20 Absolute Best Wrestlers In The World Right Now
18. Will Ospreay
Will Ospreay's United Empire stable deserve great credit for being one of the few acts still breathing life into a declining New Japan product increasingly dominated by tedious western booking tropes.
Through Great-O-Khan's second loss to Hiroshi Tanahashi was particularly damaging for their momentum, and Ospreay and Jeff Cobb didn't need to lose to TenKoji at Castle Attack, the Empire feel distinct to NJPW's other heel units, probably as they don't yet use ref bumps, interferences, and distractions as crutches in every match. Looking at you, Bullet Club.
Ospreay has grown immensely since joining NJPW. Still only 27 years old, he has refined his selling, diversified his arsenal, and tightened his grasp of storytelling and psychology, all while bulking up. He is smartly transitioning towards a more sustainable style of wrestling for when big bumps and prodigious athleticism aren't as forgiving on his body. We have seen this several times in 2021, though his big singles matches (w/ Kazuchika Okada and Satoshi Kojima) still brought the thunder. For Ospreay, slowing down doesn't mean abandoning adrenaline altogether.
That hokiness still exists in Ospreay's over-the-top promos and mannerisms prevents him from finishing higher for now.