New Japan Pro Wrestling’s NJPW1972 website held a recent interview with Will Ospreay. One of the topics discussed included Ospreay’s thoughts about the current working relationship between AEW and NJPW.
“It is a difficult one. I can understand there can be a certain perception because a lot of guys did go from New Japan into AEW, myself included. But NJPW has always been exceptional at creating new stars; it just took time for New Japan to really identify who was going to be the top guy carrying things forward. And if you just looked at Wrestle Kingdom this year, Kazuchika Okada, Konosuke Takeshita, Andrade as well on that card were all major moments that could only really happen with the AEW relationship.”
Ospreay also gave his thoughts about his belief that more AEW talents could go over to New Japan for excursion type trips.
“At the same time I do think there could be more guys sent from AEW into NJPW, and not just big names to pop a house but for a tour, or longer than that. Especially with the sheer size and the number of people AEW has under contract, I think it would be a great chance for AEW talent to grow and come back even better. And vice versa as well.”
Ospreay also gave his thoughts about MJF being among those from AEW he would like to see work in NJPW.
“On the top end, obviously Moxley, Omega would pull in big houses. I would love to see Swerve Strickland in Japan. I really would. And MJF- is he just a great American TV wrestler, or would he be really successful in Japan as well? That’s a whole different animal he’s never done, and then as well, I love Mike Bailey and I think he could do more in the junior heavyweight space, because he is such an exciting wrestler in that mould. Daniel Garcia, I think, could learn so much from a good few months in Japan.”

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