Will Ospreay names his favorite Kenny Omega match and reflects on their clash in PWG.
Today, the two stars are widely placed in the center of the discussion about the best wrestler in the world. Both men have been featured in NJPW at different points; Omega had been one of the company's top stars before his departure in 2019, and Ospreay has climbed up the ladder ever since. For years, they feuded from afar by trading shots, as they were separated by promotional boundaries once Omega helped found AEW.
But as the two companies started working together, their feud escalated, and they faced off in a trios match on the August 31 episode of AEW Dynamite. Omega later appeared on a video screen at NJPW x STARDOM Historic X-Over and announced that he will challenge Ospreay for the IWGP United States Championship at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17.
In an interview with Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp, Ospreay was asked to name his favorite Omega match, and he pointed to his bout against Kazuchika Okada at NJPW Dominion 2017, when the two stars fought to a time-limit draw. He stated that seeing the endurance Omega and Okada was inspiring, as he knew he wanted to do something like that. The IWGP United States Champion stated that the match motivated him to get in better shape.
"The second Kenny and Okada match at Dominion when they went to a 60-minute time limit draw. I remember watching at home and I couldn’t believe the stamina of both men. It was inspiring. That was the first time I actually watched a 60-minute draw. To see the stamina and effort from both guys, it was one of those ones where, deep down, I knew I wanted to do that as well and wanted to be that man with the endurance. It must have triggered something in my mind watching that. It must have triggered something to get my ass to the gym and get in better shape. I want to be the guy that can go the distance," Ospreay said.
Ospreay then looked back on his PWG match against Omega; they clashed at PWG All-Star Weekend XI in 2015. He noted that, several years later, he feels like he has finally matured. He described how, to an extent Omega was right when he said he was "shoehorned" into a position after Omega, the Young Bucks, and Cody left NJPW. Ospreay discussed his growth and explained that he believes he's approaching his peak. He then stated that he can't think of any good matches Omega had in 2022, so it's time for him to bring the Best Bout Machine back at Wrestle Kingdom.
"The one thing about me now is, I feel like I’ve finally matured. It’s taken like ten years [laughs]. I’ve become my own man now. I’m a front-runner in the United Empire, I set a standard for my faction. From there, I’ve been put in positions....there’s something that Kenny said in an interview that I was ‘shoehorned’ into a position after him and the Bucks and Cody left to form AEW. To an extent, he is right. I was happy being a junior heavyweight and just doing that, and during my junior heavyweight run, finally realizing that I could put on some size and my training differentiated. It was only after he left and after we had that chat in the Tokyo Dome that my mind did start changing and I realized the power and ability that I do hold, and how I could be considered one of the best in the world. It just speaks volumes, from 2018, if you look at the list and matches I’ve had, it’s been a constant maturity from me and now I’m at my...I wouldn’t even say I’m at my peak. I think I’m approaching it. I’m one year away from turning 30, I still have plenty of gas left in the tank. I’ve got like 10 years still being at the best of my abilities. Kenny has had all the best matches, but I can’t tell you any good ones in 2022. This is now or never for Kenny. This is the time to bring back the Cleaner, the Best Bout Machine, that guy that we want to see in the Golden Age. I’ve been the guy flying the flag, the guy on the front line for New Japan and it’s going to be a super exciting match," he said.
"The Commonwealth Kingpin" went on to describe how he has grown a lot since his days in PWG. He admitted that NJPW hasn't been the best due to the pandemic, as the lack of cheering has negatively impacted the product. Ospreay made it clear that he appreciates the fans who have still supported the company through this difficult time, and he shared that having other fans come back to NJPW for Wrestle Kingdom is also exciting because they're going to watch him beat Omega.
"In PWG, I was a kid back then. I’m a 29-year-old man with a mortgage and I have to pay bills. Kenny has done me the biggest favor ever because of that. I know full well that New Japan hasn’t been the best because of the pandemic. It hasn’t been good. I don’t know anybody that wants to sit and watch wrestling where they can only clap. To the fans that have come and supported through that, I can’t say enough. My appreciated and thanks. To all those people now that are excited and coming back to New Japan to watch Kenny, it’s going to be so much better because all those people you’ve brought back to New Japan are going to watch you fall down to me. How funny is that?" Ospreay said.
In the same interview, Ospreay discussed his rivalry with Omega. Check out his comments here.
Omega recently stated that Ospreay fails because he is unintelligent and unstable. Check out his comments here.
Ahead of his return to NJPW, Omega stated that the company lacked magic and charisma without him. Click here to see what he had to say.
Check out the updated card for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 here.
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 will air on NJPW World on January 4. Fightful will have live coverage of the show as it airs.
