay defeated Ibushi to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship for the first time as well as becoming the first British holder of NJPW's top championship.[70][71] At Wrestling Dontaku, Ospreay made his first defense of the title when he defeated Shingo Takagi.[72] However, he suffered a neck injury during the match and was forced to vacate the title on May 20, 2021.[73]

Just three months after his injury, Ospreay made a surprise return at Resurgence on August 14. He delivered a promo declaring himself as the true IWGP World Heavyweight Champion due to him never being beaten for the title and revealed a separate and identical belt. He also claimed recognized IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi to be an "Interim champion" as well as revealing himself out of the G1 Climax 31. He also said he would be competing on New Japan's American show Strong.[74]

In the build-up to Wrestle Kingdom 16, it was announced that Ospreay would face the winner of the January 4 main event, on January 5, to unify the World Championships. On January 4, Kazuchika Okada defeated Shingo Takagi to win the World Championship. On January 5, Okada defeated Ospreay to win and unify both World Championships. [75]

After his defeat, Ospreay stuck around in Japan, teaming with his United Empire teammates. Ospreay was eventually announced for that year's New Japan Cup. In the tournament, he defeated Bushi, El Phantasmo and IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Sanada, to make it to the tournament quarterfinals. During his third-round match, Ospreay fractured Sanada's orbital bone causing him to win the match by referee stoppage. In the quarterfinal round, he lost to the eventual winner Zack Sabre Jr.[76] After the tournament, at Hyper Battle, it was announced Sanada would be forced to vacate the US title, in which Ospreay and former champion Hiroshi Tanahashi expressed interest in fighting for the vacant title.[77] Ospreay returned to the NJPW United States shows on 16 April at Windy City Riot to face Jon Moxley, who Ospreay had called out at Resurgence and in post-match interviews during his New Japan Cup run. At the event, he was defeated.[78] Ospreay challenged for the US title at Capital Collision on May 14 in a four way match, involving Tanahashi, Moxley and Juice Robinson, but failed to win the championship after being pinned by Robinson.[79] Ospreay, along with Sanada, was set to get another title shot, at Dominion 6.12 in Osaka-jo Hall on June 12 in a Three-way match; however, when Robinson had to vacate the championship due to suffering from appendicitis, Ospreay faced Sanada one-on-one for the vacant championship, where he was victorious.[80]

Also on June 12th during Dominion, Ospreay was announced as a participant in the G1 Climax 32 tournament starting in July, as apart of the D block.[81] Ospreay scored 8 points in his block, advancing to the semi-finals and gaining the physical IWGP United States Championship from former champion Juice Robinson and David Finlay, who both competed in the D Block.[82] In the semi-final round, Ospreay defeated C Block winner Tetsuya Naito to advance to the tournament finals.[83] In the finals, Ospreay lost to Okada.[84]

Following his G1 loss, Ospreay continued to defend his IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, avenging a D-Block G1 loss to David Finlay and defeating him at NJPW Burning Spirit in September.[85] In October at Royal Quest II, Ospreay defeated Shota Umino.[86] At Battle Autumn in November, Ospreay again retained the title, defeating Tetsuya Naito once more.[87] After his defence against Naito, Ospreay was confronted by Umino, who made his return to Japan and was struck down by him.[88] Umino challenged Ospreay for the US Championship at Historic X-Over, where at the event Ospreay defeated him.[89] After the match, Kenny Omega of All Elite Wrestling appeared on the titantron belittling Ospreay and challenged him to an IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship match at Wrestle Kingdom 17, a challenge which Ospreay accepted.[90]

Ring of Honor (2016–2018)

On 8 November 2016, Ring of Honor (ROH) announced that Ospreay had signed a contract with the promotion, which went into effect on 1 December.[22] On 18 November, Ospreay defeated Bobby Fish in his ROH debut match in Liverpool to become the new ROH World Television Champion.[91] He lost the title to Marty Scurll two days later, during the final day of ROH's three-day tour of the United Kingdom.[92] Ospreay had been given another opportunity to regain the title in a four corners match at ROH's December pay-per-view, Final Battle 2016, but Scurll retained his title. At Final Battle 2017, Ospreay was defeated by Matt Taven. On ROH TV, on 15 September 2018, Jay Lethal issued an open challenge and it was answered by Ospreay, who said: "I Need the World Title". The Match was signed for ROH Death Before Dishonor later that month in which Ospreay lost.

Frontline Wrestling (2018–2019)

In 2018, Ospreay announced that he would be starting his own promotion, Frontline Wrestling. He said that Frontline would be a British Puroresu style company and that wants to take wrestling in England back to being seen as a sport.[93] On 28 June 2018 they ran their first event, "Build Me An Empire". Upon the one year anniversary of the promotion, Ospreay sold Frontline to move to Japan and pursue a full time schedule in New Japan Pro Wrestling.[94]

All Elite Wrestling (2022–present)

Two weeks after United Empire teammates Great-O-Khan and Jeff Cobb debuted on AEW Dynamite, by attacking Roppongi Vice and FTR, Ospreay made his surprise debut for the All Elite Wrestling on the June 8 2022 episode of AEW Dynamite, where along with other stablemates Aaron Henare and Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis of Aussie Open, he attacked Trent Beretta and FTR.[95] On June 10 2022 edition of AEW Rampage, Beretta and FTR picked up a victory against United Empire's Ospreay and Aussie Open's Davis and Fletcher.[96] Ospreay competed in his first singles match at the June 15th special episode of Dynamite, Road Rager, where he defeated Dax Harwood.[97] After the match Ospreay and United Empire stablemates attacked FTR and Roppongi Vice once more, only to be interrupted by Orange Cassidy, who stared down Ospreay. Soon after a singles match between both men was scheduled for AEW×NJPW: Forbidden Door, for Ospreay's newly won IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.[98]At AEW×NJPW: Forbidden Door, Ospreay successfully defended the IWGP US Heavyweight Title against Orange Cassidy. After the match, Ospreay and Aussie Open attacked Cassidy and Roppongi Vice, only to be stopped by Katsuyori Shibata, who attacked the trio.[99]

On July 27, the AEW World Trios Championship was revealed, with Ospreay and Aussie Open being named as participants in the inaugural tournament. On August 24, Ospreay and Aussie Open defeated Death Triangle to progress to the semifinals, where they were defeated by The Elite on August 31.[100] After the match, United Empire attacked The Elite.[101]

Professional wrestling style and persona

Hailed as one of the greatest wrestlers in the world today, Opsreay was known for his high-flying, high-risk style of wrestling, being nicknamed "The Aerial Assassin".[102] As a junior heavyweight, Ospreay used a springboard cutter named the OsCutter as his finishing manoeuvre. This high-risk style has caused concern about Ospreay's health and length of his career.[103][104][105] This included a neck injury he suffered against Marty Scurll on 1 April 2018.[106]

After his match against Kota Ibushi at Wrestle Kingdom 13, Ospreay shortened his nickname to "The Assassin" and debuted a new finisher, a swinging back elbow he later named the Hidden Blade.[107] Since his transition to the Heavyweight division in 2020, Ospreay bulked up in size and muscle. This led to him changing his in-ring style, as he continued to use some high-flying offence but also utilized a range of technical skill as well as lifting moves like backbreakers, which includes his current finisher named Stormbreaker.

Personal life

From 2017,[108] Ospreay was in a relationship with fellow professional wrestler Bea Priestley.[109][110][111] In 2019, the couple revealed they were planning on moving to Japan due to both of their wrestling schedules there.[112] As of 2021, the two have split.

As part of the Speaking Out movement, Ospreay was accused of blacklisting Pollyanna, a former wrestler, after she made allegations towards Ospreay's friend and Swords of Essex teammate Scott Wainwright.[113] Independent wrestling promotion International Wrestling League (IWL) stated on Twitter that a venue asked them to remove Pollyanna from a show at the request of Ospreay.[114] However, it was later revealed by IWL that the venue, rather than Ospreay, had requested her removal.[115] The person running the IWL Twitter account later revealed that the supposed evidence was really their opinion on an "unclear situation".[116]

Championships and accomplishments

 
Ospreay as Progress Wrestling Champion
  • Future Pro Wrestling
    • FPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Paul Robinson[117][118][119]
    • FPW Tag Team Championship Tournament (2014)[120]
  • Inside The Ropes Magazine
    • Ranked No. 10 of the top 50 wrestlers in the world in the ITR 50 in 2020.[121]
  • Pro Wrestling Australia
    • PWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[34]
  • Reloaded Championship Wrestling Alliance
    • RCWA Elite-1 Championship (1 time)[138]
  • Other titles
    • British Triangle Championship (1 time) – with Paul Robinson and Scott Wainwright[160]

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  158. ^ a b c d e Meltzer, Dave (5 March 2020). "March 13, 2020 Observer Newsletter: 40th Annual Awards Issue". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  159. ^ "BONUS SHOW: Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards". Post Wrestling. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  160. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "British Triangle Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net.

