It’s hard to reach a consensus on the best wrestler in the world – but Will Ospreay is always in the conversation.
“Throughout all time with wrestling, whenever we’ve referenced someone being the best wrestler, they’ve either been from Japan, Canada, or the US, right?” Ospreay asked NZPWI during Impact Wrestling’s Bound For Glory Press Pass.
“We’ve never really stuck our flag in the ground and said that a British wrestler is the best in the world but now that’s kind of changed because of me.
“I love the fact that New Japan wrestlers come over to England, I’m the guy to challenge. AEW wrestlers come over to England, I’m the guy to challenge. And I think it’s no different with Impact now.”
It’s not just within England. When a promotion holds a big event, regardless of location, it wants Ospreay on the card.
Between NJPW Wrestle Kingdom in Tokyo, AEW All In in London, and now Impact Wrestling Bound For Glory in Chicago, Ospreay will have been a pivotal part of three companies’ marquee events across three different continents.
“It’s a feather in my cap,” Ospreay said. “I’m only brought in at the highest level so that makes me feel happy and makes me feel proud when it comes to wherever I go and perform. It’s a world tour and it’s so gratifying knowing that my name carries that value of whatever I do it is big-match scenario.”
As with Wrestle Kingdom and All In, Ospreay’s match at Bound For Glory might overshadow the rest of the card – which includes Alex Shelley vs. Josh Alexander, and Trinity vs. Mickie James.
Ospreay will wrestle Mike Bailey in a match that was originally intended for Impact Wrestling x New Japan Multiverse United back in March. Ospreay had to withdraw from that match with an injury, but everything is back on track for Bound For Glory.
“This one’s interesting me more because with the Kenny [Omega] match, the [Chris] Jericho match, the [Kazuchika] Okada match, I’ve always been the guy chasing, I’ve always been the guy underneath,” Ospreay said.
“So now doing it against Speedball, I think we’re both kind of the world-beaters of wrestling. We go out anywhere and everywhere still performing at the very highest level and now I think we’re both in our prime, we’re both ready to show people what calibre of wrestler we both are.”
While wrestling Bailey is appealing enough on its own, there’s something special added for Ospreay to have it happen with Impact Wrestling.
“With everything happening,” Ospreay said, “Impact was something I really wanted to tick off just because I have been paying attention to the product and it has improved every single time.
“Their pay-per-views are can’t-miss … I’m dead excited to come over. I can’t tell you how much I’ve heard everything about Impact from all the wrestlers that have gone over there, everyone has said glowing reviews about it. It’s been a long time coming.”
