The former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion arguably had the best 2019 out of all of the New Japan Pro-Wrestling talents. While Ospreay has always been a great in-ring performer throughout the years, the 26-year-old stepped his game up big-time and consistently delivered high caliber matches.
Fans have watched the United Kingdom native grow throughout the years on the independent scene, but many do wonder what could’ve been for the “Aerial Assassin” if he decided to take his talents over to the WWE. Not surprisingly, the big promotion has reached out to the NJPW star several times since 2016; however, Ospreay simply refuses to make the transition over to WWE.
So why does Will Ospreay keep saying no to the biggest professional wrestling company in the business? The New Japan star reveals to Chris Van Vilet that it all comes down to not wanting the company to ruin his character (Transcript courtesy of Fightful.com):
"[William] Regal calls me while I was filming a commercial and is like, 'Do you fancy doing the Cruiserweight Classic?' I was like, 'I'm interested, but I'm going to New Japan in April.' There was nothing signed that I was legally New Japan's property. I said, 'would you have a problem if I did New Japan?' Regal drops the line, 'Let me ask Triple H and I'll get back to you.' I'm like, 'What the [frick] is going on?' Regal asked Triple H, he was fine with it. I would do the Super Juniors and then do the Cruiserweight Classic and then I would be free to do what I wanted.
As it started to get closer to April, WWE said they wanted me full-time and I would have to go over there and be part of the system. I wasn't ready for that. It was a choice between WWE, NJPW, and TNA. TNA wasn't an option, I didn't want to go. My best bet was to go to NJPW, learn the tricks of the trade, and within my first year I knew it was the place for me. I told Regal, 'I'm not ready to sign on.' He asked if I wanted to do the Cruiserweight Classic anyway. I didn't want to do something unless I'm 100% committed and I wasn't. They were understanding. There have been phone calls since, but I'm just not interested. Especially what the current product is. Until things start to change, I don't think I'll ever be interested in WWE,"
Ospreay hasn’t completely ruled out a run with WWE; however, the young star is still looking to experiment with his character at the moment, but when the time comes for him to take a chance on the big company then he’ll be willing to sign on the dotted line:
"I'm ready to experiment. I'm willing to gamble. That's the beauty of the position that I'm in. I can decide what Will Ospreay is," he said. "The moment I go to WWE, it's like, 'Yes sir, no sir.' When you're there...there are a lot of guys signed to WWE who just signed because it is WWE. It's their choice, they have their reasons. There are guys there who were coming up in the Indies and were the hottest thing at the time and then all of a sudden it's 'what are they doing now?' I'm more than willing to play around with this character until I'm ready to be like, 'I'm willing to roll the dice and let WWE take creative control over my character.' Money is nothing to me, as long as I'm getting by."
Check out the full interview where Will Ospreay talks about possibly wrestling CM Punk, All Elite Wrestling, his feud with Seth Rollins last year, and so much more!