External links

  • Will Ospreay on Facebook
  • Will Ospreay's New Japan Pro-Wrestling profile
  • Will Ospreay's profile at Cagematch.net, Wrestlingdata.com, Internet Wrestling Database
  • Will Ospreay at IMDb  
Preceded by Best of the Super Juniors winner
2016
2019
Succeeded by
Preceded by New Japan Cup winner
2021
Succeeded by
Preceded by 2nd IWGP World Heavyweight Champion
April 4, 2021 – May 20, 2021
Vacant
Ospreay suffers neck injury
Title next held by
Shingo Takagi

will, ospreay, william, peter, charles, ospreay, born, 1993, english, professional, wrestler, currently, signed, japan, wrestling, njpw, where, current, iwgp, united, states, heavyweight, champion, first, reign, leader, united, empire, stable, also, wrestles, . William Peter Charles Ospreay 5 born 7 May 1993 6 is an English professional wrestler who is currently signed to New Japan Pro Wrestling NJPW where he is the current IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion in his first reign and leader of the United Empire stable He also wrestles for NJPW s United Kingdom based partner promotion Revolution Pro Wrestling RevPro where he is a former and longest reigning Undisputed British Heavyweight Champion Will OspreayOspreay at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door in 2022Birth nameWilliam Peter Charles OspreayBorn 1993 05 07 7 May 1993 age 29 Havering London EnglandProfessional wrestling careerRing name s Dark BritannicoNeo BritannicoWill OspreayBilled height1 85 m 6 ft 1 in 1 Billed weight105 kg 231 lb 1 Billed fromEssex England 2 Trained byLondon School of Lucha Libre 3 Debut1 April 2012 4 Currently considered to be one of the greatest professional wrestlers in the world Ospreay began his career in United Kingdom in 2012 on the UK independent circuit In 2016 after being recommended by AJ Styles he began to work with Japanese promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling as part of the junior heavyweight division becoming a three time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and the winner of the 2016 and 2019 Best of the Super Juniors In 2019 Ospreay also won the NEVER Openweight Championship That same year Ospreay participated in the G1 Climax NJPW biggest tournament featuring heavyweight wrestlers In 2020 he made his transition to the heavyweight division where he won the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship He is also the winner of 2021 New Japan Cup In 2022 Ospreay won the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship Ospreay has also wrestled periodically in the U S appearing in NJPW partner promotions All Elite Wrestling AEW and Ring of Honor ROH where he is a former ROH World Television Champion as well as independent promotions like Pro Wrestling Guerrilla PWG Contents 1 Professional wrestling career 1 1 Early career 1 2 Progress Wrestling 2012 2019 1 3 United Kingdom independent circuit 2012 2017 1 4 Revolution Pro Wrestling 2013 present 1 5 Various international promotions 2016 2017 1 6 New Japan Pro Wrestling 1 6 1 IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion 2016 2018 1 6 2 Move to the heavyweight division 2018 2020 1 6 3 United Empire 2020 present 1 7 Ring of Honor 2016 2018 1 8 Frontline Wrestling 2018 2019 1 9 All Elite Wrestling 2022 present 2 Professional wrestling style and persona 3 Personal life 4 Championships and accomplishments 5 References 6 External linksProfessional wrestling career EditEarly career Edit Ospreay cites the three way match between A J Styles Christopher Daniels and Samoa Joe at TNA Unbreakable as the match that made him want to become a wrestler 3 He received his training at Lucha Britannia s London School of Lucha Libre in Bethnal Green London 3 He made his professional debut at the co promoted BritWres Fest on 1 April 2012 as the masked character Dark Britannico the evil twin of Leon Britannico who was played by Paul Robinson Ospreay s future tag team partner in the team The Swords of Essex 4 While wrestling with Lucha Britannia he twice won the Lucha Britannia World Championship Ospreay said in his interview with the Huffington Post that his nickname The Aerial Assassin is an allusion to the Assassin s Creed video game series and was a persona he adopted to stand out from other British high flying wrestlers particularly Pac 7 Progress Wrestling 2012 2019 Edit Ospreay soon became a regular for Progress Wrestling debuting for them at Chapter Two The March of Progress with Alex Esmail in a loss to The London Riots James Davis and Rob Lynch His performance earned him a place in the Natural Progression Series I tournament aimed at scouting and showcasing new wrestlers He lost in the first round to eventual winner Mark Andrews in November and again in a rematch the following May Andrews who as part of his reward for winning picked Ospreay to enter the following Natural Progression Series tournament The two met again in January 2014 in the first round of the Progress Tag Team Championship tournament with FSU Andrews team with Eddie Dennis defeating The Swords of Essex Ospreay s team with Paul Robinson In his Natural Progression Series II opening match his opponent Zack Gibson tried to win by holding the ropes Robinson prevented Gibson using the ropes which in turn distracted the referee for long enough for Gibson to low blow Ospreay and make Ospreay submit 8 On 18 May The Swords of Essex were one of the final two teams standing in a four team elimination match to decide contenders to the Progress Tag Team Championship During the match Ospreay having been isolated for some time reached out to tag his partner but Robinson jumped off the apron and walked out on Ospreay Ospreay was left on his own and lost the match after which the Progress Champion Jimmy Havoc came to the ring and ordered London Riots to tie Ospreay Havoc pulled out a knife and threatened to torture Ospreay blaming it on Ospreay s popularity with the fans before other wrestlers came out and intervened freeing Ospreay 9 Havoc and The London Riots formed an allegiance known as Regression which also featured Robinson On 27 July Ospreay entered the eight man staggered entry elimination Thunderbastard match the winner of whom can pick a time for a Progress Championship match Ospreay entered the match third and was immediately low blowed by Robinson who had already entered who disqualified himself in the hopes of taking out Ospreay Ospreay recovered and eventually eliminated Marty Scurll last to win Thunderbastard 10 The following show saw Ospreay team up with FSU and Noam Dar in an eight man tag team match with FSU and Havoc s respective titles Ospreay s title contendership and everyone else s Progress contracts at stake depending which individual lost During the match Ospreay moonsaulted from the Electric Ballroom s balcony onto his opponents on the floor 4 Later he had Havoc in position to be pinned but as he jumped from the top rope Robinson dragged Havoc outside leading Ospreay to pin Davis and end the London Riots contract with Progress 11 At the next event Ospreay defeated Robinson and announced he would invoke his Thunderbastard right to challenge for Havoc s championship at the following show He lost the championship match in January after Havoc loosened the top rope making it more difficult for Ospreay to do high flying moves and used it as a weapon 12 During the Spring Bank Holiday weekend Ospreay defeated El Ligero Mark Haskins Roderick Strong and Zack Sabre Jr across two days to win the first Super Strong Style 16 tournament and once again lay claim to Havoc s championship 13 Their rematch took place on 26 July in a no disqualification match where the reinstated London Riots neutralised the threat of Robinson s interference and Ospreay ended Havoc s 609 day reign to become Progress Champion 14 Ospreay successfully defended his title against the 2015 Thunderbastard Haskins and then Robinson Robinson attacked Ospreay after losing to him but Ospreay was saved by a returning Mark Andrews Ospreay went on to finally beat Andrews to defend his title Ospreay also headlined Progress first main show outside of London in Manchester in a triple threat match against Zack Gibson and Morgan Webster to close out 2015 He lost the championship on 24 January 2016 to Marty Scurll when the referee stopped the match as Ospreay had passed out while being handcuffed in Scurll s chickenwing submission Ospreay lost a rematch with Scurll at WrestleCon Supershow in Texas USA in April and also lost a contendership match against Haskins on 31 July He spent the rest of the year in showcase matches against non regular Progress wrestlers losing to Zack Sabre Jr Shane Strickland Matt Riddle and Adam Cole Finally on 30 December at a card composed exclusively of unannounced matches Ospreay lost to Havoc