Earlier today Will Ospreay and Shingo Tagaki waged war on each other for 44 minutes and 53 seconds, in the main event of NJPW’s Wrestling Dontaku night 2 for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Will Ospreay would eventually come out on top in an incredible clash, after striking Shingo with the Hidden Blade to the face following up with a Storm Breaker to get the pin fall and retain his championship.
Following the bout Will Ospreay would tweet about his respect for his opponent and that any time Shingo would want to fight again he would be more than game;
So what’s next for the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion?
Will Ospreay now has a date with Kazuchica Okada on May 29th at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, just as he wanted. When Ospreay defeated Kota Ibushi to become the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, the first person he called out was Kazuchica Okada. This of course was interrupted by Shingo Tagaki, so in the press conference following his win he addressed both his would be challengers noting he would face Shingo first because he wanted to face Okada the in Tokyo Dome.
Will Ospreay turned heel on Okada during the G1 Tournament and would eventually go on to face Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 14 in which he was defeated by Okada. Speaking with NJPW1972.com prior to his clash with Shingo Tagaki, Ospreay would again address the issue of Okada;
“It’s about coming full circle. He stopped me in the Tokyo Dome. Stopped the United Empire’s momentum.”
Will Ospreay 02/05/2021 (https://www.njpw1972.com/96441)
continuing on that he had not slept well since;
“I’ll be honest, I haven’t slept well since. I’ve watched that match over and over again, and I don’t know where I went wrong. He was just better that night. But I’ve grown, become champion, and now I call the shots. So I want Okada, and I want him at the Tokyo Dome.
Will Ospreay 02/05/2021 (https://www.njpw1972.com/96441)
Now Ospreay has his chance at revenge his chance to finally defeat Kazuchica Okada at the Tokyo Dome but now that he has champion history is against them with most former champions failing to defend their championship in the first defence at Tokyo Dome. Ospreay would address this;
“I don’t like saying the truth sometimes, because the truth hurts. But sometimes it’s the best thing to do. The truth is, I am a level above every single person that’s ever been here before. Nobody can do the things I can do, and nobody can offer what I have to offer. Now, I can’t say, can’t 100% promise I will walk into the main event and beat Okada.”
Will Ospreay 02/05/2021 (https://www.njpw1972.com/96441)
Will Ospreay is not just focussed on Okada, Ospreay has plenty of other goals he would still like to accomplish as the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship including creating IWGP British Heavyweight Championship. Another of his continuing goals is his focus on increasing awareness of Bushi Road’s Joshi wrestling brand World Wonder Ring Stardom including creating a Joshi unit for the United Empire in Stardom;
“I talked about STARDOM; I’m a huge supporter of women’s wrestling and if I can get United Empire some presence there and bring more eyes to them, that would be incredibly exciting.”
Will Ospreay 02/05/2021 (https://www.njpw1972.com/96441)
Will Ospreay still has plenty of goals but first he will have to overcome his NJPW Mentor Kazuchica Okada at the Tokyo Dome on May 29th at Grand Slam.
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