Will Ospreay recently was interviewed by Wrestling Republic’s Eric Novak on the All Real Wrestling Podcast.
Various different topics were touched upon in the hour and a half long interview (definitely worth giving a listen to!), but one of the most interesting talking points was when Ospreay discussed how he should have more recognition for travelling all over the world during the pandemic.
Ospreay touched upon how much of a struggle it was for him to travel from his native Britain to the USA.
“British people couldn’t enter America because America was locked down and they weren’t allowed to do it. The only way you could access America was if you had a special request visa and do you know what they said to me on the phone? “The only way we’re getting this if you’re Elton John.” I got there, I am literally Elton John mate. I had the Elton John treatment, so I got there like that’s literally what they told me on the phone. The only way you’re coming in is if you’re Elton John, I got there.”
He also talked about how wrestlers who were based in the United States didn’t have to worry about how they were going to be able to travel from show to show like he had to.
“So mate, I just don’t, these are things that I literally traveled like did then just like it’s not a shot towards him, but did Kenny travel? No. Did Bryan travel? No. Punk traveled? No. Who else is considered the best in the world these days? Uh.. Christian actually did one UK show, one, great but it’s just like come on lads, no one traveled more than me during a global pandemic.”
Ospreay also expressed frustrations regarding the lack of credit he has been given for all the travelling he’s done during the pandemic.
“I was the real World Champion, I held championships in three different continents at the same time like, unheard of. Literally I mean like obviously it’s heard of when like those are Austin Aries and all my dragon did it, but I think doing it on a global pandemic, people are dying all around me yet there’s me with all my gold strutting down the airports walking and talking as a champion. No one did it, no one is ever gonna do it and I deserve more respect for it.”
It should be noted that during the pandemic, Ospreay has won the Warrior Wrestling Champion, the RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship and still holds these titles.
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Photo Credit – New Japan Pro Wrestling
