Will Ospreay Blasts TNA For Approving Matches Before Suddenly Pulling Talent

Will Ospreay didn’t sugarcoat his reaction after indie matches involving AEW and TNA talent were suddenly pulled.

The situation has already drawn attention after Tony Khan said AEW had no problem letting talent work those shows. Now, Ospreay has stepped in with a very direct take while speaking on the YoJoshMartinez podcast, and he made it clear he wasn’t impressed with how things were handled.

During the interview, Ospreay was asked about TNA pulling talent from indie matches involving AEW names, including the canceled bout between Nic Nemeth and MJF. He explained that he once faced a similar situation in his own career when companies had concerns about a cross-promotional match. He recalled working a show in Milton Keynes where he was scheduled to wrestle Pete Dunne while holding the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. At the time, New Japan had questions, but communication between promotions allowed the match to happen.

“Well, so it nearly happened to me once upon a time. We were doing a show in Milton Keynes and I was the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and I was taking on Pete Dunne who was the WWE UK Champion at the time. And I remember New Japan were a little bit like, ‘Hey, you can do the match, but we’re a little bit like—wanted to know what’s going to be happening in the match, if you know what I mean.’ And we had to get a lot of things ironed out and sorted. Pete’s always a cool guy. I can’t say enough wonderful things about Pete Dunne, I think he’s great. But the fact that WWE and New Japan let that match happen… and TNA, out of all people—who the [expletive] do you think you guys are?”

Ospreay didn’t stop there. He said giving permission and then pulling talent later sends a bad message about how wrestlers are viewed and treated.

“I’m sorry. It’s like all the [expletive] talk that they were giving about being a number two, and that’s how you want to—you want to give permission for these guys to do that match and then pull them? I think that’s coward [expletive], boss. I’ll be honest with you. I think that says everything about what you view your talent as. You view them less than talent—that they don’t want to grow and that they don’t want to develop and that they don’t want to give back to fans.”

Even while criticizing the situation, Ospreay made it clear he still respects TNA’s legacy and history, especially the early years that helped shape his fandom.

“So that’s my standpoint in it—and that’s me being a hard TNA fan. Those beginning years that I watched, that ‘04 to ‘05 era, will always be my favorite era in wrestling… but come on, man. I just think hang your head in shame, honestly.”

This situation keeps getting louder as more names weigh in, and Ospreay’s comments only add more pressure to an already tense situation between companies.

Do you agree with Will Ospreay calling out TNA over the canceled indie matches, or do you think the company had every right to make that call? Let us know what you think.

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