Will Ospreay

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**William Peter Charles Ospreay** (born 7 May 1993) is an English professional wrestler who is currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). also is taking part in the 2017 Super X Cup Tournament for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling In A Block.

 Birth name
 Born
Dark Britannico
 Billed height
 Billed weight
 Billed from

Ospreay began his career in United Kingdom in 2012. During several years, he worked on several independent promotions, most notably Revolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro) and Progress Wrestling. In 2016, after being recommended by AJ Styles, he began to work with Japanese promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling as part of the junior heavyweight division, becoming a three-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and the winner of the 2016 and 2019 Best of the Super Juniors. In 2019, Ospreay also won the NEVER Openweight Championship, a title with no weight limits and wrestled several heavyweight wrestlers. That same year, Ospreay participated in the G1 Climax, NJPW biggest tournament featuring heavyweight wrestlers. In 2020, he would make his transition to the heavyweight division. He is also the winner of 2021 New Japan Cup.

Ospreay has worked on American independent promotions, like Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Due to the relationship between NJPW and Ring of Honor, he is a former ROH World Television Champion.

## Professional wrestling career

### Early career

Ospreay cites the three-way match between A.J. Styles, Christopher Daniels and Samoa Joeat TNA Unbreakable as the match that made him want to become a wrestler. He received his training at Lucha Britannia's London School of Lucha Libre in Bethnal Green, London. He made his professional debut at the co-promoted *BritWres-Fest* on 1 April 2012 as the masked character Dark Britannico, the evil twin of Leon Britannico who was played by Paul Robinson, Ospreay's future tag team partner in the team The Swords of Essex. While wrestling with Lucha Britannia he twice won the Lucha Britannia World Championship. Ospreay said in his interview with the *Huffington Post* that his nickname, "The Aerial Assassin", is an allusion to the Assassin's Creed video game series and was a persona he adopted to stand out from other British high flying wrestlers, particularly Pac.

### Progress Wrestling (2012–2019)

Ospreay soon became a regular for Progress Wrestling, debuting for them at *Chapter Two: The March of Progress* with Alex Esmail in a loss to The London Riots (James Davis and Rob Lynch). His performance earned him a place in the Natural Progression Series Itournament, aimed at scouting and showcasing new wrestlers. He lost in the first round to eventual winner Mark Andrews in November and again in a rematch the following May. Andrews who, as part of his reward for winning, picked Ospreay to enter the following Natural Progression Series tournament. The two met again in January 2014 in the first round of the Progress Tag Team Championship tournament, with FSU (Andrews' team with Eddie Dennis) defeating The Swords of Essex (Ospreay's team with Paul Robinson).

In his Natural Progression Series II opening match, his opponent Zack Gibson tried to win by holding the ropes. Robinson prevented Gibson using the ropes, which in turn distracted the referee for long enough for Gibson to low-blow Ospreay and make Ospreay submit. On 18 May, The Swords of Essex were one of the final two teams standing in a four-team elimination match to decide contenders to the Progress Tag Team Championship. During the match, Ospreay, having been isolated for some time, reached out to tag his partner but Robinson jumped off the apron and walked out on Ospreay. Ospreay was left on his own and lost the match, after which the Progress Champion Jimmy Havoccame to the ring and ordered London Riots to tie Ospreay. Havoc pulled out a knife and threatened to torture Ospreay, blaming it on Ospreay's popularity with the fans, before other wrestlers came out and intervened, freeing Ospreay. Havoc and The London Riots formed an allegiance known as Regression, which also featured Robinson.

On 27 July, Ospreay entered the eight-man, staggered entry elimination Thunderbastard match, the winner of whom can pick a time for a Progress Championship match. Ospreay entered the match third and was immediately low-blowed by Robinson, who had already entered, who disqualified himself in the hopes of taking out Ospreay. Ospreay recovered and eventually eliminated Marty Scurll last to win Thunderbastard. The following show saw Ospreay team up with FSU and Noam Dar in an eight-man tag team match with FSU and Havoc's respective titles, Ospreay's title contendership and everyone else's Progress contracts at stake, depending which individual lost. During the match, Ospreay moonsaulted from the Electric Ballroom's balcony onto his opponents, on the floor. Later, he had Havoc in position to be pinned but as he jumped from the top rope, Robinson dragged Havoc outside, leading Ospreay to pin Davis and end the London Riots' contract with Progress.

