Will Ospreay is officially #AllElite. After having a successful career in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) that spanned eight years and seven title reigns, the English star is headed to his new home in All Elite Wrestling (AEW). The move will be in full effect following his final NJPW contracted appearance at New Beginning in Osaka on February 11th. As AEW gets ready for the arrival of “The Assassin”, let’s do some fantasy booking for the incoming star.
Fantasy Booking Opponents for Will Ospreay in AEW
Brian Cage
Brian Cage is a true powerhouse in AEW and Ring of Honor (ROH). Although the first opponents for Cage that may come to mind may be other sizable AEW/ROH competitors such as Powerhouse Hobbs, Lance Archer, Wardlow, Shane Taylor, etc. Cage has put on great matches with higher-flying competitors that have a similar style to Ospreay. Cage has had wildly entertaining matches with competitors such as Gravity, Mike Baily, TJP, Metalik, Ben Carter, Zach Wentz, and others.
The two locked up at Warrior Wrestling 18 in South Bend Indiana in January of 2022. The match was well-received by fans and critics alike. Why not run it back on the AEW stage for many to see?
Ethan Page
Ospreay is coming off a pair of great matches in Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling against Josh Alexander. The two squared off in a pair of matches that aired on the promotions weekly show on AXS TV. Although Ospreay is known for his high-flying ability, he can hold his own in a technical match as well. This became more prevalent when he formally switched to the Heavyweight division in NJPW.
Why not put him against Alexander’s long-time tag team partner in The North, Ethan Page? With Page’s feud with Tony Neese in the rearview mirror, he would be a fun opponent to welcome Ospreay to AEW. The chemistry Ospreay had with Alexander would more than likely translate to a match with Page who is a solid all-around wrestler.
Buddy Matthews
The House of Black has become one of the most unique stables in AEW with its gothic and macabre appearance. Buddy Matthews, who is a member of the stable is a very well-rounded wrestler. He brings a hybrid of speed and agility with strength. Those attributes would match up well with the flying and speed ability of Ospreay. Both men can bring equal parts of high-flying and technical heavyweight wrestling to the ring.
In addition, if AEW wanted to bring the United Empire back for a feud with the House of Black, it could be sparked after a singles match between these two.
PAC
PAC and Ospreay squared off in a RevPro ring in early 2019 and it was everything you would expect between the two hard-hitting and fast-paced English wrestlers.
The match was five years ago and took place during the early days of AEW. Neither PAC nor Ospreay has lost a step in the past five years. This was evident when United Empire took on Death Triangle in a trios match on an episode of AEW Dynamite. This gave us a tease of a singles match between the two in an AEW ring.
PAC who is known for his speed, also brings the strength of a heavyweight to the ring. The two can have a match that brings a great hybrid of styles for all to be entertained by.
Nick Jackson
Nick and Matt Jackson rarely compete in singles matches as they are much better known for their tag work as The Young Bucks. If Ospreay is going to take on one of the Bucks, Nick could put on a great match with Ospreay. He had a well-received singles match with Rey Fenix in January of 2021 on AEW television and could do the same with Ospreay if Ospreay goes back to more of his flying style.
A match against Ospreay would be a can’t-blink back-and-forth adventure. The two would put on a clinic in terms of speed, agility, and high-flying wrestling. The aerial moves would have the crowd in the arena and at home on their feet.
In addition, with the two brutal matches that Ospreay has had with Kenny Omega, a United Empire versus The Elite match could steam from Ospreay having a singles match against Nick Jackson.
Jeff Hardy
Jeff Hardy is seen as one of the best highflyers to ever come out of North American wrestling. The matches he had alongside his brother Matt Hardy against Edge and Christian and the Dudley Boyz redefined ladder matches and created the Tables, Ladders, Chairs (TLC) match. It could be argued that he defined a generation of high-flying wrestling and that Ospreay took up that mantle for the next generation.
The duo would put on a match that could be billed as the two best highflyers of their respective generations. Although Ospreay has leaned more into a technical style and relied less on the speed and high-flying he has become known for, he has no problem bringing the speed and flying when needed.
Kenny Omega: The Rubber Match
Kenny Omega and Ospreay squared off twice in 2023. The first was at Wrestle Kingdom 17 at the Tokyo Dome where Omega emerged victorious. They locked up again at Forbidden Door 2 where Ospreay had his hand raised when it was all over with. Both matches were brutal and saw blood drawn. The bouts were in many match-of-the-year conversations for 2023.
Now that both men are in AEW they have a score to settle. The series is tied 1-1. It likely won’t be long before we see the two in singles action to settle the score between the two talents.
Who do you want to see Will Ospreay take on in AEW? Sound off below!
Loving the ideas here, especially Ospreay Vs Murphy.