After the match Havoc invited Ospreay to join him in his fight against British Strong Style who held the World and Tag Team Championship Ospreay instead attacked Havoc and then realigned with Swords of Essex partner Paul Robinson Ospreay attacked Havoc again during the latter s Progress World Championship match leading to a Fans Bring The Weapons match in March During the match Ospreay challenged Havoc to put their Progress contracts at stake before losing the match and leaving the promotion Ospreay returned at the last event of 2017 as a mystery opponent for Progress Champion Travis Banks however he lost the match 15 On chapter 61 Ospreay defeated Adam Brooks this was his first victory in the promotion since losing the Progress Championship in 2016 16 At Progress Chapter 66 Ospreay defeated Mark Haskins On 7 May 2018 day 3 of the 2018 Super Strong Style 16 tournament Ospreay challenged Jimmy Havoc to a match at Wembley Arena on September 30 2018 but was forced to withdraw due to contractual obligations with New Japan Pro Wrestling The match was then set for Chapter 75 with Ospreay emerging victorious in a no disqualification 2 out of 3 falls match with former tag team partner Paul Robinson as referee At Chapter 82 Unboxing Live Ospreay and Paul Robinson defeated Aussie Open Kyle Fletcher amp Mark Davis to become the Progress Tag Team Champions United Kingdom independent circuit 2012 2017 Edit Ospreay has regularly wrestled for International Pro Wrestling United Kingdom IPW UK since September 2012 in singles matches with Robinson as Swords of Essex and with Tom Dawkins as Spitfire Britannia playing off their alter egos Pure Britannico and Neo Britannico for Lucha Britannia Ospreay made it through to the final of the UK Super 8 tournament in both 2014 and 2015 losing to Zack Sabre Jr and Rampage Brown respectively He won the 30 man Battle Royale 2014 in April but failed to win it the following year when the All England Championship was on the line On 28 March 2016 Ospreay lost a Loser Leaves Town match to his former Spitfire Britannia partner Dawkins The Swords of Essex began wrestling for Future Pro Wrestling FPW in May 2013 and after a series of wins became the first FPW Tag Team Champions after winning a four way match They held the titles for nine months and eventually became embroiled in a Best of Four match series against both The London Riots and The Alpha Males Iestyn Rees amp Charlie Garrett for the FPW Tag Team Championship The Swords of Essex failed to win a match in the series with Ospreay wrestling the final match which also had the London Riots IPW UK and New Generation Wrestling Tag Team Championship on the line without Robinson Ospreay has been unable to replicate similar success as a singles wrestler twice entering the Zero G tournament but failing to win Ospreay also became a regular for Southside Wrestling Entertainment SWE from March 2014 onwards After failing to win the Speed King Championship from Kay Lee Ray in a co promoted show with Combat Zone Wrestling in October he won it a fortnight later in a Six Way Elimination match He defended it over the following months to many SWE and guest wrestlers eventually putting it on the line in the annual Speed King Tournament where he beat Mark Andrews in the semi final in a Best of Three falls match but lost the title to El Ligero in a Six Way Elimination match on 30 May 2015 The following March he unsuccessfully challenged Joseph Connors for the SWE Heavyweight Championship but on 7 August won the Speed King championship for the second time from Andrew Everett On 27 August 2016 Ospreay posted a Facebook live video unveiling a new British Triangle Championship with his three Swords of Essex partners Paul Robinson Jerry Sevanchez and Scott Wainwright They announced that the trios championships were not specific to any promotion and could therefore be defended anywhere 17 Ospreay wrestled a series of shows across 2016 for What Culture Pro Wrestling for both their weekly YouTube broadcast and iPPV shows scoring wins over Noam Dar Marty Scurll and feud with Martin Kirby 18 On WCPW Loaded 15 Ospreay defeated Martin Kirby with help from Adam Pacitti Paul Robinson amp Scott Wainwright joining the Pacitti Club citation needed At WCPW True Destiny Ospreay teamed with Scotty Wainwright and defeated El Ligero amp Gabriel Kidd and Johnny Moss amp Liam Slater and Prospect Alex Gracie amp Lucas Archer in a four way ladder match to become WCPW Tag Team Champions citation needed They lost the title to War Machine on an episode of Loaded In August 2017 Ospreay made it to the finals of the Pro Wrestling World Cup before losing to Kushida 19 On 4 January 2017 Ospreay along with fellow British wrestler Ryan Smile started their own promotion known as Lucha Forever 20 with their first show The Dawning of Forever taking place on 17 April in Birmingham 21 Revolution Pro Wrestling 2013 present Edit Ospreay debuted for Revolution Pro Wrestling RevPro on 10 February 2013 with a win over Mike Hitchman He soon started appearing in tag matches with Paul Robinson as The Swords of Essex and after earning contendership with a win over The London Riots won the British Tag Team Championship on 15 June 2013 during RevPro s first show at York Hall by defeating Project Ego Kris Travis and Martin Kirby After losing to Ricochet in a singles match The Swords of Essex lost their British Tag Team Championship to Ricochet and his partner Rich Swann The Inner City Machine Gun on 15 March 2014 On 19 October Ospreay beat Josh Bodom for the British Cruiserweight Championship in a match that also included Swann The day before he had lost a match to Matt Sydal and so in May 2015 the two had a rematch Although Ospreay won the rematch with their series at 1 1 the two were booked in a Best of Three Falls match with the British Cruiserweight Championship on the line After losing the first fall he retained the title with two straight falls After an eleven month reign with a number of title defences Ospreay lost the title back to Bodom on 5 September 2015 Ospreay bounced back with wins over P J Black Rene Dupree and Ricochet which put him in line for a three way match for AJ Styles British Heavyweight Championship which also featured Marty Scurll where the champion retained The following day on 3 October 2015 he lost to New Japan Pro Wrestling s Kazuchika Okada Okada impressed with Ospreay went on to recommend him to NJPW officials This along with endorsements from AJ Styles and Hiroshi Tanahashi eventually led to Ospreay being signed by NJPW 22 In 2016 Ospreay beat Scurll and the new Cruiserweight Champion Pete Dunne in a non title triple threat match as well as beating Mike Bailey which saw him earn a Cruiserweight Championship match against Dunne on 10 July which he won The following month Ospreay headlined York Hall in a match against Vader The feud began after Vader had criticised an NJPW Best of the Super Juniors match between Ospreay and Ricochet in May comparing the match to a gymnastics routine The debate escalated over Twitter with many wrestling journalists and veterans weighing in on the debate 23 Their match eventually took place on 12 August with Ospreay losing to Vader after Dunne interfered while the referee was distracted On 13 April 2017 Ospreay lost the British Cruiserweight Championship to interim champion Josh Bodom 24 Following a non title contest against Zack Sabre Jr at Monday Night Mayhem in Portsmouth in which Ospreay won On 10 November 2017 at Global Wars Ospreay failed to win the Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship from Zack Sabre Jr 25 At High Stakes on 14 February 2020 Ospreay defeated Sabre Jr to win the Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship 26 Various international promotions 2016 2017 Edit On 29 January 2016 Ospreay made his debut for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling TNA during the promotion s tour of the United Kingdom Ospreay unsuccessfully entered the 2016 Joker s Wild tournament and challenged for both the TNA King of the Mountain Championship and TNA World Tag Team Championship Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that TNA had plans to push Ospreay but upon finding out that he had signed to appear for NJPW relegated him to a short match on their secondary television programme 27 On 1 April 2016 Ospreay made his debut for Evolve losing to Zack Sabre Jr at Evolve 58 and Ricochet at Evolve 59 both in Dallas Texas USA 28 29 On 12 July Paul Heyman during a speaking tour of the United Kingdom offered Ospreay an Evolve contract on behalf of Gabe Sapolsky while clarifying that the contract would not affect his NJPW deal 30 On 20 July Pro Wrestling Torch reported Ospreay had signed the contract to make Evolve his American home promotion 