Will Ospreay On Joining AEW: I’m Not Here To Take Part, I’m Here To Take Over

Will Ospreay says he’s ready to be the top guy in AEW.

Will Ospreay says he’s ready to be the top guy in AEW.

Will Ospreay signed with AEW in November, but he did not fully join the company until he wrapped up with NJPW. He made his first appearance as a contracted member of the roster on the February 28 episode of AEW Dynamite.

In a new AEW Stories, Will Ospreay’s arrival on AEW Dynamite was chronicled, and he discussed the buzzworthy night. He noted that he lost his bags at the airport, but that did not detract from his excitement.

“Of course, I lost both my bags [laughs]. Happens on the first day of work, of course, but it still doesn’t take away from my excitement of being here and actually being a part of the system and actually being All Elite. I’m cannonballing in and hoping for the best outcome,” Ospreay said.

Ospreay then reflected on his journey up to this point and looked back on his growth. He noted that he has been saying he was the best wrestler in the world, and AEW was the home of “elite” competitors. Ospreay expressed his gratitude as he prepared to start a new chapter.

“It’s been a journey, finding out so many things about myself in Japan and having to grow up. I made so many mistakes, like way too many. I shouldn’t be here. But I’ve been given the blessings by so many people to prove my worth and to work. From being a boy to a man, bruv, it’s crazy how life has turned out. But I’ve been screaming down the lens of every camera in Japan that I’m the best in the world. Pound for pound, no one’s better than me. This is the place where all the elite boys are at, right? It’s time to show everyone that I am the best wrestler in the world. Pound for pound, there’s no one better than me. I’m ready. For my mom, for my dad, for my missus, my stepson, every single person that has been in and around my life, this is for them. From the British independents to New Japan Pro-Wrestling to All Elite Wrestling, all those chapters are closed, but this is a bright new one that’s about to start. Enjoy it, mate. Enjoy it,” Ospreay said.

Ospreay was then shown backstage in the aftermath of his promo segment on AEW Dynamite, and he was clearly pumped up. He made it clear that he was excited, and he felt ready for the responsibility. Ospreay looked forward to his match against Konosuke Takeshita at AEW Revoltuion and stated that he was going to take over.

“It’s like pure drugs. You can’t get any better high than that. You need to understand, bruv, from Essex, man. Just a small little county outside London. For eight years, man, I applied myself in Japan. That’s all I did. Japan, and the UK indies, I only dipped my toes into America. I believe honestly, it’s an anxiety coming here, it’s something that’s been holding me back. Maybe it’s the fact that I wanted to learn the trade, but maybe I wasn’t mature enough to come here and to feel that. I felt that in there, man. Alabama. I couldn’t even find Alabama. If you showed me a map of America, I couldn’t find where it is. But my name has somehow reached over there. That tells me something, man. That tells me all those years, all the years growing up, I’m ready for this responsibility. I’m ready to take this. I’m ready to go All Elite. I’m ready to be the number one guy here. To do that, I know I got to beat my own teammate. Like I said, I beat Jericho and I beat Kenny. You know who else has done there? Takeshita. There’s no one better. You’re a great teammate, but I need a good rival, mate. Sunday, come bring your A game for me, my friend. Because you’re stepping foot with pound-for-pound the best wrestler on the damn planet. I’m not here to take part, I’m here to take over. This place is mine now,” Ospreay said.

Click here to see what Nic Nemeth had to say about potentially facing Will Ospreay.

Fightful will have coverage of AEW Revolution as it airs on March 3, as well as a post-show podcast on our YouTube channel.

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