AEW star Will Ospreay recently shared the heartfelt story behind the Hayabusa-inspired ring attire he famously wore at a past AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door event, revealing he personally sought the blessing of the late Japanese legend’s daughter. Speaking on Johnjay & Rich: After Words, Ospreay detailed his respect for Hayabusa.
“It was 2022, I really wanted to don the mask… because it hadn’t been donned on a wrestler in Japan for years,” Ospreay explained. “I sourced out where his daughter was… I said, ‘I wrestle for New Japan Pro-Wrestling, your dad inspired me. Could I take you out to dinner?’ I took her out for lunch in Japan and I asked for her blessing to wear the mask… She was honored. She was like, ‘No one talks about my dad anymore.’ Not only that, she was like, ‘Thank you so much.’”
The mask itself came from Hayabusa’s original maker. “It got around, and the guy who originally made his mask contacted me and was like, ‘Can I please make you one Hayabusa mask to wear?’ Goosebumps.” Ospreay emphasized the importance of respecting legacies: “A lot of wrestlers now will be like, ‘Today, I’m cosplaying as this wrestler,’… I wanted to ensure it was okay to do that. I sold the mask and all the money I made, I sent over to the family.” Ospreay recently competed against “Hangman” Page in the Owen Hart Tournament final at AEW Double or Nothing 2025.
H/T to Fightful for the transcription. Thanks for checking out this article. Make sure to follow Jeff Jarrett and all things GFE on Facebook.