Will Ospreay says he takes pride in carving out his career without ever needing WWE. Speaking with Forbes, Ospreay reflected on his journey from backyard wrestling in the United Kingdom through Europe, Japan, and the United States, framing his rise as proof that British talent can succeed without compromise.
“I was never made by WWE. I was never touched by them. I would hold such pride and honor in knowing that someone from England who never moved away from his country was able to do that. I really hope that inspires so many of the other UK lads and lasses over there that they don’t need to compromise on their beliefs or what they want.”
Ospreay added that he sees himself in the role of a top guy in AEW going forward.
“I’m proud that I stuck to my guns. This is the last thing I want. I want the responsibility of being the guy — the world champion, the main event and the guy that can be depended on.”
In the same interview, Ospreay revealed AEW president Tony Khan personally covered the cost of his neck surgery, which he had after being written off TV by The Death Riders.
“I mean, 10 years ago, this was the type of thing that medically disqualified you from wrestling. So the fact that medical science has come so far, man, I’m just grateful and so blessed. And I must give the biggest shoutout to Tony [Khan] for paying for that surgery because the moment I saw that f**king bill — bro, it was more expensive than my f**king house. It was crazy.”
Ospreay is currently in the middle of a storyline with The Death Riders, the same faction that wrote him off TV with the kayfabe neck injury that led to his real-life surgery.