10 Wrestlers Who Broke Dave Meltzer's Rating System In 2017
9. Will Ospreay
Will Ospreay is no stranger to wowing audiences. From countless promotions in his native Britain to PWG to Ring of Honor and New Japan, the Aerial Assassin has time and again broken the internet with his innovative acrobatics.
He made headlines last year in New Japan's Best of the Super Juniors, with a match against Ricochet that broke all the rules of what a wrestling match is "supposed" to be. However, not even such boundary-pushing gymnastics could crack above a 4.75 rating. Ospreay had to wait a year for the following BOSJ tournament to finally earn that 5 star rating, and to do it, he needed the help of KUSHIDA.
Together, Ospreay and New Japan's junior ace (who himself had a banner year in 2017) put on a stunner of a match. Though not as crisp and intricate as the Ricochet match, it was more than made up for in intensity and drama. Fans were treated to Ospreay and KUSHIDA's chemistry twice more in 2017 thanks to the WCPW Pro Wrestling World Cup finals, and a title match at New Japan's King of Pro Wrestling.
As Ospreay grows and gains more experience, it won't be a shock to see him deliver 5 star classics with other opponents.