Will Ospreay Confirms Talks With WWE, Why He Chose AEW Over Them

AEW

Will Ospreay has confirmed talks with WWE during his free agency and why he opted to sign with AEW over them.

Will Ospreay was announced as AEW’s latest signing back at the Full Gear event, signing with the company before his contract with NJPW had expired in February.

Ahead of his free agency, there had been speculation on whether Ospreay would join WWE or AEW at the end of his contract, with him ultimately joining AEW.

Speaking on Talk is Jericho, Ospreay opened up on why he chose to join AEW.

He said:

“Main thing was, I wanted to be in the UK. I know I’m not going to be exactly comfortable moving to another country. I moved to Japan in 2019, as much as I loved it, it wasn’t home. I entered a new relationship with my new Mrs. who wrestles under the name Alex Windsor, I have a stepson now, she just started school. If you know her story and everything she’s been through, the UK scene kind of knows it, but she lost her husband, and having to pick herself up from that and having to be a mom, a single mom, to losing her husband, it’s going to have some tolls on you, so she needs to be around family and friends in her social circle. I couldn’t bear the thought of moving her away from all of that and having her own on her own again.

“For me, the main priority was to stay in the UK, but also wanting to up the wrestling because I had done everything in New Japan. I completed it. The viable option was where was I happy and what was I doing? Every time I came (to AEW), Tony [Tony Khan] has given me nothing but trust and respect the moment I came in here. It was the right decision for me at this time. I’m happy here and looking forward to the challenges. It’s the right decision.”

Ospreay was then asked if he spoke to WWE, which Ospreay said he did, and explained why he believed AEW to be the preferred option for him.

He said:

“Yeah, of course, but it was night and day. Even in differences of what they were offering and what AEW was offering, AEW was way better. The scheduling, everything about AEW was completely the right option for me. It was always, you can go be a superstar in WWE and famous, but it’s not as good of pay and it’s not as kind of a schedule. I respect everyone there doing it, but it’s not for me.”

transcription via Fightful

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• Will Ospreay
• AEW
• wwe

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