Published: 2 hours ago by SP3 | Last Updated: 11 hours ago by SP3
Born in Harlem, New York and now living in the Bronx, Sid Pullar III aka SP3 is a lifelong wrestling fan who has been covering the industry for over nine years as a podcaster and writer. His passion for the industry has been documented with over 3,000 videos on YouTube and 8,000 written pieces across multiple outlets, such as WrestleTalk, Sports Illustrated and more.@TruHeelSP3
NJPW
At NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 2026, Will Ospreay will return to New Japan Pro Wrestling to team with HENARE and Great O Khan to defend the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Titles against Knockout Brothers and Jeff Cobb.
Ospreay has been going back-and-forth between All Elite Wrestling and New Japan throughout 2026.
Along the way, Ospreay has made some enemies and had some issues with his own United Empire stable.
Here are five NJPW stars to potentially challenge Will Ospreay for the AEW World Championship.
Yuto-Ice
If anyone has been waving the flag for New Japan Pro Wrestling, Yuto-Ice can make a claim to the role of flagbearer for the promotion.
Recently, Yuto issued a challenge to Will Ospreay to return to NJPW to defend the NEVER Openweight Tag Team Championships alongside his United Empire stablemates at King of Pro Wrestling.
This has led to a heated social media exchange between Ice and the current AEW World Champion.
Giving Yuto-Ice his biggest match yet, Ospreay could defend the top prize in AEW against one half of The Knockout Brothers in the coming months.
OSKAR
Another NJPW star who has been at odds with Will Ospreay is Yuto-Ice’s Knockout Brothers tag team partner OSKAR.
Calling out his comments saying he wants to face Cope and Cage, Ospreay called out apparent hypocrisy in OSKAR’s statements about AEW in the past.
This led to both men going back-and-forth on social media ahead of their NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Title match at NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 2026.
Wanting to put a spotlight on another young star in New Japan, Ospreay might defend the AEW World Title against OSKAR on a major NJPW show in the coming weeks and months.
Zack Sabre Jr.
One of the biggest rivals in Will Ospreay’s entire career is Zack Sabre Jr.
Starting on the UK independent scene together, Ospreay has called Sabre Jr. the first British mountain he had to climb in his career.
During his memorable entrance at AEW All In London 2026, ZSJ appeared backstage as one of the ghosts from Ospreay’s past.
Seeing how he has been used as a featured NJPW star on AEW TV, Ospreay could defend the AEW World Championship against Sabre Jr. in a massive inter-promotional bout with plenty of history attached to it.
Jeff Cobb
At the NJPW G1 Climax 36 Final event, Jeff Cobb made his return to the company after being released by WWE in May.
Since then, Cobb turned on United Empire to join forces with Unbound Co.
Now at NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 2026, Cobb will team with The Knockout Brothers to face his former United Empire stablemates HENARE, Great O Khan and Will Ospreay for the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championships.
This trios bout could set up Cobb as a top contender to face Ospreay for the AEW World Title down the line.
Callum Newman
Since the beginning of 2026, Will Ospreay and Callum Newman have been telling a story around the leadership of United Empire.
Despite stating he will do things Newman’s way when he returned to NJPW at New Year’s Dash, Ospreay has been trying to make United Empire do things the right way.
Recently, “The Aerial Assassin” brought the faction over to AEW as a U.S. version, adding the likes of Speedball Mike Bailey and The Brawling Birds.
Fans might not have to wait long before Newman gets his shot at Ospreay for the AEW World Title.
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