31 but the Wrestling Observer Newsletter disputed this reporting Ospreay did not sign and was still in talks with Evolve PWG TNA and ROH another American promotion who had a relationship with NJPW which Ospreay later confirmed 32 33 In August 2017 Ospreay made his debut appearance for Pro Wrestling Australia PWA at their Sydney event Call to Arms Originally scheduled to face PWA Heavyweight Champion Robbie Eagles in a non title match for the main event Eagles made the last minute decision to put his title on the line Ospreay ultimately defeated Eagles and won the PWA Heavyweight Championship for the first time Afterwards Ospreay announced that he was moving to Australia and would begin working regularly for PWA and other local independent promotions Ospreay stated that he felt he could help the Australian wrestling scene grow while the U K scene did not need him 34 Days later Ospreay faced Adam Brooks in the main event of a Melbourne City Wrestling show Ballroom Brawl defeating him to win the MCW Intercommonwealth Championship New Japan Pro Wrestling Edit IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion 2016 2018 Edit Ospreay as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion in November 2017 After the Global Wars UK event where Ospreay faced Kazuchika Okada New Japan wrestlers Hiroshi Tanahashi AJ Styles and Okada recommended him to NJPW 35 On 3 March 2016 Ospreay was announced as the newest member of the NJPW stable Chaos Appearing in a video Ospreay challenged Kushida to an IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match at Invasion Attack 2016 on 10 April 36 On 10 April Ospreay failed in his title challenge against Kushida 37 Following the match it was reported that NJPW had offered Ospreay a contract to become a regular for the promotion 38 The following month Ospreay entered the 2016 Best of the Super Juniors tournament On 27 May Ospreay faced Ricochet in the tournament in a match which received widespread attention in the professional wrestling world William Regal praised the match 39 Vader however compared the match to a gymnastics routine 23 40 Ospreay won his block in the tournament with a record of four wins and three losses advancing to the finals 41 On 7 June Ospreay defeated Ryusuke Taguchi in the finals to win the 2016 Best of the Super Juniors becoming the youngest winner in the history of the tournament as well as the first English and the fifth gaijin wrestler to win tournament 42 Following the win Ospreay was granted another shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship but was again defeated by Kushida on 19 June at Dominion 6 19 in Osaka jo Hall 43 On 20 July Ospreay entered the 2016 Super J Cup defeating Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre CMLL representative Titan in his first round match 44 On 21 August he was eliminated from the tournament in the second round by Matt Sydal 45 On 8 October Ospreay received his first shot at the NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Championship but he and his Chaos stablemates Beretta and Rocky Romero were defeated by the defending champions David Finlay Ricochet and Satoshi Kojima 46 On 11 February 2017 at The New Beginning in Osaka Ospreay unsuccessfully challenged Katsuyori Shibata for the British Heavyweight Championship 47 In May Ospreay won his block in the 2017 Best of the Super Juniors tournament with a record of five wins and two losses advancing to his second consecutive final 48 On 3 June Ospreay was defeated in the final by Kushida 49 On 9 October at King of Pro Wrestling Ospreay defeated Kushida to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship for the first time 50 With the win Ospreay became the first British IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion 51 He lost the title to Marty Scurll in his first defence on 5 November at Power Struggle 52 Ospreay regained the title from Scurll on 4 January 2018 at Wrestle Kingdom 12 in Tokyo Dome in a four way match also involving Hiromu Takahashi and Kushida 53 On 10 February Ospreay retained the title against Hiromu Takahashi at The New Beginning in Osaka On 1 April Ospreay successfully retained the title against Marty Scurll at Sakura Genesis 54 During the match Ospreay was legitimately injured after his foot hit the rope mid rotation after attempting a Spanish Fly off of the ring apron causing him to land on his head on top of the apron and begin bleeding profusely from his scalp At Wrestling Dontaku 2018 after successfully defending his title in a rematch against Kushida he was attacked by the newest Bullet Club member Taiji Ishimori 55 He entered the 2018 Best of the Super Juniors finishing the tournament with 5 wins and 2 losses but didn t advance to the finals due to his loss against Ishimori on the first day of the tournament Ospreay lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship to the winner of the tournament Hiromu Takahashi at Dominion 6 9 in Osaka jo Hall on 9 June in his fourth defense 56 At Fighting Spirit Unleashed Ospreay entered a tournament to crown a new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion due to Takahashi getting a neck injury and forcing him to vacate the belt and lost against Marty Scurll Move to the heavyweight division 2018 2020 Edit At King of Pro Wrestling 2018 Ospreay teamed with Hirooki Goto and Tomohiro Ishii in a winning effort against Suzuki gun represented by Minoru Suzuki Takashi Iizuka and NEVER Openweight Champion Taichi Ospreay pinned Taichi for the win 57 After the match Ospreay called out Taichi for a NEVER Openweight Championship match and doing so hinting going to the Heavyweight division although it s still possible that Ospreay might be staying in the Jr Heavyweight division as the Openweight title can be held by people from either division The match was made official for Power Struggle 2018 however it was announced on Twitter that the match had been cancelled due to Ospreay s injury On the final day of World Tag League Ospreay returned to New Japan where he defeated Taichi On the same night he challenged the new NEVER Openweight Champion Kota Ibushi to a championship match at Wrestle Kingdom 13 On 4 January at Wrestle Kingdom 13 Will Ospreay defeated Kota Ibushi to capture the NEVER Openweight Championship 58 He became the first Junior Heavyweight to hold the championship He made his first title defense at RevPro New Year s Resolution where he defeated Chris Brookes 59 On 22 February Ospreay successfully retained the title against Dalton Castle at Honor Rising Japan 2018 At New Japan s Anniversary Show he faced IWGP Heavyweight Champion Jay White in a losing effort Despite still being classified as a Junior Heavyweight Ospreay entered the 2019 New Japan Cup beating Bad Luck Fale and Lance Archer before being eliminated by fellow Chaos member Kazuchika Okada It was announced that Ospreay will face ROH Television Champion Jeff Cobb in a Winner takes all match at G1 Supercard At the event Ospreay lost the match in the process losing his title to Cobb who retained his title Ospreay participated in the 2019 edition of Best of the Super Juniors where he won his block with a record of 7 2 advancing to the final In the preliminary rounds he suffered losses against long time rivals Robbie Eagles and El Phantasmo On 5 June Ospreay defeated Shingo Takagi to win the tournament for the second time earning an IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match at Dominion The match between Ospreay and Shingo was awarded a 5 75 rating by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter the highest rating for a wrestling match in 2019 60 This was also the first match in which Shingo Takagi was pinned after his debut in NJPW At Dominion Ospreay defeated Dragon Lee and became IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship for the third time in his career With this wrestling match being awarded 5 stars Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez suggested that Will Ospreay has reached a point in his career where he is a serious contender for being the best wrestler in the world 61 After winning the title Ospreay announced his intention to enter the G1 Climax 29 in his quest of bridging the gap between heavyweight and junior heavyweight wrestlers Later that week Ospreay was announced as a participant in the 2019 G1 Climax Ospreay made his first IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship title defense against Robbie Eagles at Southern Showdown in Melbourne He started the G1 Climax campaign at G1 Climax in Dallas where he was defeated by Lance Archer He obtained his first win by defeating Sanada but lost in the third round of the tournament against Kota Ibushi in a rematch from Wrestle Kingdom Between the second and the thirds