During WrestleMania weekend, Paul "Triple H" Levesque talked about signing independent wrestlers and pointed out that, if you're afraid of "the grind" and only want to work one day a week, WWE isn't a good fit.
It was clearly a shot at Will Ospreay after he chose to sign with AEW, but the suggestion he's lazy didn't sit well with the British pro wrestler. In a heated promo on AEW Dynamite, he fired back at Triple H by pointing out he only got to where he is today by "grinding on the boss' daughter."
The joke was tired and cringe-worthy, and Ospreay was widely criticised (not helping matters was the fact this happened on the same episode of Dynamite as the reveal of the All In security footage).
Now, following an incredible match with Bryan Danielson at AEW Dynasty, Ospreay has responded to his critics:
"Yes, of course. I don’t want to address it anymore. I can remember a generation of when I grew up where like, you throw a jab, I throw one back. Although I wasn’t mentioned by name, it was clearly about me. So, all due respect, I’m kind of done mentioning anyone over there now. I don’t want to do that anymore because I feel I lowered myself to that standard. I don’t need to do that anymore. Look what I just did in the ring with Bryan."
"That’s only match two from pay-per-view. I’ve got a f*ckload more to go down. So, with all due respect, if you take everything into consideration, of course, I’m annoyed about a jab that I took. I threw one back. I don’t think it was anything bad. It’s a joke from 20 years ago, for f*ck sake. Don’t be too butthurt. That’s the first time I’ve ever experienced true tribalism between the two. It’s not nice. It’s unnecessary. I’m over it. I can’t be bothered with it."
"I just want to be focused on promoting AEW. I don’t regret what I said. I’m not saying that now. You take the entire thing into consideration, it did piss me off, but from this day on, I won’t go down that road. I don’t need to. I’m the best wrestler in the world. I don’t need to f*ck with guys below me."
It's clear the AEW star is a little thin-skinned and this isn't a great look. However, before being asked this question, he did deliver a match-of-the-year candidate, so we're sure he can be forgiven.