Exclusive: Will Ospreay Reveals Goal for AEW 'All In Texas,' Praises Young Bucks, 'Hangman' Page, and Jon Moxley Storyline

Significance of 'All In Texas'

Ospreay has been a part of some big shows, but he feels Saturday's pay-per-view event could change the landscape of his industry.

"This is super important, especially as this is going to be the first 'All In' that AEW hosts in America, and the fact that we're able to get this many people down to Globe Life Field is truly an accomplishment to all of the talent, all the producers, all the writers, Tony's [Khan] brain. The fact that we're all able to work together as a cohesive unit to culminate all these stories at this huge event that so many people want to come down and watch is incredibly important to me because if this goes well, I just think this changes wrestling."

No Stranger to Tag Team Wrestling

Most wrestling fans know Ospreay as one of the top singles stars in wrestling, but he had been in the tag team division early on in his career.

"A lot of people forget I started as a tag wrestler," Ospreay said. "I used to team up with Alex Esmail, but the real thing that I locked my teeth into in the UK was I was part of the Swords of Essex with one of my best friends, Paul Robinson."

Facing The Young Bucks

Ospreay will be teaming with a former AEW World Champion in Swerve Strickland to face The Young Bucks in a high-stakes tag team match at "All In Texas." Ospreay admits he views Matt and Nick Jackson as the greatest tag team of all time.

"I'm looking forward to seeing what myself and Swerve can do with the Bucks," Ospreay said. "The Bucks, I think, may be the GOAT tag team now. I do feel like the conversation has kind of ended now for the greatest tag team on the planet, and I do think it is The Young Bucks. Getting to do a match of this caliber with all the stakes on the line against guys that I do have a lot of respect for and I do have a lot of gratitude for is truly an honor. Between the four of us—myself, Swerve, and the Bucks—our brains work extremely different. So, I think we are going to pull out all the stops on Saturday."

Dire Stipulation

The losing team on Saturday will suffer the consequences. If The Young Bucks lose, they must relinquish their roles as EVPs of AEW. If Ospreay and Strickland fall short, they will be barred from challenging for the AEW World Championship for one year. Ospreay said there are real dangers with being out of the world title scene for a full year.

"Mate, one month can change everything in wrestling, and if you are complacent, complacency kills," Ospreay said. "I hate the idea of me not being able to be in that top spot because if you're not there, you can easily dwell into the background and other people could take your spot. I am hyper-fixated on one day becoming world champion, and I do believe I can do that. I don't want to give up that right and that opportunity to challenge for the world title. So, it's going to be an interesting development."

"Hangman" Page Was Destined for "All In Texas" Main Event

Prior to "Double or Nothing," many felt that Ospreay would be the one to challenge Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship in the main event of "All In Texas." Instead, "Hangman" Adam Page defeated Ospreay to win the men's Owen Hart Cup, securing him the world title match. Ultimately, Ospreay feels the result was destiny.

"I do feel like it was meant to be," Ospreay said. "I always say there's always time for me because I've only been in AEW for just over a year, and already I've had a great run with the International title. I've had killer matches up and down the card, my favorite one so far with Bryan Danielson. I've got time on my hands, and I'm just reserving gas at this point. So, when it is time to inevitably step into that role as world champion, I've got so much more left in the tank."

Ospreay went on to say that he will be rooting for Page to pull off the victory and free the AEW World Championship from Moxley's briefcase.

"I know how much this means to him," Ospreay said. "I think there is a personal side to it more than just a theatrical side to it. I do believe this is something so special for him, and to have the cowboy fighting for a world championship in Texas, I think you can't write a better story than that. My time will come one day, but right now I'm fully supportive of my teammate."

Rivalry Between Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada

Another marquee match scheduled for the "All In Texas" show will be the latest chapter in the highly praised feud between Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada. Ospreay witnessed the rivalry during his time in NJPW, and he was in awe.

"I was there for the first one; it was ridiculous," Ospreay said. "I think I was 23 years old. I remember standing at the back of the Tokyo Dome with Ricochet and a couple of the other lads, and we just couldn't believe what we were watching.

