Every major wrestling company needs a top-tier babyface. Cody Rhodes has assumed that role for WWE in recent years, and has helped take the company to new heights. However, Tony Khan has spent the past 18 months or so, searching for someone who could have a similar impact in AEW.
Enter Will Ospreay. The former New Japan Pro Wrestling star has quickly established himself as one of the top draws in AEW, along with earning himself a place in the discussion for the best wrestler alive. Since joining AEW, Ospreay has rapidly improved his promo work, developing confidence on the microphone while letting his charisma shine through.
Now, just over a year after he arrived in Khan’s company, Ospreay is emerging as a true star, both for now and in the future. Part of his charm has been how genuinely happy he is to be working with the growing brand.
“Ever since I’ve walked in here, I’ve come in with a great attitude,” Ospreay said during a Thursday appearance on the Chris Van Vilet show. “My whole mission is to build a team. I feel like whatever was going on in AEW before I got there, I’ve helped out with trying to get everyone on the same page. It’s hard for me to put into words sometimes, but the only thing that I can say is I think the audience trusts me, and I won’t break that trust.”
If you’re going to be the face of the company, you’ve got to portray the role of a company man. Ospreay does that in every sense of the word. He’s a relentless performer, often putting his body on the line for the entertainment of the watching fans. He flies halfway around the world twice a week to ensure he’s available on every show he’s required, and he has a rapidly growing fanbase on multiple continents.
If AEW can continue putting Ospreay at the center of great storylines, his star will continue to rise. Pitting him against his former stablemate, Kyle Fletcher, has been a masterstroke, and elevated both talents in their own way.
Ospreay’s interview with Van Vilet will introduce him to a wider fanbase. Now, as they begin tuning in to see him in action, AEW can begin welcoming some new eyeballs as they continue to position the English high-flyer as the main babyface the company has to offer.