Will Ospreay Opens Up About Battles With Anxiety Ahead Of Big Matches, Fatherhood Giving Him Balance

Will Ospreay talks about his mental health and the anxiety he gets before big matches. 

Professional wrestlers perform amazing athletic feats but they are also human beings who can let their nerves get the best of them before they go out and perform in front of live audiences in highly anticipated matchups. 

Will Ospreay is now opening up about his mental health in an interview with Alistair McGeorge of Metro and reveals that ahead of big matches like the one he had with Kenny Omega at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom, he does feel a great deal of anxiety. 

“I used to be such in such a horrible, dark place where me and my head just didn’t get along. Sometimes it creeps in, especially big matches. The Tokyo match with Kenny [Omega], I can’t tell you enough how much doubt creeped into my mind with that. I get mad anxiety when I wrestle guys like Kenny,” he said. 

Will Ospreay also spoke about becoming a father and how that changed his view of the world and helped with his mental health struggles. 

“It’s difficult at first, but I guess half of it is whether you care that much about people’s opinion on you anymore,” he said. “I got numb to it all, ‘I can’t make everyone like me!’ That’s absolutely fine – if you don’t like me, that’s cool, I don’t like you either! 

“I’m a parent now, my kid goes to school, I’m with a wonderful girl. They motivate me so much and it is literally the most rewarding thing that I’ve ever done in my entire life,” he adds. “My mental health, my depression, my anxiety are huge factors into my performance – especially when you’re away from your family, and you’re left in the hotel rooms. The most important thing for me is my family, and as long as that’s all good, my demons don’t really creep in anymore. I’ve found a real big balance.”

Ospreay recently retained his IWGP United Kingdom Championship over Zack Sabre Jr. at NJPW Royal Quest III. He has also recently appeared on AEW TV as part of the Don Callis family. 

Fans can read what Ospreay has to say about when his career may potentially come to an end at this link.