At the next event, Ospreay defeated Robinson and announced he would invoke his Thunderbastard right to challenge for Havoc's championship at the following show. He lost the championship match in January after Havoc loosened the top rope, making it more difficult for Ospreay to do high-flying moves, and used it as a weapon. During the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, Ospreay defeated El Ligero, Mark Haskins, Roderick Strong and Zack Sabre, Jr across two days to win the first Super Strong Style 16 tournament and once again lay claim to Havoc's championship.Their rematch took place on 26 July in a no disqualification match where the reinstated London Riots neutralised the threat of Robinson's interference and Ospreay ended Havoc's 609 day reign to become Progress Champion.

Ospreay successfully defended his title against the 2015 Thunderbastard Haskins and then Robinson. Robinson attacked Ospreay after losing to him, but Ospreay was saved by a returning Mark Andrews. Ospreay went on to finally beat Andrews to defend his title. Ospreay also headlined Progress' first main show outside of London in Manchester, in a triple threat match against Zack Gibson and Morgan Webster to close out 2015.

He lost the championship on 24 January 2016 to Marty Scurll when the referee stopped the match as Ospreay had passed out while being handcuffed in Scurll's chickenwing submission. Ospreay lost a rematch with Scurll at *WrestleCon Supershow* in Texas, USA in April and also lost a contendership match against Haskins on 31 July. He spent the rest of the year in showcase matches against non-regular Progress wrestlers, losing to Zack Sabre Jr., Shane Strickland, Matt Riddle and Adam Cole. Finally on 30 December, at a card composed exclusively of unannounced matches, Ospreay lost to Havoc. After the match Havoc invited Ospreay to join him in his fight against British Strong Style, who held the World and Tag Team Championship. Ospreay instead attacked Havoc and then realigned with Swords of Essex partner Paul Robinson. Ospreay attacked Havoc again, during the latter's Progress World Championship match leading to a Fans Bring The Weapons match in March. During the match, Ospreay challenged Havoc to put their Progress contracts at stake before losing the match and leaving the promotion.

Ospreay returned at the last event of 2017 as a mystery opponent for Progress Champion Travis Banks, however he lost the match. On chapter 61, Ospreay defeated Adam Brooks, this was his first victory in the promotion since losing the Progress Championship in 2016.At Progress Chapter 66, Ospreay defeated Mark Haskins.

On 7 May 2018, day 3 of the 2018 Super Strong Style 16 tournament, Ospreay challenged Jimmy Havoc to a match at Wembley Arena on September 30, 2018, but was forced to withdraw due to contractual obligations with New Japan Pro-Wrestling. The match was then set for Chapter 75, with Ospreay emerging victorious in a no disqualification, 2 out of 3 falls match with former tag team partner Paul Robinson as referee. At Chapter 82: Unboxing Live, Ospreay and Paul Robinson defeated Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) to become the Progress Tag Team Champions.

### United Kingdom independent circuit (2012–2017)

Ospreay has regularly wrestled for International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom (IPW: UK) since September 2012 in singles matches, with Robinson as Swords of Essex and with Tom Dawkins as Spitfire Britannia, playing off their alter egos Pure Britannico and Neo Britannico for Lucha Britannia. Ospreay made it through to the final of the UK Super 8 tournament in both 2014 and 2015, losing to Zack Sabre, Jr and Rampage Brown respectively. He won the 30 man Battle Royale 2014 in April but failed to win it the following year when the All England Championship was on the line. On 28 March 2016, Ospreay lost a Loser Leaves Town match to his former Spitfire Britannia partner Dawkins.

The Swords of Essex began wrestling for Future Pro Wrestling (FPW) in May 2013 and after a series of wins became the first FPW Tag Team Champions after winning a four-way match. They held the titles for nine months and eventually became embroiled in a Best of Four match series against both The London Riots and The Alpha Males (Iestyn Rees & Charlie Garrett) for the FPW Tag Team Championship. The Swords of Essex failed to win a match in the series, with Ospreay wrestling the final match, which also had the London Riots' IPW:UK and New Generation Wrestling Tag Team Championship on the line, without Robinson. Ospreay has been unable to replicate similar success as a singles wrestler, twice entering the Zero G tournament but failing to win.

Ospreay also became a regular for Southside Wrestling Entertainment (SWE) from March 2014 onwards. After failing to win the Speed King Championship from Kay Lee Ray in a co-promoted show with Combat Zone Wrestling in October, he won it a fortnight later in a Six-Way Elimination match. He defended it over the following months to many SWE and guest wrestlers, eventually putting it on the line in the annual Speed King Tournament where he beat Mark Andrews in the semi-final in a Best of Three falls match but lost the title to El Ligero in a Six-Way Elimination match on 30 May 2015. The following March he unsuccessfully challenged Joseph Connors for the SWE Heavyweight Championship but on 7 August won the Speed King championship for the second time from Andrew Everett.

