There was a conversation about criticism of in-ring spots and the Paul Levesque comments.
The latest guest to sit down with Chris Van Vliet for an interview was Will Ospreay. As their chat moved along, a conversation took place about the criticisms of Ospreay’s in-ring style and some of the spots he does.
Ospreay was asked if he feels it’s unfair that some spots are not as criticized by the public if they happen under the WWE banner. He added that those same critics of his would be praising the spots he does if he had chosen to go to WWE.
No (I don’t think it’s unfair that people aren’t as critical of certain spots if they happen in WWE). But then, if I had gone there, they’d be f*cking wanking into f*cking tissues over me. But it’s the same. That’s why you have to separate it, otherwise you drive yourself insane… Wrestling is my passion, it’s my job most importantly. But, if you have something that you’re passionate about, you really don’t care about what people are saying who have never impacted your career in your entire life. Once upon a time, they were big hits — that anyone that’s ever complained about AEW — like the grifters or whatever they’re called. I don’t know if that’s the right term. That’s what everyone says. But, even if they say something, they’re not impacting our show. We’re the second most profitable wrestling company of all-time. That’s not talked about enough and everyone wants to dig on it and I get it. There’s things that we could generally improve on and I think it’s fair to listen to some criticism. But, for me, I don’t lose sleep over anyone trying to tell me how to wrestle because now, look at me. I’m a f*cking idiot. I know I am, but, I’ve carved out this little lane for myself. I was destined to be someone that would have either worked in McDonald’s or pushed trolleys at Tesco’s. But because I grafted at this and because I learned the trade over in England and over in Japan and my enthusiasm and my passion comes over here, I don’t let things… if it’s just like, ‘Oh, this is sh*t.’ ‘Why?’ ‘Because it’s sh*t.’ Well, that’s not fair. If you give me criticism and you give me points that I can work on, then I’ll try my best to work on it. I’m not gonna get it right away, but I think that’s the stuff that people need to speak more about.
During WrestleMania XL week, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and made a comment about talents running from the grind and being glad he did not bring those talents into WWE.
Ospreay reacted the following week on AEW Dynamite. In this new interview, he said it was relayed to him from other people that Levesque was talking about him. He said he’s never spoken to Levesque directly. Ospreay’s representation was in contact with WWE during negotiations.
There was a Pro-Wrestling: EVE show that Ospreay was present at and a match took place where wrestlers dressed up as characters and someone dressed up as Triple H. Ospreay gave that individual a Pedigree. He joked that he might start doing the move.
He didn’t say my name but like… (Ospreay said in reference to Triple H’s comments about being glad he didn’t get talents who are not in it for the grind) He was (talking about me) and I’ve got people that I won’t throw under the bus that’s saying, yeah, it was about me. I won’t throw anyone’s names under the bus but it was about me. I’m not taking it personally and like, oh, that hurt my feelings. It’s just kind of like, all right, you take a friendly jab at me, I’ll take one back. There’s nothing horrible about it. I don’t hate the guy. I’ve never met him. How can I hate someone that I’ve never even met?… No, I’ve never spoken to him. I have an agency talk to everyone and I’ve told everybody about my situation and why I want to remain in the U.K., which is why that kind of hurt me a little bit. Not to the point where it keeps me up at night. I was like, okay, you take a jab at me, I’ll take one back and then that’s it, we’re done, and then someone was at this show that I was — I was doing some stuff with Pro-Wrestling: EVE and they do this thing called the Multiverse Rumble and everybody dresses up as characters and somebody dressed up as Triple H. I walked in here and I looked, I went, ‘I’ve got to do it now, haven’t I?’ Because it’s funny and if anyone doesn’t think it’s funny, then, I can’t tell you what your humor is. But my humor is this is hilarious. I’m gonna do it.
If I got in trouble about this whole instance, I don’t understand why I got in trouble for it. I mean, I have an idea about it but… It was an amazing Pedigree. I might start doing it, might start doing it… Because it’s funny.
On March 9th, Ospreay is going to be in action at AEW Revolution. He’ll be facing Kyle Fletcher in a Steel Cage match.
If the quotes in this article are used, please credit Insight with Chris Van Vliet with an H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcriptions.
