Will Ospreay has been a steady part of New Japan Pro Wrestling since 2016, headlining and frequently holding titles. He has competed at multiple Wrestle Kingdom events, including this past January when Kenny Omega defeated him for the IWGP United States Championship.
Despite a successful run, Ospreay could soon see a change of scenery.
In an interview with Christopher Walker of DAZN, the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion said his contract with NJPW expires in February 2024. This came as he addressed the significance of matches receiving high ratings (h/t Fightful for transcription) .
“My contract with New Japan is up next February so from that point who’s not gonna want this kid who’s dedicated to being a hard worker and wanting to put on the best quality of matches,” Ospreay said.
“The reason why I say no is because they don’t impact my paycheque. I still get paid the same regardless. In my humble opinion, [star ratings] don’t matter in terms of financial gain, but in terms of viewership, because I’m this British kid who has done it on Indy shows, I know that when my [NJPW] contract comes up, there’ll be a fight for who wants the best five-star wrestler right now,” Ospreay said.
AEW will logically be one of Ospreay’s suitors given his previous history with them. While AEW has recently bulked up its roster with top talents from other wrestling promotions, such as Roderick Strong’s debut on the April 26 episode of Dynamite, it’s uncertain how the roster will look in 10 months, so a full-time run for Ospreay could make sense.
Ospreay will be a top free agent come 2024. Whether he departs for AEW, joins WWE, or stays with NJPW, his status will be worth watching, as despite injuries, he could make an impact with plenty of prime years left in his wrestling career.