round he suffered a legit injury that almost made him unable to participate further in the G1 Climax but nevertheless he managed to get cleared in a very short amount of time 62 Afterwards Ospreay faced the leader of Chaos Kazuchika Okada in the main events of Night 7 of the G1 Climax yet lost in another well received match 63 On January 4 2020 at Wrestle Kingdom 14 Ospreay lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship to Hiromu Takahashi 64 He suffered an heel injury during the match reportedly from landing on his feet when Takahashi dropped him from the top rope 65 United Empire 2020 present Edit Main article United Empire On 2 February at The New Beginning in Sapporo Ospreay was unsuccessful at winning British Heavyweight Championship from Zack Sabre Jr 66 On 4 February during the Road to New Beginning tour Ospreay pinned Sabre Jr in a tag team match between Chaos and Suzuki gun After the match Ospreay challenged Sabre Jr to another match for the title which was scheduled at RevPro s High Stakes event At the event Ospreay defeated Sabre Jr to win the British Heavyweight Championship After the match Ospreay announced that he will be moving to the heavyweight division 26 67 Ospreay was supposed to be part of the 2020 New Japan Cup starting on March 4 however NJPW suspended all of its activities in late February due to the COVID 19 pandemic 68 Although the company eventually resumed its activities with the New Japan Cup in June travel limitations due to the pandemic have prevented most foreign wrestlers from returning to Japan Ospreay made his return in September where Ospreay participated in his second G1 Climax in the A Block where he ended his G1 run with twelve points At the night 17 of the G1 Climax Ospreay defeated Kazuchika Okada after interference from Ospreay s girlfriend Bea Priestley and the returning young lion Great O Khan After the match Ospreay attacked Okada turning heel 69 leaving Chaos and forming a new stable called United Empire Ospreay then won the 2021 New Japan Cup as well as winning the right to challenge Kota Ibushi for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis At the event Ospreay defeated Ibushi to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship for the first time as well as becoming the first British holder of NJPW s top championship 70 71 At Wrestling Dontaku Ospreay made his first defense of the title when he defeated Shingo Takagi 72 However he suffered a neck injury during the match and was forced to vacate the title on May 20 2021 73 Just three months after his injury Ospreay made a surprise return at Resurgence on August 14 He delivered a promo declaring himself as the true IWGP World Heavyweight Champion due to him never being beaten for the title and revealed a separate and identical belt He also claimed recognized IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi to be an Interim champion as well as revealing himself out of the G1 Climax 31 He also said he would be competing on New Japan s American show Strong 74 In the build up to Wrestle Kingdom 16 it was announced that Ospreay would face the winner of the January 4 main event on January 5 to unify the World Championships On January 4 Kazuchika Okada defeated Shingo Takagi to win the World Championship On January 5 Okada defeated Ospreay to win and unify both World Championships 75 After his defeat Ospreay stuck around in Japan teaming with his United Empire teammates Ospreay was eventually announced for that year s New Japan Cup In the tournament he defeated Bushi El Phantasmo and IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Sanada to make it to the tournament quarterfinals During his third round match Ospreay fractured Sanada s orbital bone causing him to win the match by referee stoppage In the quarterfinal round he lost to the eventual winner Zack Sabre Jr 76 After the tournament at Hyper Battle it was announced Sanada would be forced to vacate the US title in which Ospreay and former champion Hiroshi Tanahashi expressed interest in fighting for the vacant title 77 Ospreay returned to the NJPW United States shows on 16 April at Windy City Riot to face Jon Moxley who Ospreay had called out at Resurgence and in post match interviews during his New Japan Cup run At the event he was defeated 78 Ospreay challenged for the US title at Capital Collision on May 14 in a four way match involving Tanahashi Moxley and Juice Robinson but failed to win the championship after being pinned by Robinson 79 Ospreay along with Sanada was set to get another title shot at Dominion 6 12 in Osaka jo Hall on June 12 in a Three way match however when Robinson had to vacate the championship due to suffering from appendicitis Ospreay faced Sanada one on one for the vacant championship where he was victorious 80 Also on June 12th during Dominion Ospreay was announced as a participant in the G1 Climax 32 tournament starting in July as apart of the D block 81 Ospreay scored 8 points in his block advancing to the semi finals and gaining the physical IWGP United States Championship from former champion Juice Robinson and David Finlay who both competed in the D Block 82 In the semi final round Ospreay defeated C Block winner Tetsuya Naito to advance to the tournament finals 83 In the finals Ospreay lost to Okada 84 Following his G1 loss Ospreay continued to defend his IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship avenging a D Block G1 loss to David Finlay and defeating him at NJPW Burning Spirit in September 85 In October at Royal Quest II Ospreay defeated Shota Umino 86 At Battle Autumn in November Ospreay again retained the title defeating Tetsuya Naito once more 87 After his defence against Naito Ospreay was confronted by Umino who made his return to Japan and was struck down by him 88 Umino challenged Ospreay for the US Championship at Historic X Over where at the event Ospreay defeated him 89 After the match Kenny Omega of All Elite Wrestling appeared on the titantron belittling Ospreay and challenged him to an IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship match at Wrestle Kingdom 17 a challenge which Ospreay accepted 90 Ring of Honor 2016 2018 Edit On 8 November 2016 Ring of Honor ROH announced that Ospreay had signed a contract with the promotion which went into effect on 1 December 22 On 18 November Ospreay defeated Bobby Fish in his ROH debut match in Liverpool to become the new ROH World Television Champion 91 He lost the title to Marty Scurll two days later during the final day of ROH s three day tour of the United Kingdom 92 Ospreay had been given another opportunity to regain the title in a four corners match at ROH s December pay per view Final Battle 2016 but Scurll retained his title At Final Battle 2017 Ospreay was defeated by Matt Taven On ROH TV on 15 September 2018 Jay Lethal issued an open challenge and it was answered by Ospreay who said I Need the World Title The Match was signed for ROH Death Before Dishonor later that month in which Ospreay lost Frontline Wrestling 2018 2019 Edit In 2018 Ospreay announced that he would be starting his own promotion Frontline Wrestling He said that Frontline would be a British Puroresu style company and that wants to take wrestling in England back to being seen as a sport 93 On 28 June 2018 they ran their first event Build Me An Empire Upon the one year anniversary of the promotion Ospreay sold Frontline to move to Japan and pursue a full time schedule in New Japan Pro Wrestling 94 All Elite Wrestling 2022 present Edit Two weeks after United Empire teammates Great O Khan and Jeff Cobb debuted on AEW Dynamite by attacking Roppongi Vice and FTR Ospreay made his surprise debut for the All Elite Wrestling on the June 8 2022 episode of AEW Dynamite where along with other stablemates Aaron Henare and Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis of Aussie Open he attacked Trent Beretta and FTR 95 On June 10 2022 edition of AEW Rampage Beretta and FTR picked up a victory against United Empire s Ospreay and Aussie Open s Davis and Fletcher 96 Ospreay competed in his first singles match at the June 15th special episode of Dynamite Road Rager where he defeated Dax Harwood 97 After the match Ospreay and United Empire stablemates attacked FTR and Roppongi Vice once more only to be interrupted by Orange Cassidy who stared down Ospreay Soon after a singles match between both men was scheduled for AEW NJPW Forbidden Door for Ospreay s newly won IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship 98 At AEW NJPW Forbidden Door Ospreay successfully defended the IWGP US Heavyweight Title against Orange Cassidy After the match Ospreay and Aussie Open attacked Cassidy and Roppongi Vice only to be stopped by Katsuyori Shibata who attacked the trio 99 On July 