Will Ospreay Discusses His Assassin's Creed-inspired Entrance Gear, Departure from NJPW, and Ambitions in AEW
Will Ospreay, the talented AEW star, opens up about his iconic Assassin's Creed entrance gear, his departure from NJPW, and his ambitious goals within AEW Dive into his remarkable wrestling journey in this exclusive interview with GameSpot
Will Ospreay has spent the last eight years as a prominent figure in New Japan Pro Wrestling, earning the title of World Champion during his time with the organization. In the early days of his career in NJPW, he adopted the persona of the "Aerial Assassin," drawing inspiration from the popular video game series Assassin's Creed and its character Ezio. As Ospreay prepares to move on from NJPW, he paid homage to his former persona by debuting a new costume inspired by Jacob Frye from Assassin's Creed Syndicate in a highly anticipated match at Wrestle Kingdom.
The elaborate outfit featured a top hat and a hidden blade, and to add to the spectacle, the game's theme music filled the Tokyo Dome before seamlessly transitioning to Ospreay's traditional theme "Elevate."
In a recent interview with our website, Ospreay, who is set to join AEW after his New Japan contract expires, credited New Japan publicist Farbod Esnaashari and Ubisoft's Chris Navalta for making the collaboration happen. Ospreay expressed his gratitude to Farbod for finding ways to make the collaboration happen, allowing him to fulfill a lifelong dream of using the theme song from Assassin's Creed in his wrestling career. He emphasized the importance of connecting with people through his wrestling, a message he received from his trainer Greg Burridge.
In the realm of wrestling, Ospreay has long been associated with Assassin's Creed, drawing inspiration from the game to shape his character as he evolved. "That's always been my thing, right? I really connected with Assassin's Creed. I don't know why. I think it was because of his freerunning, the parkour, the way he moved... I feel like I associated the way he moved with my wrestling ability. So, I wanted to be the 'Aerial Assassin.' That was going to be my entire character, basing my look around Ezio, because he was the first guy I played as."
The initial Assassin's Creed game was released back in 2007 and has since led to 12 sequels, with the most recent being Assassin's Creed Mirage, released last year. Ospreay's own journey with the franchise began somewhere in the middle.
"I first started playing Assassin's Creed when I was 18, starting with Brotherhood and then Revelations, which is when I really connected with the series," he reminisced. After finishing those, he decided to play the games in chronological order, and ever since then, I've looked forward to all the new games that come out every time. I get so excited, especially for the trailers. Those cinematic trailers really hooked me as well. Every single Assassin's Creed game I've owned has never disappointed me." Kenny Omega's latest entrance as an Assassin's Creed character comes after last year's Final Fantasy 7-themed entrance, where the AEW star and former IWGP Heavyweight Champion dressed as Sephiroth. Omega's finisher is named the One-Winged Angel, and after years of grand entrances, he finally made it to the Tokyo Dome as one of video games' greatest villains. As one of Omega's greatest rivals, Ospreay expressed no dissatisfaction with Kenny's previous collaborations.
"I never knew this was a possibility for me," he chuckled. "I had no idea that there were opportunities to collaborate with gaming and wrestling. You'd see people dressing up as movie or video game characters, or just cosplaying. I've done that before, but I had never heard of any official collaborations until now. This is really exciting for me."
Looking towards the future, Ospreay has two major matches remaining with New Japan - a singles match against his former mentor Kazuchika Okada and a 10-man tag cage match, the first in New Japan in over 20 years. Ospreay will team with his United Empire teammates against David Finlay and his Bullet Club War Dogs on February 11 at The New Beginning in Osaka.
Ospreay is coming full circle for the match against Okada, which is happening at NJPW's Battle in the Valley this weekend in California.
"I could share stories from the first tour I had in Japan. One time, my [debit] card inexplicably got deactivated. I think it was because I was abroad and my bank noticed a large sum of money being withdrawn from my account, so they shut it down. I couldn't reach my bank to reactivate it, so Okada helped me out," he recounted. "It's these kinds of anecdotes that circulate, and then people wonder why I turned my back on him. But the truth is, I was never going to reach my full potential standing side by side with Okada. If I wanted to be the best, I had to defeat the best."
Ospreay expressed his desire to prove himself to Okada by stating that without his first win against him in 2019, he wouldn't be the person he is today. He further added, "I truly believe that I am the final person to travel the world, challenge the best, and emerge victorious. It's reminiscent of Ric Flair's renowned journey, where he would go from town to town, country to country, relentlessly competing in legendary 30-minute matches, despite the lack of rest."
I want to show Okada the person I've changed into. We're both recovered from Wrestle Kingdom when this match happens, so there are no excuses. I just need to find out if everything was worth it.
Following those matches with New Japan, Ospreay is prepared for what could be the most significant decision in his career: joining All Elite Wrestling permanently. However, he's not the same person he was during his initial trip to Japan.
"I've matured, I know my identity as a man," he stated. "My agility is still intact, but it's complemented by a powerful style. I believe I'm prepared to take on a leading role."
Despite this, Ospreay revealed that AEW wasn't always the obvious choice. He disclosed that there was an offer from WWE on the table. Ultimately, AEW presented a more appealing offer and Ospreay has faith in Tony Khan. He has collaborated with Khan approximately 10 times now, including participating in the inaugural Forbidden Door event where he defended the now-defunct IWGP United States Championship against Orange Cassidy.
Khan respects Ospreay and allows him the time he needs for his matches. "Understanding my role in the ring is my priority, which makes everything else easy," he commented. "What more can you ask for from a boss?"
Ospreay's decision to join AEW means leaving the New Japan world behind and pursuing his personal bucket list. At the top is the goal of headlining Wembley Stadium as part of AEW's All Out in 2024. He is always seeking new ways to push his limits.
He expressed, "There's something to climb, something to build upon. That first match with Chris Jericho, a major wrestling star, was a highlight. I aim to progress and tick off more bucket list items, go for championships, and world titles. I want to test myself in new situations. New Japan is known for its sports-based wrestling product, not on-screen personalities, so this is a challenge for me." A start date for Ospreay's full-time work with AEW has not been confirmed.
Image credit: New Japan Pro-Wrestling
Editor's P/S
As a huge fan of Will Ospreay and the Assassin's Creed series, I was thrilled to read about his Assassin's Creed-inspired entrance gear and his departure from NJPW. Ospreay's passion for the game and his dedication to his craft are truly inspiring. His ability to seamlessly blend his wrestling persona with his love for Assassin's Creed is a testament to his creativity and commitment to entertaining his fans. I can't wait to see what he accomplishes in AEW and look forward to his future collaborations with Ubisoft.
Ospreay's journey from an aspiring wrestler to a global superstar is nothing short of remarkable. His willingness to take risks and push the boundaries of professional wrestling has made him a fan favorite and a true icon of the sport. His Assassin's Creed-inspired entrance gear is just one example of his ability to captivate audiences and create unforgettable moments. I am excited to see what the future holds for Will Ospreay and can't wait to witness his continued success in AEW.
