Will Ospreay Plans Before Joining AEW Revealed

AEW

NJPW plans for Will Ospreay ahead of him joining AEW have now been revealed, with Ospreay set to wrestle for a new championship.

Since defeating Kenny Omega for the gold at Forbidden Door 2023 in June, Ospreay has been recognised as NJPW’s IWGP US Champion.

Ospreay would refer to this title as the IWGP UK Championship and would carry around his own custom title belt, ahead of David Finlay destroying both the US and UK belts at November’s Power Struggle event.

With Ospreay originally slated to defend the IWGP US Title in a three-way bout against Finlay and AEW’s Jon Moxley at Wrestle Kingdom 18 in January, there had been a lot of speculation about a potential new title.

NJPW has now confirmed that Ospreay, Finlay and Moxley will face off at Wrestle Kingdom, with the winner becoming the inaugural IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion.

NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi shared the following statement during Monday’s press conference:

“The IWGP US Heavyweight Championship came into being in July 2017 to mark NJPW’s first major event in the United States of America in Long Beach. After its introduction, it became the symbol of NJPW competition in the USA.

“In the years that followed, the title would be defended in Japan, becoming familiar to Japanese fans as well. However, with the introduction of the IWGP UK Championship this summer, there was confusion among fans as to the status of the title.

“With that in mind, this new championship combines and adds to the US and UK Championship roles, and will be called the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship.

“As has already been discussed in a recent business strategy presentation, NJPW is working to ensure that 2024 sees our presence grow not just in the UK and the US, but throughout all of Europe, the rest of Asia and Oceania.

“With a mindfulness on the international space, there was discussion of renewing the defunct IWGP Intercontinental Championship, but as we see an entirely new level of international involvement, the IWGP Global Heavyweight name was decided to be the most fitting.

“We hope fans look forward to seeing the brand new title and the matches contested for it.

“As a result, January 4’s three way at Wrestle Kingdom between Will Ospreay, Jon Moxley and David Finlay will officially determine the first IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion. Thank you”

Will Ospreay has agreed to terms on a deal with AEW. As noted by Ospreay himself at AEW Full Gear, Ospreay plans to finish up his deal with NJPW before joining AEW for the road to the Revolution 2024 pay-per-view.

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• champion
• NJPW
• Will Ospreay
• AEW

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