27 the AEW World Trios Championship was revealed with Ospreay and Aussie Open being named as participants in the inaugural tournament On August 24 Ospreay and Aussie Open defeated Death Triangle to progress to the semifinals where they were defeated by The Elite on August 31 100 After the match United Empire attacked The Elite 101 Professional wrestling style and persona EditHailed as one of the greatest wrestlers in the world today Opsreay was known for his high flying high risk style of wrestling being nicknamed The Aerial Assassin 102 As a junior heavyweight Ospreay used a springboard cutter named the OsCutter as his finishing manoeuvre This high risk style has caused concern about Ospreay s health and length of his career 103 104 105 This included a neck injury he suffered against Marty Scurll on 1 April 2018 106 After his match against Kota Ibushi at Wrestle Kingdom 13 Ospreay shortened his nickname to The Assassin and debuted a new finisher a swinging back elbow he later named the Hidden Blade 107 Since his transition to the Heavyweight division in 2020 Ospreay bulked up in size and muscle This led to him changing his in ring style as he continued to use some high flying offence but also utilized a range of technical skill as well as lifting moves like backbreakers which includes his current finisher named Stormbreaker Personal life EditFrom 2017 108 Ospreay was in a relationship with fellow professional wrestler Bea Priestley 109 110 111 In 2019 the couple revealed they were planning on moving to Japan due to both of their wrestling schedules there 112 As of 2021 the two have split As part of the Speaking Out movement Ospreay was accused of blacklisting Pollyanna a former wrestler after she made allegations towards Ospreay s friend and Swords of Essex teammate Scott Wainwright 113 Independent wrestling promotion International Wrestling League IWL stated on Twitter that a venue asked them to remove Pollyanna from a show at the request of Ospreay 114 However it was later revealed by IWL that the venue rather than Ospreay had requested her removal 115 The person running the IWL Twitter account later revealed that the supposed evidence was really their opinion on an unclear situation 116 Championships and accomplishments Edit Ospreay as Progress Wrestling Champion Future Pro Wrestling FPW Tag Team Championship 1 time with Paul Robinson 117 118 119 FPW Tag Team Championship Tournament 2014 120 Inside The Ropes Magazine Ranked No 10 of the top 50 wrestlers in the world in the ITR 50 in 2020 121 Lucha Britannia Lucha Britannia World Championship 2 times 122 123 124 Melbourne City Wrestling MCW Intercommonwealth Championship 1 time 125 New Japan Pro Wrestling IWGP World Heavyweight Championship 1 time 126 IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship 1 time current 127 IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship 3 times 128 NEVER Openweight Championship 1 time 129 130 New Japan Cup 2021 131 Best of the Super Juniors 2016 2019 132 133 134 Sixth Triple Crown ChampionPreston City Wrestling PCW One to Watch in 2015 End of Year Award 2014 135 Progress Wrestling Progress Championship 1 time Progress Tag Team Championship 1 time with Paul Robinson Super Strong Style 16 2015 Thunderbastard 2014 136 Pro Wrestling Australia PWA Heavyweight Championship 1 time 34 Pro Wrestling Illustrated Ranked No 7 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2021 137 Reloaded Championship Wrestling Alliance RCWA Elite 1 Championship 1 time 138 Revolution Pro Wrestling Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship 1 time 139 British Cruiserweight Championship 2 times 140 Undisputed British Tag Team Championship 1 time with Paul Robinson 141 Second Triple Crown ChampionRing of Honor ROH World Television Championship 1 time 91 Best Move of the Year 2017 OsCutter 142 SoCal Uncensored Match of the Year 2016 with Matt Sydal amp Ricochet vs Adam Cole amp The Young Bucks Matt Jackson amp Nick Jackson on September 3 143 Southside Wrestling Entertainment SWE Speed King Championship 2 times 144 145 146 147 148 Sports Illustrated Ranked No 6 of the top 10 men s wrestlers in 2018 149 Ranked No 5 of the top 10 wrestlers in 2022 150 Tokyo Sports Best Bout Award 2022 vs Kazuchika Okada on August 18 151 Warrior Wrestling Warrior Wrestling Championship 1 time 152 153 154 What Culture Pro Wrestling Defiant Wrestling WCPW Tag Team Championship 1 time with Scotty Wainwright 155 Defiant Wrestling Award for Match of the Year 2017 vs Drew Galloway on 6 March 156 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Best Flying Wrestler 2016 2019 157 158 Best Wrestling Maneuver 2019 Storm Breaker 158 Non Heavyweight MVP 2018 2019 159 158 Europe MVP 2021 Most Outstanding Wrestler 2019 158 Pro Wrestling Match of the Year 2019 vs Shingo Takagi on June 5 at the Best of the Super Juniors finals 158 Other titles British Triangle Championship 1 time with Paul Robinson and Scott Wainwright 160 References Edit a b ウィル オスプレイ Will Ospreay New Japan Pro Wrestling in Japanese Retrieved 10 April 2017 Facebook Will Ospreay Facebook Page a b c The Sword of Essex William Ospreay Interview prowrestling com a b c Davies Ryan Wrestler Spotlight Will Ospreay uwejournalism Archived from the original on 1 September 2017 Retrieved 26 October 2015 William Peter Charles OSPREAY Personal Appointments beta companieshouse gov uk Retrieved 24 April 2017 Will Ospreay SWE Biographie Catcheur SWE Catch Arena www catch arena com Stone Danny Royal Ramblings Meets Will Ospreay The Huffington Post Hawke TJ Views from the Hawke s Nest Progress Wrestling Chapter Twelve We re Gonna Need A Bigger Room 411mania com Retrieved 22 August 2016 Diot Dylan From The Shelf Progress Chapter 13 Unbelievable Jeff 411mania com Retrieved 22 August 2016 Hamilton Ian 20 April 2016 Backfill Progress Chapter 14 Thunderbastard Review BackBodyDrop Retrieved 22 August 2016 Progress Wrestling Chapter 15 Just Because You re Paranoid Doesn t Mean They Aren t Out To Get You Results WrestleRopes UK 28 September 2014 Retrieved 22 August 2016 Court Oliver 28 January 2015 Progress Wrestling Chapter 17 Harder Better Faster Strong Review Voices of Wrestling Retrieved 22 August 2016 Radican Sean 11 September 2015 RADICAN S Progress Wrestling Chapter 19 Super Strong Style Day 2 Report 5 25 incredible show with stand out tournament matches Sabre Ospreay finals more Pro Wrestling Torch Retrieved 22 August 2016 Radican Sean 4 December 2015 RADICAN S Progress Wrestling Ch 20 Review Pro Wrestling Torch Retrieved 22 August 2016 PROGRESS Chapter 60 Unboxing Live 2 Unbox Harder Events Database CAGEMATCH The Internet Wrestling Database www cagematch net PROGRESS Chapter 61 Don t Touch Me Don t Don t Touch Me Events Database CAGEMATCH The Internet Wrestling Database www cagematch net Ospreay Will 27 August 2016 Time4AChange Facebook Retrieved 28 August 2016 Kreikenbohm Philip Matches Will Ospreay Wrestlers Database CAGEMATCH The Internet Wrestling Database www cagematch net Currier Joseph 26 August 2017 Daily Update Mayweather vs McGregor Charlotte WCPW World Cup Wrestling Observer Newsletter Retrieved 1 November 2017 LUCHA FOREVER WRESTLING LTD Officers beta companieshouse gov uk Retrieved 24 April 2017 SOLD OUT Lucha Forever Birmingham The Dawning of Forever www facebook com Retrieved 24 April 2017 a b Will Ospreay looking to soar to new heights in ROH Ring of Honor 8 November 2016 Retrieved 9 November 2016 a b Caldwell James 29 May 2016 Caldwell Ospreay vs Ricochet One match captures the larger argument about today s pro wrestling style Pro Wrestling Torch Retrieved 31 May 2016 RevPro Epic Encounter results The Elite in action Wrestling Observer Newsletter 14 April 2017 Retrieved 14 April 2017 RevPro NJPW Global Wars 2017 Tag 2 Events Database CAGEMATCH The Internet Wrestling Database www cagematch net a b Rose Bryan 14 February 2020 WILL OSPREAY WINS REVPRO BRITISH HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE AT HIGH STAKES WON F4W Retrieved 18 February 2020 New Japan bound Will Ospreay loses planned TNA push Wrestling Observer Newsletter Retrieved 30 January 2016 Caldwell James 1 April 2016 4 1 Evolve 58 iPPV Results Evolve Title amp Tag Title matches Sabre vs Ospreay weekend stealer more Pro Wrestling Torch Retrieved 20 July 2016 Laprade Pat 3 April 2016 Evolve 59 iPPV results Ricochet vs Will Ospreay Matt Riddle vs Zack Sabre Jr Wrestling Observer Newsletter Retrieved 20 July 2016 Meltzer Dave 12 July 2016 Paul Heyman offers Will Ospreay an Evolve contract Wrestling Observer Newsletter Retrieved 20 July 2016 Caldwell James Radican Sean 20 July 2016 PWTorch Report Will Ospreay signs deal with WWNLive Pro Wrestling Torch Retrieved 20 July 2016 Currier Joseph 9 August 2016 Will Ospreay to make Ring of Honor debut Wrestling