Will Ospreay shares insights on American fans, his favorite AEW match, the Ricochet feud, and more in an engaging interview .Giang

All Elite Wrestling has made a lot of important signings since its inception, but one could argue Will Ospreay is going to prove to be the most valuable.

The former IWGP champion came into AEW with more than a decade of experience under his belt after working around the world for promotions such as Progress Wrestling, Rev Pro and New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

Ever since arriving on the scene in AEW, fans have taken to The Aerial Assassin and made him one of the most popular stars on the roster. Every time his entrance music plays, everyone in the arena is on their feet.

Ospreay is the current international champion and will put his belt on the line Wednesday when he takes on AEW’s newest hire and his longtime friend, Ricochet.

We had a chance to speak with Billy Goat about the difference between American and international fans, his travel schedule, his favorite AEW opponent and much more.

When Ospreay signed with AEW, it was big news because it meant he would be working for an American promotion full-time for the first time in his career.

While spending time working primarily in Europe and Japan, U.S. fans were clamoring to see more of The Aerial Assassin for years.

For Ospreay, working in front of big crowds is nothing new, but when asked what has surprised him about working in AEW, he said it was how different American fans are from those in Europe and Japan.

“Working in America in front of American fans,” he said. “Even in the days when I would pop in to do my trips in AEW when I was with New Japan, I felt like people knew me, but only like a smattering, maybe. I feel like maybe it took a little time for people to understand who I was.

“Coming over has been incredible. I can’t tell you enough. I feel so accepted by their community and their fanbase. I can’t believe how lucky I am to have their support. It’s been crazy, to be honest with you.

“From what Japan is and what England is, the fanbase is so different in the way that it shows its support. I’m so grateful and thankful that I do have this connection with the American audience.

“I remember when I was facing Bryan Danielson and I was face-to-face with him. The bell hadn’t even rung and they were chanting ‘Holy s–t.’ I’ve never had that before. And then when the bell rang, it was like a real football environment. I felt like I was in a football stadium.”

Ospreay may be working for an American promotion, but he still resides in the UK, which means international flights are now a weekly occurrence.

“For me, I’ve kind of got it into a little sway now,” he said. “People need to remember when I used to go to Japan, the flight was 15 hours and then you would stay there for about four weeks or five weeks.

“The longest flight I’ve done to America is I think 11. It does put a lot of pressure on my back flying constantly, but the medical team we’ve got at AEW are so good and they have properly looked after me.

“I’ll be honest with you, I don’t mind it. When it comes to travel, you have to learn to love it. When it comes to flying, I see it as meditation.

“Life is constant noise, so that time that I do get in the airplane, sometimes I have a little bit of a meditation and I get to be really thankful for everything that’s going on. No one in wrestling has the travel schedule that I have, and I take that with so much gratitude and I’m thankful for it, so I always want to perform the best I can.

“I look at the amazing family I’ve got at home and just think this is such a blessed life and I would be a fool to complain about this. I cannot believe how lucky I am in this situation. It is a lot of pressure on my body, but I’m still working at a top level.

“This year especially. I don’t know how to put on a bad match, quite frankly [laughs]. I’ve been really enjoying it and I’ve just been knocking it out of the park. As long as I can keep performing at that very high level, I’m gonna be happy.”

With so much flight time every week, finding ways to fill that time is important. For Ospreay, music, movies and podcasts have been his in-flight entertainment.

“I move about a bit because you’ve got to move about on those long flights,” he said. “I try to get some rest on there. I watch some movies sometimes. I download a bunch of films. I download a bunch of comedy, as well.

“I can’t say I listen to audiobooks. I listen to podcasts quite a lot, but I’ll be honest with you, I’m really into 1970s country music right now. I’ll have my headphones on and I’m listening to Sammy Johns and just enjoying listening to ‘Chevy Van.’

“I was playing it for the wife a little while ago, and I said ‘Now imagine being in some bar in Nashville somewhere.’ And she was like ‘To be fair, that’s a vibe.’ And I was like ‘Exactly!’

“Honestly, I like all styles of music. If I can recommend any album right now, Purple Disco Machine’s ‘Exotica’ changed my life. It’s one of the happiest albums I’ve ever listened to.”

Since arriving in AEW, Ospreay has faced numerous opponents. Every single one of his matches has been well-received by fans, but one AEW contest stands out above the rest.

“Honestly, the Bryan Danielson one just because I’ve never felt anything like it in my entire life,” he said. “I was a Bryan Danielson fan. I loved watching him wrestle. There are so many emotional moments in my life when I’ve genuinely watched him and shed a tear for how good it was.

“If anyone ever doubted themselves and just wanted to pursue it for the love of it, no matter what, pursue your dreams because, honestly, wrestling Bryan Danielson is one of the most incredible moments of my life.”

When asked if he has any potential dream opponents in AEW, Ospreay singled out one man already nearing legendary status.

“Adam Copeland is a big one,” he said. “Prior to his injury, he was performing at a level I’ve never seen him perform at. He fits in with what the AEW style is.

“To have him around as a real good coach backstage as well, he’s helped out so many of us with advice. I really do like his presence and I really do think his heart is in AEW. I want to test him as much as I want him to test me.”

AEW has many high-flying performers on its roster, but there are a few who are already regarded as living legends. Ospreay and PAC are in that category, and Ricochet recently joined them.

“My story with Ricochet goes back to when I first started pro wrestling,” Ospreay said. “When I was in England, he was the first foreigner I’ve ever wrestled in my entire life, and he was such a big inspiration.

“I used to watch all of his matches from IWA Midsouth. I’ve seen his matches in Chikara. I was a huge Dragon Gate fan, as well. Watching him in Dragon Gate against PAC was some of the most ridiculous matches I’ve ever seen.

“It felt like these guys created such a bridge for guys of our body type and our athletic ability. Everyone said Ricochet was the best in the world and I believe it. Every time we got to wrestle each other, I got to test myself. I got to learn from him. He’s one of my good friends and there’s so much love between us and respect.”

Ricochet and Ospreay are set to do battle on Wednesday’s Dynamite. It’s no exaggeration to say this is one of the most anticipated matches in AEW history for both the fans and The Aerial Assassin.

“Wrestling can be whatever you want it to be as long as it’s done at the highest of levels,” he said. “When I performed against Ricochet, I’ve won, but there have been many times when I’ve performed at a high-level show and he’s won.

“It’s been such a back-and-forth competition and I do believe our careers have gone in two separate ways. I’m excited because, right now, I just don’t think there is anybody in the wrestling world who is performing at the level that I’m performing at, especially after that PAC match that I had at All Out, there’s a high bar for Ricochet to now clear.

“So, I hope he comes in with the mindset of wanting to take the throne and be remembered and revered as one of the greatest who has ever done it because he is in that category. But to get there, he’s got to go through me, and that’s where I’m very confident in my abilities.

“As much as I want him to remind himself of who he is, I’m a realist and I’m one of the greatest professional wrestlers to lace up a pair of boots.”

At this year’s All In, Ospreay made a special entrance that incorporated elements from his favorite video game series, Assassin’s Creed.

The 31-year-old has been incorporating bits from the series into his character, such as his hooded ring jackets and naming his finisher after an assassin’s signature weapon, the Hidden Blade.

We usually end our AEW interviews with a movie review, but since we were talking to The Aerial Assassin, we had to discuss his fandom for the games.

Ospreay discussed getting into the series with Revelations, liking Assassin’s Creed 3 the most, incorporating elements from the series into his character, and much more.