William Ospreay (7 May 1993) is an English professional wrestler better known by the ring name Will Ospreay. He is currently signed to New Japan Pro Wrestling. He was previously signed to both Ring of Honor and Evolve. In New Japan Pro Wrestling, Ospreay is the current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, in his third reign.
Professional wrestling career
Early career (2012)
Ospreay debuted on 1 April 2012, in the United Kingdom in a four-way match at the BritWres-Fest 2012 event. Debuting as Dark Britannico, he and competitors Metallico and Santeria were defeated by Leon Britannico. He wrestled his next match on 24 June at PROGRESS Wrestling's PROGRESS Chapter Two: The March Of Progress event, where he and Alex Esmail debuted as the tag team The Velocity Vipers. They were defeated by The London Riots (James Davis & Rob Lynch).
Ospreay made his International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom debut on 15 September at the IPW:UK Samuels vs. Frazier 2012 event where he and Mark Haskins were defeated by Ashley Reed and Paul Robinson in a four-way match. He finished his debut year with two matches during the month of November beginning with a 10 November booking for NWA-UK Hammerlock where he defeated Darrell Allen. On 25 November at PROGRESS Chapter Four: The Ballad Of El Ligero Ospreay was defeated by Mark Andrews.
New Japan Pro Wrestling (2016-present)
Ospreay signed with New Japan Pro Wrestling and made his debut on 10 April 2016. His debut match was a title shot against KUSHIDA for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship but was defeated by the champion. They had a rematch on 19 June at NJPW Dominion 6.19 In Osaka-Jo Hall but was again defeated by KUSHIDA. On 22 September he had a ROH World Championship match at NJPW Destruction In Hiroshima but was defeated by the defending champion Adam Cole. On 8 October at NJPW New Japan Road ~ Ganbare! Uonuma 2016, Ospreay teamed with Trent Beretta and Rocky Romero to challenge for the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship but were defeated by the champions David Finlay, Ricochet & Satoshi Kojima.
Will Ospreay would start 2019 well and defeat Kota Ibushi for the NEVER Openweight Championship in the opening match of Wrestle Kingdom 13, signifying a potential move to the Heavyweight division.
Ring Of Honor (2016-2017)
On 18 November 2016, Ospreay made his ROH debut during the opening night of the ROH Reach For The Sky, where he defeated Bobby Fish to win the ROH World Television Championship. During the second night of the event, he and Marty Scurll challenged for the ROH World Tag Team Championship held by The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) but were defeated. On the third night of the event, Ospreay dropped the World Television title to his tag partner Marty Scurll. On 2 December at ROH Final Battle 2016, Ospreay challenged for a title rematch that included Marty Scurll and third opponent Dragon Lee but Scurll successfully retained the title in this challenge.
As 2017 began, Ospreay joined ROH and NJPW on their joint promotion tours, wrestling matches in Japan, Canada and in the United States.
Personal life
William Ospreay is currently in a relationship with a female professional wrestler Beatrice Priestley.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- OsCutter (Springboard Cutter)
- Storm Breaker (Double Underhook Canadian Backbreaker Rack transitioned into a modified Corkscrew Neckbreaker) 2018–present
- Signature moves
- 540° Corkscrew Senton Bomb
- 630° Senton
- Air Assassin (Imploding 450° Splash)
- Burning Star Press (Shooting Star Press to an opponent hanging in the top rope)
- Corkscrew falling Stunner, as a reversal to a suplex; adopted from Dragon Kid
- Corkscrew Shooting Star Press
- Essex Destroyer (Running Front Flip DDT)
- Iron Octopus (Octopus Hold)
- Multiple kick variations
- Hidden Blade (High Impact Swinging Back Elbow to the back of a kneeling opponent's head, with theatrics. Also used as a finishing move)
- Pip Pip Cheerio (Springboard Forearm Smash)
- Rainham Maker (Standing Moonsault Side Slam, sometimes transitioned from a wrist-lock); adopted from Kazuchika Okada
- Running 540 Corkscrew Senton Bomb
- Running Knee Strike to an opponent's head; used as a finisher in WCPW/DW
- Sasuke Special/Space Tiger Drop (Cartwheel Over the Top Rope Suicide Corkscrew Moonsault)
- Standing Shooting Star Press
- Tag teams and stables
- 2 Guys Hanging Out (w/Chris Sabin)
- Spitfire Britannia (w/Tom Dawkins)
- Velocity Vipers (w/Alex Esmail)
- Swords of Essex
- CHAOS
- Nicknames
- "The Aerial Assassin"
- "The Commonwealth King"
- "QuickSilver"
- "The Cat"
- "Sky King"
- The Assassin
- Entrance themes
Championships and accomplishments
- FPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Paul Robinson
- Lucha Britannia World Championship (2 times)
- MCW Intercommonwealth Championship (1 time)
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship (3 times, Current)
- Best of the Super Juniors (2016, 2019)
- NEVER Openweight Championship (1 time)
- PCW 'One to Watch in 2015' End of Year Award (2014)
- PROGRESS World Championship (1 time)
- Super Strong Style 16 (2015)
- Thunderbastard (2014)
- PROGRESS Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Paul Robinson
- Professional Wrestling Alliance
- PWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- PWI ranked him #12 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2018
- Reloaded Championship Wrestling Alliance
- RCWA Elite-1 Championship (1 time)
- RevPro British Cruiserweight Championship (2 times)
- RevPro British Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Paul Robinson
- 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
- SWE Speed King Championship (2 times)
- WCPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Scotty Wainwright
- Defiant Wrestling Award for Match of the Year (2017) – vs Drew Galloway on March 6
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- 5 Star Match (2016) with Matt Sydal and Ricochet vs. Adam Cole and The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) on 3 September
- 5 Star Match (2017) vs. Kushida on June 3
- 5 Star Match (2018) vs. Marty Scurll on April 1
- 5 Star Match (2018) with Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi on December 15
- 5 Star Match (2019) vs. Bandido on May 23
- 5 3/4 Star Match (2019) vs. Shingo Takagi on June 5
- 5 Star Match (2019) vs. Dragon Lee on June 9
- 5 Star Match (2019) vs. Kota Ibushi on July 18
- 5 3/4 Star Match (2019) vs. Kazuchika Okada on July 20
- Best Flying Wrestler (2016, 2017, 2018)
- Non-Heavyweight MVP (2018)
- Other titles
- British Triangle Championship (1 time) with Paul Robinson and Scott Wainwright
External links
| NJPW Roster |
|---|
| Alex Coughlin • Bad Luck Fale • BUSHI • Chase Owens • Clark Connors • David Finlay • El Desperado • El Phantasmo • EVIL • Fred Rosser • Gedo • HIKULEO • Hirai Kawato • Hiromu Takahashi • Hirooki Goto • Hiroshi Tanahashi • Hiroyoshi Tenzan • Jado • Juice Robinson • KUSHIDA • Minoru Suzuki • Ren Narita • Robbie Eagles • Rocky Romero • Ryu Lee • Ryusuke Taguchi • SANADA • Satoshi Kojima • Shingo Takagi • SHO • Shota Umino • Taichi • Taiji Ishimori • TAKA Michinoku • Tanga Loa • Tetsuya Naitō • Tiger Mask • Toa Henare • Togi Makabe • Tomohiro Ishii • Tomoyuki Oka • Toru Yano • YOH • YOSHI-HASHI • Yoshinobu Kanemaru • Yota Tsuji • Yuji Nagata • Yujiro Takahashi • Yuya Uemura • Zack Sabre Jr. |