20 Absolute Best Wrestlers In The World Right Now

9. Will Ospreay

Tetsuya Naito
NJPW1972.com

His style isn't for everyone, but at this point, when there's so much evidence to the contrary, dismissing Will Ospreay as a 'spot monkey' just doesn't make any sense. At best, it's wilfully ignorant. Flips and dives will always be part of his arsenal, but boiling his skillset down to them does Ospreay a great disservice, as he has developed into one of the most well-rounded wrestlers on the planet.

Last year's Best Of Super Juniors clash with Ricochet exemplifies this perfectly. Their initial bout attracted attention for its many gif-worthy moments, but this was a slower, more methodical affair, with the two fliers working the classic NJPW main event style to perfection. Their escalations were smart, focused, and logical. Every move made sense within the fight's context, and it stands as a bulletproof counterargument to anyone doubting their abilities.

Such bouts are nothing new for Ospreay, who has struck the perfect balance between spots, storytelling, and selling (yes, selling). He, like Dynamite Kid, Shawn Michaels, and AJ Styles before him, is pushing wrestling forward, and is positioned firmly at the forefront of the sport's ongoing athletic evolution.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.