On 27 August 2016 Ospreay posted a Facebook live video unveiling a new British Triangle Championship with his three Swords of Essex partners Paul Robinson, Jerry Sevanchez, and Scott Wainwright. They announced that the trios championships were not specific to any promotion and could therefore be defended anywhere.

Ospreay wrestled a series of shows across 2016 for What Culture Pro Wrestling for both their weekly YouTube broadcast and iPPV shows, scoring wins over Noam Dar, Marty Scurll and feud with Martin Kirby. On WCPW Loaded #15 Ospreay defeated Martin Kirby with help from Adam Pacitti, Paul Robinson & Scott Wainwright, joining the Pacitti Club.[*citation needed*] At WCPW True Destiny, Ospreay teamed with Scotty Wainwright and defeated El Ligero & Gabriel Kidd and Johnny Moss & Liam Slater and Prospect (Alex Gracie & Lucas Archer) in a four-way ladder match to become WCPW Tag Team Champions.[*citation needed*] They lost the title to War Machine on an episode of Loaded. In August 2017, Ospreay made it to the finals of the Pro Wrestling World Cup, before losing to Kushida.

On 4 January 2017, Ospreay, along with fellow British wrestler Ryan Smile, started their own promotion, known as Lucha Forever, with their first show, The Dawning of Forever, taking place on 17 April in Birmingham.

### Revolution Pro Wrestling (2013–present)

Ospreay debuted for Revolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro) on 10 February 2013 with a win over Mike Hitchman. He soon started appearing in tag matches with Paul Robinson as The Swords of Essex and, after earning contendership with a win over The London Riots, won the British Tag Team Championship on 15 June 2013 during RevPro's first show at York Hall by defeating Project Ego (Kris Travis and Martin Kirby). After losing to Ricochet in a singles match, The Swords of Essex lost their British Tag Team Championship to Ricochet and his partner Rich Swann, The Inner City Machine Gun on 15 March 2014.

On 19 October, Ospreay beat Josh Bodom for the British Cruiserweight Championship in a match that also included Swann. The day before, he had lost a match to Matt Sydal and so in May 2015 the two had a rematch. Although Ospreay won the rematch, with their series at 1–1 the two were booked in a Best of Three Falls match with the British Cruiserweight Championship on the line. After losing the first fall, he retained the title with two straight falls. After an eleven-month reign, with a number of title defences Ospreay lost the title back to Bodom on 5 September 2015.

Ospreay bounced back with wins over PJ Black, René Duprée, and Ricochet, which put him in line for a three-way match for AJ Styles' British Heavyweight Championship, which also featured Marty Scurll, where the champion retained. The following day, on 3 October 2015 he lost to New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Kazuchika Okada. Okada, impressed with Ospreay, went on to recommend him to NJPW officials. This, along with endorsements from AJ Styles and Hiroshi Tanahashi, eventually led to Ospreay being signed by NJPW. In 2016 Ospreay beat Scurll and the new Cruiserweight Champion Pete Dunne in a non-title triple threat match, as well as beating Mike Bailey, which saw him earn a Cruiserweight Championship match against Dunne on 10 July which he won. The following month Ospreay headlined York Hall in a match against Vader. The feud began after Vader had criticised an NJPW Best of the Super Juniors match between Ospreay and Ricochet in May, comparing the match to "a gymnastics routine". The debate escalated over Twitter, with many wrestling journalists and veterans weighing in on the debate. Their match eventually took place on 12 August, with Ospreay losing to Vader after Dunne interfered while the referee was distracted. On 13 April 2017, Ospreay lost the British Cruiserweight Championship to interim champion Josh Bodom. Following a non-title contest against Zack Sabre Jr at 'Monday Night Mayhem' in Portsmouth in which Ospreay won, On 10 November 2017 at Global Wars, Ospreay failed to win the British Heavyweight Championship from Zack Sabre Jr. At High Stakes on 14 February 2020, Osprey defeated Sabre Jr. to win the British Heavyweight Championship.

### Various international promotions (2016–2017)

On 29 January 2016, Ospreay made his debut for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), during the promotion's tour of the United Kingdom. Ospreay unsuccessfully entered the 2016 Joker's Wild tournament and challenged for both the TNA King of the Mountain Championship and TNA World Tag Team Championship. Dave Meltzer of the *Wrestling Observer Newsletter* reported that TNA had plans to push Ospreay, but upon finding out that he had signed to appear for NJPW relegated him to a short match on their secondary television programme.

