Will Ospreay on why he chose AEW over WWE, what Ric Flair said to him backstage at Revolution

Join us at the Fifth Annual 80s Wrestling Con on Saturday, May 4th, at the Mennen Sports Arena in Morristown, NJ, featuring The Four Horsemen, Jake Roberts, and More! 80sWrestlingCon.com.

One of AEW's newest major signings WIll Ospreay was recently on Talk Is Jericho to talk about his reasoning for signing with AEW after offers from WWE.

Will Ospreay on why he chose to sign with AEW:

“The main thing was because I wanted to be in the UK. I know I'm not going to be exactly comfortable moving to another country. I moved to Japan back in 2019. As much as I loved it, it just wasn't home. I entered a new relationship. She wrestles under the name Alex Windsor and we have a stepson, or she has a son. I have a stepson now. If you know her story and anything that she's been through, she lost her husband and having to pick yourself up from that and being a mom, a single mom losing her husband is going to have some tolls on you so you're going to need to be around her family. You need to be around her friends and her social circle. I couldn't bear the thought of moving her away from all of that and having her own again. So for me, the main priority was to stay in the UK but also I wanted to up the wrestling now because I've done everything in New Japan. I completed it. So the viable option was, where was I happy and what was I doing, and every time I came here, Tony has given me nothing but trust and respect the moment I came in here. It was the right decision for me at this time. I'm happy here. I'm looking forward to the challenges and it's the right decision.”

Will Ospreay on if he had talks with WWE before deciding on AEW:

“Yea, of course, but it was night and day. Even in the differences in what they were offering and what AEW was offering, AEW was way better. The scheduling and everything about AEW was completely the right option for me and it was almost this kind of like, you can go be a superstar in WWE and be famous, but it's not as good in pay and it's not as kind on the schedule. I respect everyone there doing it, but this is not for me.”

On Ric Flair complimenting him after his match at AEW Revolution:

"He came backstage. My ass was killing me. I came back and I planted myself down and I was crying. He went, 'Mr. Ospreay’, and he took my hand. I looked up and it was Ric. I stood up and I was like, 'Yes, sir.' He was like, 'You are everything I've heard of and more. You're the best guy here right now."

If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Talk Is Jericho with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription. Quotes were transcribed by Jim for WrestlingNews.co.