Will Ospreay talks relationship between AEW and NJPW
AEW star and former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay recently spoke to NJPW1972.com about his upcoming return to the company. Ospreay would also discuss the current relationship between All Elite Wrestling and New Japan, seemingly helping to further build the storyline tension for the upcoming Forbidden Door PPV.
“It is a difficult one” Ospreay would begin. “I can understand there can be a certain perception because a lot of guys did go from New Japan into AEW, myself included. But NJPW has always been exceptional at creating new stars; it just took time for New Japan to really identify who was going to be the top guy carrying things forward. And if you just looked at Wrestle Kingdom this year, Kazuchika Okada, Konosuke Takeshita, Andrade as well on that card were all major moments that could only really happen with the AEW relationship.”
Will Ospreay on AEW to NJPW ‘excursions’
Ospreay also indicated that more AEW stars could make their way over to New Japan, almost as a quasi-excursion due to the size of the All Elite roster:
“At the same time I do think there could be more guys sent from AEW into NJPW, and not just big names to pop a house but for a tour, or longer than that. Especially with the sheer size and the number of people AEW has under contract, I think it would be a great chance for AEW talent to grow and come back even better. And vice versa as well.”
Ospreay will be joining Great-O-Khan and HENARE this weekend at Wrestling Dontaku 2026 to face Tatsuya Matsumoto, YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto.
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