Will Ospreay Says He Owes His American Wrestling Career to Tony Khan

Will Ospreay officially signed with AEW in February 2024, leaving NJPW behind to join Tony Khan’s roster. Ospreay, highly regarded in the wrestling world, had previously made several appearances for AEW while still under contract with NJPW, including standout performances at the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door events.

During a recent interview on The Masked Man Show with David Shoemaker and Kazeem Famuyide, Ospreay discussed his relationship with Tony Khan, revealing how close their working relationship has become.

“He’s super friendly, super nice. I talk to him all the time,” Ospreay shared. He added, “He tells me what’s bad, he tells me what’s good. I think I might be one of the only wrestlers he’s ever said ‘no’ to. I quite like that.”

While Ospreay didn’t delve into specific details about what Khan told him not to do, he emphasized his respect for Khan’s leadership and transparency. He continued by praising Khan’s role in reshaping his career.

“What he’s done for the industry is incredible. I would have never been an American wrestler without him. I would have stuck with Japan for the rest of my life because I would have never thought this was possible.”

Ospreay, who continues to reside in the UK while making regular appearances on AEW television, is currently the reigning AEW International Champion. His ability to stay connected with family while maintaining his wrestling career in the U.S. is something he credits AEW for enabling.

Ospreay is set to defend his AEW International Championship at AEW WrestleDream in a three-way match against Ricochet and Konosuke Takeshita, adding another chapter to his impressive run in the promotion.

What do you think of Will Ospreay’s journey from NJPW to AEW? Do you think he’ll retain his AEW International Title at WrestleDream? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!