10 Best Non-WWE Wrestlers Of 2017 (So Far)
6. Will Ospreay
It’s easy to take Will Ospreay for granted. The English high-flyer produces dazzling, GIF-worthy performances with such regularity that his excellence has become the norm. He works a style that many are now desensitised to, but Ospreay has continually defied the ridiculous complaints levied against his supposed lack of psychology with a series of incredible performances in 2017.
His 18 May clash with Ricochet was Ospreay’s finest hour. A 27-minute epic, it saw the duo take the eye-catching high spots of their previous bouts but stretch them into a traditional NJPW main event format, giving each moment plenty of room to breathe, thus increasing their individual (and collective) impact. It harked back to their previous contests, but felt totally different at the same time, and stands among the best matches on either man’s resume.
Will’s Best Of The Super Juniors finals match with KUSHIDA was of a similar calibre, and while a big NJPW push may never be forthcoming, he always delivers between the ropes. Away from Japan, Ospreay has been on a tear through ROH, putting on great matches with guys like Jay White and Dragon Lee, and he has stayed active in the UK too, competing regularly for the likes of WCPW and RevPro.