Observer Newsletter Retrieved 9 August 2016 Csonka Larry 11 August 2016 Will Ospreay Discusses Not Signing With Evolve Taking Less Independent Dates More 411Mania Retrieved 11 August 2016 a b Meltzer Dave 4 August 2017 Daily Update Will Ospreay ROH in Chicago G1 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Retrieved 4 August 2017 Will Ospreay No querria estar en TNA especialmente tras ver el video de los Hardys 2 July 2016 Rose Bryan 3 March 2016 NJPW New Japan Cup results Big announcements first round of matches Wrestling Observer Newsletter Retrieved 3 March 2016 Meltzer Dave 9 April 2016 NJPW Invasion Attack live results Kazuchika Okada vs Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Championship Wrestling Observer Newsletter Retrieved 10 April 2016 Meltzer Dave 25 April 2016 April 25 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Conor McGregor announces retirement TNA sale imminent Wrestling Observer Newsletter Campbell California 34 ISSN 1083 9593 Will Ospreay has already been offered a regular contract which would make him just about the quickest guy without an international name to get one He got the offer after one match with the promotion Johnson Mike 29 May 2016 William Regal provides important insight and advice in wake of talked about Ricochet vs Ospreay bout in NJ Pro Wrestling Insider Retrieved 31 May 2016 Schwartz Nick 29 May 2016 Wrestling fans are going crazy over this acrobatic match in Japan Fox Sports Retrieved 31 May 2016 Best of the Super Jr XXIII New Japan Pro Wrestling in Japanese Retrieved 6 June 2016 Rose Bryan 7 June 2016 NJPW Best of the Super Juniors finals results Will Ospreay vs Ryusuke Taguchi Wrestling Observer Newsletter Retrieved 7 June 2016 Meltzer Dave 18 June 2016 NJPW Dominion live results Tetsuya Naito vs Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP HW Championship Wrestling Observer Newsletter Retrieved 19 June 2016 Super J Cup 2016 New Japan Pro Wrestling in Japanese Retrieved 20 July 2016 Super J Cup 2016 New Japan Pro Wrestling in Japanese Retrieved 21 August 2016 New Japan Road がんばろう Uonuma 2016 New Japan Pro Wrestling in Japanese Retrieved 8 October 2016 Rose Bryan 10 February 2017 NJPW New Beginning in Osaka live results Naito vs Elgin Wrestling Observer Newsletter Retrieved 11 February 2017 鉄拳7 Presents Best of the Super Jr 24 New Japan Pro Wrestling in Japanese Retrieved 31 May 2017 鉄拳7 Presents Best of the Super Jr 24 New Japan Pro Wrestling in Japanese Retrieved 3 June 2017 Rose Bryan 8 October 2017 NJPW King of Pro Wrestling live results Kazuchika Okada vs Evil Wrestling Observer Newsletter Retrieved 9 October 2017 King of Pro Wrestling New Japan Pro Wrestling in Japanese Retrieved 9 October 2017 Currier Joseph 5 November 2017 NJPW Power Struggle live results Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Kota Ibushi Wrestling Observer Newsletter Retrieved 5 November 2017 Renner Ethan 3 January 2018 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12 live results Okada Naito Omega Jericho Wrestling Observer Newsletter Retrieved 4 January 2018 Sakura Genesis 2018 results Okada vs Sabre Cageside Seats Retrieved 2 April 2018 NJPW HAMAKATSU Presents WRESTLING DONTAKU 2018 05 04 NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING NJPW Retrieved 9 June 2018 NJPW 2018 06 09 DOMINION 6 9 in OSAKA JO HALL NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING NJPW Retrieved 9 June 2018 NJPW King of Pro Wrestling live results Omega vs Cody vs Ibushi WON F4W WWE news Pro Wrestling News WWE Results UFC News UFC results 8 October 2018 Retrieved 16 February 2019 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13 live results Omega vs Tanahashi WON F4W WWE news Pro Wrestling News WWE Results UFC News UFC results 3 January 2019 Retrieved 16 February 2019 https www cagematch net id 5 amp nr 1865 amp page 5 amp reign 23 bare URL Dangoor Louis 7 June 2019 Will Ospreay Vs Shingo Takagi Handed Massive Star Rating By Dave Meltzer WrestleTalk Dangoor Louis 6 June 2019 Dave Meltzer Boldy Claims That Will Ospreay Is Better Than Kazuchika Okada WrestleTalk Will Ospreay to Miss G1 Climax Action Due to an Injury Dave Meltzer Awards Another Three Five Star And Above Ratings 25 July 2019 Powell Jason 4 January 2020 1 4 NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 results Kazuchika Okada vs Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship Jay White vs Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship Will Ospreay vs Hiromu Takahashi for the IWGP Jr Hvt Championship Pro Wrestling Dot Net Retrieved 5 January 2020 Davis Paul 5 January 2020 Will Ospreay injured at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 Wrestling News com Retrieved 14 January 2020 Renner Ethan 1 February 2020 NJPW NEW BEGINNING IN SAPPORO LIVE RESULTS BRITISH TITLE MATCH WON F4W Retrieved 18 February 2020 Will Ospreay wins British Heavyweight Championship turns heavyweight in London New Japan Pro Wrestling 17 February 2020 Retrieved 18 February 2020 New Japan Cup 2020 a NJPW World Special this June NJPW Retrieved 9 June 2020 411Mania Ibushi dethroned as Ospreay captures IWGP World heavyweight Championship NJPW 4 April 2021 Retrieved 4 April 2021 Lambert Jeremy 4 April 2021 Will Ospreay Wins IWGP World Heavyweight Title At NJPW Sakura Genesis Fightful News Retrieved 4 April 2021 2021 05 04 Wrestling Dontaku 2021 NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING NJPW Global njpwglobal 20 May 2021 Will Ospreay sustains neck injury to vacate IWGP World Heavyweight Championship t co u3RAwkbyzV njpw t co UlWMVstp4z Tweet Archived from the original on 31 May 2021 Retrieved 1 September 2021 via Twitter NJPW Resurgence Results Winners News and Notes as Will Ospreay Returns is Medically Cleared Forbes Will Ospreay NJPW Took My Title when I Would Miss Four Months Let Jon Moxley Keep His After a Year Fightful News NJPW New Japan Cup Results Zack Sabre Jr Defeats Will Ospreay Advances to Semi Finals 03 21 21 March 2022 SANADA vacates IWGP United States title at NJPW Hyper Battle NJPW Windy City Riot Report Jon Moxley vs Will Ospreay Ishii vs Suzuki 17 April 2022 Juice Robinson is Rock Hard after winning IWGP US title at Capital Collision 14 May 2022 NJPW Dominion 6 12 Results Jay White Defeats Kazuchika Okada to Win IWGP World Heavyweight Championship 06 12 12 June 2022 Field announced for NJPW G1 Climax 32 12 June 2022 NJPW G1 Climax 32 block winners determined semifinals set 2022 08 17 G1 Climax 32 New Japan Pro Wrestling 2022 08 18 G1 Climax 32 New Japan Pro Wrestling 2022 09 25 BURNING SPIRIT NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING NJPW Rose Bryan NJPW Royal Quest II night one results FTR vs Aussie Open WON F4W WWE news Pro Wrestling News WWE Results AEW News AEW results 2022 11 05 BATTLE AUTUMN 22 NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING NJPW Shota Umino Makes Shock NJPW Return TJR Wrestling tjrwrestling net 7 November 2022 2022 11 20 Historic X over NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING NJPW Renner Ethan Kenny Omega vs Will Ospreay set for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 WON F4W WWE news Pro Wrestling News WWE Results AEW News AEW results a b Currier Joseph 18 November 2016 Will Ospreay captures the ROH TV title in his debut Wrestling Observer Newsletter Retrieved 19 November 2016 Currier Joseph 20 November 2016 Marty Scurll defeats Will Ospreay to win the ROH TV title Wrestling Observer Newsletter Retrieved 20 November 2016 Jeremy Jake 7 February 2018 Exclusive Will Ospreay Discusses His New Promotion Frontline Wrestling Hayward Ciaran 29 June 2018 Frontline Wrestling Build Me An Empire Review Webbed Media Retrieved 9 February 2020 AEW Dynamite Winners amp Losers Moxley Wins Big Will Ospreay Debuts amp A New AEW Title 9 June 2022 AEW Rampage live results Will Ospreay amp Aussie Open vs FTR amp Trent Beretta AEW Dynamite Road Rager Results 15 June 2022 Will Ospreay vs Orange Cassidy set for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door results Ospreay outlasts Cassidy gets chased off by Shibata 26 June 2022 Powell Jason 24 August 2022 8 24 AEW Dynamite results Barnett s live review of CM Punk vs Jon Moxley for the unified AEW World Championship Death Triangle vs Will Ospreay and Aussie Open in an AEW Trios Title tournament match Dax Harwood vs Jay Lethal Billy Gunn vs Colten Gunn Britt Baker vs KiLynn King Chris Jericho and Daniel Garcia meeting Pro Wrestling Dot Net Retrieved 30 August 2022 VIDEO United Empire attack the Elite following AEW Dynamite Will Ospreay is rewriting the rules of wrestling at the age of 23 ESPN com 1 December 2016 Dave Meltzer s top matches of 2018 Five stars pt 1 WON F4W WWE news Pro Wrestling News WWE Results UFC News UFC results 27 December 2018 ROH Global