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Years of dedication to his craft have made Will Ospreay the world-class performer that he is today. Before he arrived in AEW, The Aerial Assassin made a name for himself on the independent circuit. The Commonwealth Kingpin then moved over to NJPW and became one of the cornerstones of the Japanese promotion.
During his long journey as a pro wrestler, Ospreay got the opportunity to wage a war against several mainstream performers. The Aerial Assassin has also faced the legendary Vader in the past, which sounds like a strange yet compelling matchup.
Interestingly, there are several current WWE Superstars who have locked horns with Will Ospreay in the past. While fans did not hype these encounters enough in the past, many of these matches would be legitimate box-office attractions if they were to happen today.
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In this article, let's look at three current WWE Superstars who have battled Will Ospreay in the past:
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#3. Former WWE Champion Drew McIntyre went to war with Will Ospreay
In March 2017, Will Ospreay and Drew McIntyre engaged in an entertaining battle for the WCPW Championship. The first few moments of the contest saw The Scottish Warrior dominate his athletic opponent with his raw strength.
The Aerial Assassin tried to retaliate with his high-flying maneuvers, but he was unable to break through McIntyre's resilience. While McIntyre majorly relied on his undeniable power, The Commonwealth Kingpin used his unmatched agility to outsmart the former WWE Champion.
Ospreay kept his vicious opponent in check for a significant portion of the contest, before The Scottish Warrior unloaded on him with punches and strikes. Struggling to keep The Aerial Assassin down, McIntyre nailed his opponent with a beautiful Claymore, which turned the current AEW star upside down.
Bea Priestley (aka known as Blair Davenport in WWE) appeared in the final moments of the contest, to prevent The Scottish Psychopath from pinning Will Ospreay. It turned out to be a flawed decision, as McIntyre immediately nailed Priestley with a brutal Glasgow Kiss.
Despite enduring punishment at the hands of The Aerial Assassin, McIntyre ultimately won the contest with a Spinning Future Shock DDT. It was one of Drew McIntyre's final matches on the independent circuit, as he joined WWE NXT a few months later.
As for Ospreay, the reigning International Champion continued to hone his craft in the Indies and NJPW, before finally arriving in AEW in 2023.
#2. Cody Rhodes and Will Ospreay have previously locked horns inside the squared circle
Cody Rhodes and Will Ospreay are no strangers to each other. While The American Nightmare is the quarterback of WWE, The Aerial Assassin has emerged as the face of AEW. The two stars first crossed paths in December 2016, a few months after Rhodes officially parted ways with the Sports Entertainment juggernaut.
Their first encounter did not play out as fans would have expected. The contest was filled with several comedic spots, which affected the overall quality to a certain extent. Ultimately, it was the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion who got the victory over a young Ospreay.
The two stars met each other again in Ring of Honor in 2017. The American Nightmare went into this match as a despicable heel, whereas The Commonwealth Kingpin played the role of a sympathetic babyface.
The talented wrestlers redeemed their previous performances by delivering an in-ring classic. It was a fast-paced affair, filled with several innovative reversals. Ospreay's growth as a performer was on full display, as he learned from his past mistakes and pushed Cody Rhodes to his limits.
Unfortunately, The Aerial Assassin could not get the job done, as the current SmackDown Superstar once again escaped with the victory. Regarded as the cornerstones of their respective promotions, it is highly unlikely that Rhodes and Ospreay will get to butt heads with each other anytime soon.
#1. Will Ospreay faced his idol AJ Styles early in his career
Will Ospreay has admitted on numerous occasions that AJ Styles was his biggest childhood inspiration. The Phenomenal One's unmatched agility and exhilarating aerial maneuvers motivated The Aerial Assassin to choose pro wrestling as a career.
It was a dream come true for the reigning International Champion when he got the opportunity to compete against Styles in 2015. At RevPro High Stakes, the 31-year-old star went toe-to-toe with The Phenomenal One, hoping to earn the respect of his childhood idol.
Despite being a rookie, The Aerial Assassin proved that he could hang with a seasoned veteran like Styles. Will Ospreay somehow managed to keep up with The Georgia Pitbull, who was at the peak of his powers at the time. The Commonwealth Kingpin impressively countered Styles' innovative offense, much to the disbelief of the former WWE Champion.
Ultimately, The Phenomenal One's vast experience triumphed over Will Ospreay's zealous attitude. AJ Styles put an end to The Aerial Assassin by nailing him with a Super Styles Clash. After the match, the two individuals shared a hug to show respect for one another.