"We were so far back, but you could see every little bit of detail that Kenny and Okada put into their match that genuinely changed the landscape of wrestling. Even thinking about it now, it's just kind of like we probably wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for [that] incredible series of matches. Without Kenny stepping up to do that match, Chris Jericho never takes notice and doesn't come over to Japan to face Kenny Omega. Chris Jericho doesn't come over to face Kenny Omega at the next year's Tokyo Dome. Tony Khan doesn't look at that match and thinks that AEW is a possibility. It's crazy how everything is so tied and so linked."

Many fans and experts believe it will be difficult for Omega and Okada to live up to their past classics. Ospreay has faith in both "The Best Bout Machine" and "The Rainmaker."

"The bar is super high, but if I know Kenny, and I know Okada, no one puts more pressure on themselves than those two. On the night, I feel like we're going to witness something so incredibly special for Texas."

Swerve Strickland's Journey

Around this time last year, Ospreay and Strickland competed with AEW gold at stake at the conclusion of "Forbidden Door 2024." Now, Ospreay and Strickland will have their aforementioned tag team match. Ospreay has been a longtime friend of Strickland, and he always knew that the once overlooked star would shine bright eventually.

"I remember when I was teaming with Swerve up over in the UK independent scene," Ospreay said. "Me and Swerve have been boys for ages. He's always looked after me, I'll be honest with you. We've always just kind of been on the same page. We have a similar interest in what wrestling could look like and a similar flow in terms of our style and presentation.

"He used to come out to 'Ain't Nobody,' and even when we used to watch back then, I said, 'He's a star in the making, man.' A lot of people moaned about the opportunity, but people need to sometimes remember Swerve used to be on the receiving end to a lot of losses, and a lot of times he would have to be on the losing end of the stick. He ate every single one, took it on the chin. I remember the day that he said he wants to be the first Black world champion, and I think unanimously we all just went, 'Yeah, that's the guy. If it's going to be anyone, it's going to be him.' Now, he's just soared into this complete megastar."

Shift in Reception to Jon Moxley's Title Reign

When Moxley's Death Riders storyline was in full swing, many criticized it and believed things were being dragged out. As of late, AEW's business has been seeing increases, which has led some to change their opinion of Moxley's current title run. Ospreay believes fans have come around to see the crowning of a new world champion to save AEW.

"I do believe that," Ospreay said. "I'll happily say it personally. I've said it so many times, I'm not a fan of the belt being in the briefcase at all. I think it's one of the most beautiful belts in pro wrestling, and for me, when you're the champ, you parade that thing with pride, especially because it's got the logo on it. So, that when you go to do media days, you should have the belt front and center where everyone [expletive] sees it.

"Now being here, I think there is an anticipation that Moxley's clearly had a belief in, 'I know this is going to work.' At first, I feel like there was a lot of doubt, and there was a lot of things that needed to be shifted to keep fans' attention. I feel like that's done now, and I feel like it's something that a lot of fans are hyper-fixated on a day-one guy stripping that belt from the briefcase and raising it up high."

Ospreay said that many storylines in wrestling with a long-term vision often get criticized for going against the norm.

"A lot of people can say, 'I'm starting to like it now.' I feel like a lot of long-winded storylines like that, at first you don't really like it because it's not exactly card for card what the usual is," Ospreay said. "He had a vision, he stuck with it, and everyone's now finally come along for the ride. I've got to say, the excitement is definitely here. I remember when I landed, I said, 'There is something in the air this week.' If everything goes well, wrestling changes this week."

What Will Fans Say About AEW After "All In Texas?"

Ospreay has high expectations for AEW's biggest North American show to date. Ahead of Saturday, he revealed his ultimate goal by the time "All In Texas" wraps up.

"I hope we are a part of something incredibly special," Ospreay said. "There's not one match on this card where you can say, 'This guy needs time, and that guy needs time, and these girls need time.' Every match is truly special and has stakes to it and stories all culminating and also looking towards the future as well.

"Of course, I'm gunning, and I'm aiming to steal the show from everybody and just go as balls to the wall as physically possible, but as a team, I feel like we've all collaborated. Every single person on our roster have all spoken to one another and are tuned in to what is going to make the show better. We're all laser-locked in, and I honestly think fans are going to walk away from this going, 'Wherever All In goes next, I'm going to travel for it.'"