07/03/2024
All Elite Wrestling: United Kingdom Presents: Will Ospreay's Incredible Journey from the UK to Japan and Now AEW.
🇬🇧 AEW UK | March 7, 2024
In a dazzling display of aerial mastery, Will Ospreay announced his arrival in the United States at AEW Revolution 2024, leaving fans in awe of his extraordinary skills.
This match, against the formidable Konosuke Takesh*ta, marked the beginning of Ospreay's full-time career with All Elite Wrestling, a culmination of his remarkable journey from the independent wrestling scene in the United Kingdom to the grand stage of AEW.
Ospreay's ascent to greatness began a dozen years ago when he took his first steps into the world of wrestling.
From the humble independent shows in the UK to the electrifying rings of Japan, he honed his craft before finally landing in the heart of AEW.
His wrestling education began at the prestigious Lucha Britannia's London School of Lucha Libre, where he learned the ropes of professional wrestling after experimenting with backyard wrestling.
Ospreay's debut at BritWres-Fest on April 1, 2012, showcased his immense potential, quickly propelling him to the forefront of two of the UK's biggest promotions: PROGRESS Wrestling and Revolution Pro Wrestling (or "RevPro" for short). For over a decade, he thrilled fans with his high-risk, high-flying style, capturing the Progress World Championship for the first time at the "Chapter 20" show by defeating Jimmy Havoc. At the tender age of 22, Ospreay proved himself a prodigious talent within the ring.
Ospreay's dominance extended beyond the borders of the UK, as he secured multiple championships in RevPro, including the British Cruiserweight Championship twice and the Undisputed British Heavyweight title.
One of his career milestones came at RevPro High Stakes 2020, where he engaged in a five-star classic against Zack Sabre Jr., ultimately claiming the world championship and cementing his status as one of the industry's elite performers.
His extraordinary prowess caught the attention of New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), and Ospreay ventured to Japan, where he would become a star of the Junior Heavyweight Division.
It was a fateful encounter with Kazuchika Okada at the Global Wars 2015 show that prompted "The Rainmaker" to advocate for Ospreay's inclusion in NJPW. With Okada's endorsement, Ospreay made his debut, facing off against KUSHIDA at Invasion Attack 2016 and joining Okada's esteemed CHAOS faction.
The young Englishman's journey through NJPW was documented in a captivating YouTube feature, showcasing his meteoric rise within the company. Ospreay's defeat against the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, KUSHIDA, left an indelible mark, leading to a long-term contract with NJPW.
He subsequently entered the 2016 Best of the Super Juniors Tournament, where his awe-inspiring match against Ricochet sparked intense debate throughout the wrestling world. Nevertheless, Ospreay emerged victorious, becoming the youngest-ever BOSJ winner.
During his tenure in Japan, Ospreay captured the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on three occasions, defeating the likes of KUSHIDA, Marty Scurll, and Dragon Lee. His transition to the Heavyweight division was the next logical step, prompting his departure from CHAOS during the 2020 G1 Climax.
With the assistance of Great-O-Khan, Ospreay formed his own faction, the "United Empire," which recruited exceptional talents such as Jeff Cobb and Aussie Open.
This transformation marked a turning point in his career, as he embraced the role of a captivating and despised antagonist. The United Empire's collective efforts led to Ospreay's triumph in the New Japan Cup, setting the stage for his historic challenge against IWGP World Heavyweight champion Kota Ibushi at Sakura Genesis 2021.
In a thrilling encounter, Ospreay emerged victorious, etching his name in history as the first-ever British holder of the prestigious title.
Tragically, an injury sustained during his first title defense against Shingo Takagi forced Ospreay to relinquish the belt, though he vehemently refused to accept his loss. The culmination of his journey in Japan came at Wrestle Kingdom 16, where he faced his former CHAOS comrade, Okada, in the main event.
Despite a valiant effort, Ospreay fell short, surrendering his first and only World Championship in Japan. Nonetheless, his time in NJPW was adorned with accolades, including winning the NEVER Openweight Championship and the IWGP United States Championship, which he proudly renamed the United Kingdom Championship.
Ospreay's matches consistently earned critical acclaim, breaking records for the number of five-star matches awarded by the esteemed Wrestling Observer.
In 2023, Ospreay's prodigious talent attracted the attention of both WWE and AEW as his NJPW contract neared its expirationdate. While TNA expressed interest, it was All Elite Wrestling that secured the signature of the sensational Ospreay in late 2023, much to the delight of fans worldwide.
AEW made the announcement of his signing at Full Gear 2023, months before his NJPW stint came to an end.
Prior to joining AEW full-time, Ospreay had already showcased his abilities in the promotion on several occasions. He engaged in thrilling matches against the likes of Orange Cassidy and Kenny Omega at the back-to-back Forbidden Door shows.
Ospreay's star shone brightly at AEW's Wembley Stadium spectacle, All In, where he fulfilled fans' dreams by facing Chris Jericho and emerging victorious, a match that had been yearned for by enthusiasts for years.
The stage was set for Ospreay's official debut as a full-time AEW wrestler at Revolution 2024. Previously aligned with the cunning Don Callis on AEW television, Ospreay locked horns with one of Callis's clients, Konosuke Takesh*ta, in a mesmerizing showdown.
The AEW faithful were treated to a display of Ospreay's extraordinary skills as he claimed a resounding victory. It was a match that left no doubt in anyone's mind about the excitement
and talent that the company had just welcomed into its ranks.
As All Elite Wrestling United Kingdom proudly welcomes Will Ospreay, his journey from the United Kingdom to Japan and now AEW stands as a testament to his unrivaled passion, dedication, and remarkable abilities within the squared circle.
The Aerial Assassin has arrived, and the world of professional wrestling will never be the same again.
