{"id":10879,"date":"2017-12-15T23:00:41","date_gmt":"2017-12-16T04:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=10879"},"modified":"2017-12-15T23:00:41","modified_gmt":"2017-12-16T04:00:41","slug":"will-ospreay-done-ring-honor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2017\/12\/15\/will-ospreay-done-ring-honor\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Will Ospreay About To Be A Free Agent?"},"content":{"rendered":"

There’s been a pattern of events transpiring that could potentially be indicating that UK indie sensation Will Ospreay<\/strong> could be a free agent heading into 2018. While Ospreay signed a 2-year exclusive contract with Ring of Honor\/NJPW<\/strong> on December 1, 2016 and thus would be contracted until December 1, 2017, there are definitely ways to get around that. A release could have been granted, an option exercised, a buyout. It’s still too early to say with conclusivity, but here’s some of the indicators that Ospreay could be leaving Ring of Honor and NJPW and becoming a Cody<\/strong>-esque free agent in 2018<\/p>\n

#1. IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Okay, I’m sure people are thinking “How could winning the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title be considered a sign he’s LEAVING?” Well, here’s the thing. Yes, he won it. First UK born man to do so. But you know what other record he set? Shortest reign ever. At only 27 days. (Okay, that’s not entirely true. Juventud Guerrera<\/strong> held it for 7 days when WCW and NJPW had a partnership in the late 90s, but this was done by WCW and NJPW ignored this for decades). New Japan is known for lengthy reigns by champions and to cut off some like Ospreay, who was a standout in the past two NJPW Best of the Super Juniors<\/strong><\/em> (winning the 2016 edition), seems like an odd decision. Now if it was WWE, we’d expect that, but New Japan traditionally likes the reigns to be more prestigiously protected.<\/p>\n

#2. THE LIST III<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Photo: ROH<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Last year it was Cody Rhodes<\/strong>, and a few days ago James Ellsworth<\/strong> made one<\/a>, but this week Ospreay also released a list of wrestlers he wanted to have in 2018. While several are definitely achievable under his current NJPW and ROH deals, most of them are not. PAC<\/strong> is WWE’s Neville<\/strong>, and if he is indeed staying with the WWE as recent reports indicate, there’s very limited options of where that could be – NXT,<\/strong> Raw<\/strong><\/em> or Smackdown<\/strong><\/em> (or the WWE UK show if it happens). Now, Ospreay\u00a0could\u00a0<\/em>be holding out for a possible release (hence the PAC name mentioned) but WWE could also land him his match with Tyler Bate<\/strong>. Granted, Bate could easily get that match on the UK BritWres circuit. After all, there’s plenty of UK talent on there, like Otami<\/strong> (who wrestles for Ospreay’s own Lucha Forever<\/strong>, plus Trent Seven’<\/strong>s Fight Club: PRO<\/strong> amongst others), Manchester’s Bubblegum<\/strong> (Preston City Wrestling, Southside Wrestling Entertainment<\/strong>, etc.) and IPW:UK\/PROGRESS<\/strong> youth sensation, 17-year old Maverick Mayhew<\/strong>. He’s got some Australasian talent, like Mr. Juicy, Jonah Rock<\/strong> and Dowie James<\/strong> as well. Ibushi<\/strong> wrestles for NJPW, but that could be taken care of soon. Low Ki<\/strong> has been hitting Europe lately and could easily meet up in one of the UK promotions – he wrestled for Fight Club: PRO at the beginning of December. That leaves Moose, Davey Richards, Dezmond Xavier<\/strong> and Naomichi Marufuji<\/strong>. And what’s the common denominator for all four? Impact Wrestling<\/strong>. Richards is technically retired, but it’s quite possible he could be lured out for one more match or run with a Career Match with the last major promotion Richards performed with. And Marufuji, while wrestling for Pro Wrestling NOAH<\/strong>, has been a featured star with Impact the past year as part of their alliance. Moose and Xavier both work indies as well, but both are featured stars with Impact currently. Adding Ospreay to be the new face of the X-Division, against such stars as Xavier or Marufuji, would be a huge step in rebuilding that division. Ospreay would instantly become their new AJ Styles<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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2018. These matches have never happened. Please let\u2019s make them happen. pic.twitter.com\/SSMJVHCfqw<\/a><\/p>\n

— Will Ospreay \u2022 \u30a6\u30a3\u30eb\u30fb\u30aa\u30b9\u30d7\u30ec\u30a4 (@WillOspreay) December 13, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n