Wars Columbus results Cody vs KUSHIDA The Elite in action WON F4W WWE news Pro Wrestling News WWE Results UFC News UFC results 15 October 2017 There s little use in telling Will Ospreay what to do ESPN com 15 May 2017 Will Ospreay questionable for New Orleans after injury WON F4W WWE news Pro Wrestling News WWE Results UFC News UFC results 1 April 2018 NJPW retira a Kota Ibushi de la gira de The New Beginning solowrestling mundodeportivo com 7 January 2019 The Week In British Wrestling Lucha Forever overcomes a venue change WON F4W WWE news Pro Wrestling News WWE Results UFC News UFC results 15 June 2017 Will Ospreay And His Missus Talk is Jericho 14 February 2018 Retrieved 16 February 2018 Piper Niven And Kay Lee Ray Expected To Sign With WWE Offer Made To Bea Priestley Fightful Wrestling Fightful Walsh Shannon 16 March 2020 WRESTLETALK amp WILL OSPREAY S NO FANS MONDAY REPORT FROM LONDON PWInsider Retrieved 21 March 2020 Beltran William 26 January 2019 Bea Priestley le dice no a WWE y firma con AEW Lambert Jeremy 20 June 2020 Will Ospreay Posts Statement Regarding Accusations He Helped Blacklist Pollyanna From Wrestling Fightful Retrieved 9 September 2020 Lambert Jeremy 21 June 2020 IWL Says Will Ospreay Told Venue He Was Uncomfortable With Pollyanna Being Booked Fightful Retrieved 9 September 2020 IWL IntWresLeague 15 October 2020 This should be a moment where we stand united in support of those affected by the death of Ryan Smile Instead some are ripping it into Will Ospreay To avoid any misconception we have to clarify something Will did NOT contact us directly about unbooking Polly the venue did Tweet Archived from the original on 17 August 2021 Retrieved 1 September 2021 via Twitter IWL IntWresLeague 15 October 2020 Yes From what I knew at the time that was my opinion Since then I ve been made to believe that maybe the situation wasn t as clear as I thought Hence the clarification today t co Qpal09MwKj Tweet Archived from the original on 4 April 2021 Retrieved 1 September 2021 via Twitter Kreikenbohm Philip 11 May 2014 FPW Crowning Glory 2014 Event Wallington Hall in Wallington Greater London England UK Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 27 June 2022 Kreikenbohm Philip 11 May 2014 FPW Tag Team Championship Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 27 June 2022 Kreikenbohm Philip 8 February 2015 FPW Reloaded IV Back To The Futurezone Event Wallington Hall in Wallington Greater London England UK Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 27 June 2022 Kreikenbohm Philip 11 May 2014 FPW Tag Team Championship Tournament 2014 Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 27 June 2022 McVey Innes 28 December 2020 New Japan News Will Ospreay Ranked 10 In ITR 50 Inside The Ropes Retrieved 12 May 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Kreikenbohm Philip 31 May 2013 Lucha Britannia The Super Lucha Summer Extravaganza Event The Bankside Vaults in London England UK Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 27 June 2022 Kreikenbohm Philip 20 June 2014 Lucha Britannia Event Resistance Gallery in London England UK Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 27 June 2022 Kreikenbohm Philip 16 May 2014 Lucha Britannia Event Resistance Gallery in London England UK Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 27 June 2022 Melbourne City Wrestling m facebook com Kreikenbohm Philip 4 April 2021 IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 5 April 2021 Kreikenbohm Philip 12 June 2022 IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 12 June 2022 Kreikenbohm Philip 9 December 2017 IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 5 April 2021 NEVER Openweight Championship New Japan Pro Wrestling Retrieved 30 July 2019 Kreikenbohm Philip 4 January 2019 NEVER Openweight Championship Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 5 April 2021 Kreikenbohm Philip 21 March 2021 New Japan Cup 2021 Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 5 April 2021 Kreikenbohm Philip 7 June 2016 Best of the Super Juniors 2016 Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 5 April 2021 2019 06 03 BEST OF THE SUPER Jr 26 FINAL Night15 NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING New Japan Pro Wrestling Retrieved 5 June 2019 Kreikenbohm Philip 5 June 2019 Best of the Super Juniors 2019 Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 5 April 2021 Bean Martin PCW End Of Year Awards 2014 RESULTS Progress Roster Progress Roster Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 26 October 2015 Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI 500 for 2021 The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 8 September 2021 Kreikenbohm Philip RCWA Saturday Night Events Database CAGEMATCH The Internet Wrestling Database www cagematch net https www cagematch net id 1 amp nr 251081 bare URL Green David 10 July 2016 7 10 Rev Pro in London Results Shibata vs Zack Sabre Jr dream match Ishii Moose Sydal Ospreay wins big title match Big Damo farewell set up Pro Wrestling Torch Retrieved 11 July 2016 https www cagematch net id 5 amp nr 1977 amp page 5 amp reign 2 bare URL BEST MOVE OF THE YEAR WILL OSPREAY S OSCUTTER Ring of Honor 10 January 2018 Retrieved 10 January 2018 Meltzer Dave 26 January 2017 Daily Update Omega s decision HHH conference call Tito vs Chael Wrestling Observer Newsletter Retrieved 26 January 2017 Kreikenbohm Philip 25 October 2014 SWE 4th Anniversary Show Event Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage Hertfordshire England UK Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 27 June 2022 Kreikenbohm Philip 7 August 2016 SWE Retribution 7 Event Priory Centre in St Neots Cambridgeshire England UK Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 27 June 2022 Kreikenbohm Philip 25 October 2014 SWE Speed King Championship Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 27 June 2022 Kreikenbohm Philip 30 May 2015 SWE Speed King 2015 Event Rushcliffe Arena in West Bridgford Nottinghamshire England UK Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 27 June 2022 Kreikenbohm Philip 1 October 2016 SWE Speed King 2016 Event Rushcliffe Leisure Centre in West Bridgford Nottinghamshire England UK Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 27 June 2022 The Week in Wrestling Top 10 Men s Wrestlers of 2018 Sports Illustrated 3 January 2019 Archived from the original on 4 January 2019 Retrieved 12 January 2019 Barrasso Justin 28 December 2022 Ranking the Top 10 Wrestlers of 2022 Sports Illustrated Retrieved 30 December 2022 プロレス大賞 グレート O カーン 初の技能賞も不満げ お目が高いのか 腐っておるのか分からんな Tokyo Sports in Japanese 14 December 2021 Retrieved 17 December 2021 Kreikenbohm Philip 12 December 2021 Warrior Wrestling 17 Pay Per View Tinley Park Convention Center in Tinley Park Illinois USA Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 30 December 2021 Kreikenbohm Philip 12 December 2021 Warrior Wrestling Championship Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 30 December 2021 Kreikenbohm Philip 18 June 2022 Warrior Wrestling 23 Pay Per View DeltaPlex Arena amp Conference Center in Grand Rapids Michigan USA Cagematch The Internet Wrestling Database Retrieved 27 June 2022 WCPW Tag Team Championship What Culture Pro Wrestling Retrieved 24 October 2017 WWE News Drew McIntyre stirs up possibility of Will Ospreay heading to WWE www sportskeeda com 31 December 2017 Meltzer Dave 6 March 2017 March 6 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter 2016 Awards issue talent departing TNA more Wrestling Observer Newsletter Campbell California 10 ISSN 1083 9593 a b c d e Meltzer Dave 5 March 2020 March 13 2020 Observer Newsletter 40th Annual Awards Issue Wrestling Observer Newsletter Retrieved 8 March 2020 BONUS SHOW Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards Post Wrestling 17 March 2019 Retrieved 23 March 2019 Kreikenbohm Philip British Triangle Championship Titles Database CAGEMATCH The Internet Wrestling Database www cagematch net External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Will Ospreay Will Ospreay on Facebook Will Ospreay s New Japan Pro Wrestling profile Will Ospreay s profile at Cagematch net Wrestlingdata com Internet Wrestling Database Will Ospreay at IMDb Preceded byKushidaHiromu Takahashi Best of the Super Juniors winner20162019 Succeeded byKushidaHiromu TakahashiPreceded byEvil New Japan Cup winner2021 Succeeded byZack Sabre Jr Preceded byKota Ibushi 2nd IWGP World Heavyweight ChampionApril 4 2021 May 20 2021 VacantOspreay suffers neck injuryTitle next held byShingo Takagi Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Will Ospreay amp oldid 1130773320, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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