Will Ospreay, who joined AEW full-time in 2024 and is set to headline the upcoming Double or Nothing event, recently articulated his strong conviction that AEW will eventually rise to the top of the wrestling world. Speaking on JJRBTS, Ospreay shared insights into his decision to sign with the company, emphasizing its “underdog” spirit ahead of AEW‘s six-year anniversary celebration this Sunday.
During his appearance on JJRBTS, Will Ospreay elaborated on his motivations for committing to AEW. He explained his affinity for “counter-culture” and supporting emerging entities, a mindset that drew him to the promotion. “I like the counter-culture stuff,” Ospreay stated, referencing a similar appeal TNA Wrestling held for him in his youth. “I don’t like going for the big thing. I like going for the underdog. I think that’s why I signed with AEW in the first place is because they are the underdog, they are the people coming from the ground up and are the people who enjoy giving fan service. When I first came in here, I wanted to make this place the be all, end all. I want to sing from the high heavens that this is the best professional wrestling on the planet. I respect WWE and what they’re doing now. They are filling houses and doing so well, but bell-to-bell, you’re not going to find better wrestling than AEW.”
Ospreay also commented on the AEW fanbase, drawing parallels to the fervent supporters of ECW, and noting their deep appreciation for the performance aspect of wrestling. He expressed a desire for this passionate support to expand further.
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Looking towards the future, Will Ospreay conveyed his optimism about AEW‘s trajectory, acknowledging it as a gradual process. “It’s respect for the art. I feel like they understand the art form behind it and how hard it is, and they appreciate it, so they allow their voices to be heard, and they are supporting us. I want that support to spread. It’s going to take time and be a slow process, but one of these days, we’re going to be on top,” he affirmed. Ospreay stressed that this ascent is a collective effort, mentioning talents like “Swerve (Strickland), it’s Hangman (Page), it’s (Jon) Moxley, it’s MJF, it’s the Hurt Syndicate, we’re all firing on all cylinders and we’re all creating this animal right now and at one point, we’re going to be undeniable that we are the friggin’ best.”
This Sunday, Will Ospreay is scheduled to face Hangman Page in the finals of the Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament at AEW Double or Nothing, an event also marking the promotion’s sixth anniversary.