On 1 April 2016, Ospreay made his debut for Evolve, losing to Zack Sabre Jr. at *Evolve 58*and Ricochet at *Evolve 59*, both in Dallas, Texas, USA. On 12 July, Paul Heyman, during a speaking tour of the United Kingdom, offered Ospreay an Evolve contract on behalf of Gabe Sapolsky while clarifying that the contract would not affect his NJPW deal.On 20 July, *Pro Wrestling Torch* reported Ospreay had signed the contract to make Evolve his American home promotion, but the *Wrestling Observer Newsletter* disputed this, reporting Ospreay did not sign and was still in talks with Evolve, PWG, TNA, and ROH, another American promotion who had a relationship with NJPW which Ospreay later confirmed.

In August 2017, Ospreay made his debut appearance for Pro Wrestling Australia (PWA) at their Sydney event *Call to Arms*. Originally scheduled to face PWA Heavyweight Champion Robbie Eagles in a non-title match for the main event, Eagles made the last minute decision to put his title on the line. Ospreay ultimately defeated Eagles, and won the PWA Heavyweight Championship for the first time. Afterwards, Ospreay announced that he was moving to Australia and would begin working regularly for PWA and other local independent promotions. Ospreay stated that he felt he could help the Australian wrestling scene grow, while the U.K. scene did not need him. Days later, Ospreay faced Adam Brooks in the main event of a Melbourne City Wrestling show, *Ballroom Brawl*; defeating him to win the MCW Intercommonwealth Championship.

### New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2016–present)

#### IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship pursuit (2016–2018)

Ospreay as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion in November 2017

After the Global Wars UK event, where Ospreay faced Kazuchika Okada, New Japan wrestlers Hiroshi Tanahashi, AJ Styles and Okada recommended him to NJPW. On 3 March 2016, Ospreay was announced as the newest member of the NJPW stable Chaos. Appearing in a video, Ospreay challenged Kushida to an IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championshipmatch at Invasion Attack 2016 on 10 April.On 10 April, Ospreay failed in his title challenge against Kushida. Following the match, it was reported that NJPW had offered Ospreay a contract to become a regular for the promotion.

The following month, Ospreay entered the 2016 Best of the Super Juniors tournament. On 27 May, Ospreay faced Ricochet in the tournament in a match, which received widespread attention in the professional wrestling world. William Regal praised the match. Vader, however, compared the match to a "gymnastics routine".Ospreay won his block in the tournament with a record of four wins and three losses, advancing to the finals. On 7 June, Ospreay defeated Ryusuke Taguchi in the finals to win the 2016 Best of the Super Juniors, becoming the youngest winner in the history of the tournament as well as the first English and the fifth *gaijin* wrestler to win tournament.Following the win, Ospreay was granted another shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, but was again defeated by Kushida on 19 June at Dominion 6.19 in Osaka-jo Hall.

On 20 July, Ospreay entered the 2016 Super J-Cup, defeating Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre(CMLL) representative Titán in his first round match. On 21 August, he was eliminated from the tournament in the second round by Matt Sydal. On 8 October, Ospreay received his first shot at the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship, but he and his Chaos stablemates Beretta and Rocky Romero were defeated by the defending champions, David Finlay, Ricochet and Satoshi Kojima. On 11 February 2017 at The New Beginning in Osaka, Ospreay unsuccessfully challenged Katsuyori Shibata for the British Heavyweight Championship. In May, Ospreay won his block in the 2017 Best of the Super Juniorstournament with a record of five wins and two losses, advancing to his second consecutive final. On 3 June, Ospreay was defeated in the final by Kushida.

### Ring of Honor (2016–present)

On 8 November 2016, Ring of Honor (ROH) announced that Ospreay had signed a contract with the promotion, which went into effect on 1 December. On 18 November, Ospreay defeated Bobby Fish in his ROH debut match in Liverpool to become the new ROH World Television Champion. He lost the title to Marty Scurll two days later, during the final day of ROH's three-day tour of the United Kingdom. Ospreay had been given another opportunity to regain the title in a four corners match at ROH's December pay-per-view, Final Battle 2016, but Scurll retained his title. At Final Battle 2017, Ospreay was defeated by Matt Taven. On ROH TV, on 15 September 2018, Jay Lethal issued an open challenge and it was answered by Ospreay, who said: "I Need the World Title". The Match was signed for ROH Death Before Dishonor later that month in which Ospreay lost.

### Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2017–present)

#### TNA Wrestling Debut (2017)

On May 17, 2017 episode of Impact Wrestling on Will Ospreay debut for TNA. In a promo Ospreay taht will hear that this 2017 Super X Cup Tournament was about find out who is the best X Division Stars in the world. He knew he had to be in it. Will Ospreay also said he was palce in block a. Ospreay was interrupted by rival Ricochet. Ricochet saying that the same reason he is here in TNA as well. And he has final spot in block a. Crowd Cheers Loud.

#### 2017 Super X Cup Tournament A Block (2017–present)

On June 6, 2017, in the second night of the 2017 Super X Cup Tournament A Block. Will Ospreay defeated Yujiro Takahashi in the 2017 Super X Cup Tournament Block A Match In 9 minutes 11 seconds.
On June 15, 2017 at the TNA special episode of Impact Wrestling Called No Surrender 2017 Ospreay completing in the first 2017 Super X Cup Tournament Block A Match and first match overall in the tournament to place on Impact Wrestling On POP TV. Not just on YouTube live form Mumbai, India at India Impact Zone In font attendance of 1,900. Will Ospreay Fought Ricochet To An 15 Minutes Time Limit Draw in a 2017 Super X Cup Tournament Block A Match. With Wredtling inside saying this match is another huge step for TNA to become a major player again in the wrestling business. And fans was over enjoy with match on Twitter and YouTube. With next YouTube edition of Block A getting gain of 20,000 views after this match. And next edition of Impact Wrestling gaining another 40,000 views one week after the match. TNA was gaining fans and momentum in they quest to become a wrestling powerhouse once again. And on that same edition of Impact Wrestling. It was announced that each week one to two match form either block will take place on that week Episode of Impact Wrestling. And to gain more views for the tournament on YouTube.

## Professional wrestling style and persona

Opsreay is known for his high-flying, high-risk style of wrestling, being nicknamed "The Aerial Assassin".

## Personal life

Since 2017, Ospreay has been in a relationship with fellow professional wrestler Bea Priestley.

## Championships and accomplishments

Ospreay as Progress Wrestling Champion

* **Future Pro Wrestling**
	+ FPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Paul Robinson
* ***Inside The Ropes Magazine***
	+ Ranked No. 10 of the top 50 wrestlers in the world in the *ITR 50* in 2020.
* **Lucha Britannia**
	+ Lucha Britannia World Championship (2 times)
* **Melbourne City Wrestling**
	+ MCW Intercommonwealth Championship (1 time)
* **New Japan Pro-Wrestling**
	+ Best of the Super Juniors (2016, 2019)
* **Preston City Wrestling**
	+ PCW 'One to Watch in 2015' End of Year Award (2014)
* **Progress Wrestling**
	+ Progress Championship (1 time)
	+ Progress Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Paul Robinson
	+ Super Strong Style 16 (2015)
	+ Thunderbastard (2014)
* **Pro Wrestling Australia**
	+ PWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
* ***Pro Wrestling Illustrated***
	+ Ranked No. 7 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2021
* **Reloaded Championship Wrestling Alliance**
	+ RCWA Elite-1 Championship (1 time)
	+ British Cruiserweight Championship (2 times)
	+ Undisputed British Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Paul Robinson
	+ Second Triple Crown Champion
* **Ring of Honor**
	+ ROH World Television Championship (1 time)
	+ Best Move of the Year (2017) – *OsCutter*
* ***SoCal Uncensored***
	+ Match of the Year (2016) with Matt Sydal and Ricochet vs. Adam Cole and The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) on September 3
* **Southside Wrestling Entertainment**
	+ SWE Speed King Championship (2 times)
* **Warriors of Wrestling**
	+ Warrior Wrestling Championship (1 time, current)
* **What Culture Pro Wrestling/Defiant Wrestling**
	+ WCPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Scotty Wainwright
	+ Defiant Wrestling Award for Match of the Year (2017) – vs. Drew Galloway on 6 March
* ***Wrestling Observer Newsletter***
	+ Best Flying Wrestler (2016–2019)
	+ Best Wrestling Maneuver (2019) – *Storm Breaker*
	+ Non-Heavyweight MVP (2018, 2019)
	+ Europe MVP (2021)
	+ Most Outstanding Wrestler (2019)
	+ Pro Wrestling Match of the Year (2019) vs. Shingo Takagi on June 5 at the Best of the Super Juniors finals
* **Other titles**
	+ British Triangle Championship (1 time) – with Paul Robinson and Scott Wainwright