Will Ospreay is determined to make a major change to the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.
Ospreay won the title by defeating Kenny Omega at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2023. The victory kicked off his second reign with the championship; he previously win it at NJPW Dominion 2022 and lost the gold to Omega at Wrestle Kingdom 17.
In his post-match comments following NJPW G1 Climax 33 Night Three, the IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion highlighted the way he feels like everyone is doing what they want in NJPW. He called out Yota Tsuji for getting a title shot as soon as he returned from his excursion. Ospreay then made it clear that he intends to elevate the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.
"Everyone just seems to be doing what they want in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. I’ll just use Tsuji as an example. That fucker was over in the UK for his excursion. He did a little bit of stuff in Mexico. Who gives a fuck about CMLL? I don’t. He came over to the UK, and I’m not afraid to say it, Tsuji was dog shit while he was over in the UK. He wasn’t good. He’s lazy. So why’s New Japan rewarding Tsuji the moment he comes back from his excursion [with a] IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match? Why? You do a shit job over in the UK, you come back, and then you get a championship? Now I’ll give you credit. Tsuji, you’re amazing now. Something just clicked in your brain. You’ve got that star presence about you. You’re incredible. But why’d you get to cut in line? I’m telling you, I refuse to address SANADA as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. You can be New Japan Champion, everyone can call you whatever you want. But to me, until you beat me, you are not champion. So now, I am going to do everything in my power to elevate this [IWGP United States] Championship. To do that, I must win the G1 Climax," Ospreay said.
Ospreay went on to describe how he has already done plenty of work with the title. He called it a failed project, as it was designed to get over in the United States. Ospreay questioned why the championship is in Japan, and he expressed his goal to make it the most desired title. He made it clear that he wants to get the American flag off the title, as he believes it should be the Intercontinental Championship.
"I will not lie to you guys. I’ve done a lot of rehabbing with this belt. This belt was worthless. To me, this is a failed project. This championship was designed to be over in the United States of America? Why is it in Japan? This championship should be everywhere in America, being defended on their soil. But now, I’m in charge of this belt, and I am gonna make this championship worthy. I’m gonna make this championship the most desired and wanted championship ever. Seeing as everybody’s doing what they want in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, I’m gonna do what I want. I’m gonna try and chisel away at this [United States symbol] and get this flag off this fucking belt. I’m gonna do everything I can to get this fucking flag off this belt. In theory, this should be the Intercontinental Championship. I know I can’t get it back, but everyone seems to be doing what they want in this fucking company. Everyone seems to be doing what they want. I’m just gonna do what I want. I’m gonna change this belt," Ospreay said.
NJPW previously introduced the IWGP International Championship in 2011. It was retired after the title was unified with the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to form the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in 2021.
In other news, Ospreay treasures his testicles. More information is available here.
Ospreay is currently competing in the NJPW G1 Climax 33 tournament. Keep up with our coverage here.
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