Will Ospreay Coached By AEW Star For NJPW Heel Turn?
Ospreay may have had a helping hand before turning on Okada...
Chris Jericho may have played a role in coaching NJPW's Will Ospreay ahead of the Englishman's heel turn in the promotion last week, writes Dave Meltzer in this week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Per the report, Ospreay had spoken to the former AEW World Champion when planning the turn a few weeks ago, though Meltzer was uncertain on how much coaching had actually happened. He notes that there was a touch of Jericho in Ospreay's movements, however.
Ospreay turned on CHAOS leader Kazuchika Okada at the A Block finals on 16 October. This went down in a match with his mentor, as Will's real-life partner, Bea Priestley, distracted the referee to allow an interference for the returning Great-O-Khan, who had spent the last couple of years on an excursion in the United Kingdom. Ospreay then defeated Okada before spinning into a diatribe about being held back by 'The Rainmaker.'
The report also states that Jeff Cobb was originally intended for a role alongside Ospreay and Priestley. There is currently no word if this is still on the table or if O'Khan has replaced the Hawaiian in the growing heel faction.