Will Ospreay may be a big star in AEW today but he cut his teeth as a young, talented upstart in RevPro in England when he wasn’t the man he’d later become.
The Englishman debuted for the company in 2013 and went on to win every championship available to him.
This includes a record 919-day reign as Undisputed British Heavyweight Champion as he helped keep the company afloat during the pandemic.
He left the company in 2024 for AEW as a hero, losing to Michael Oku on the way out. Will Ospreay was celebrated as a hero and a leader and is arguably the greatest wrestler RevPro have ever had.
Will Ospreay thinks he let RevPro down but admits it helped him mature into a man
While his time in RevPro was hugely successful, Will Ospreay’s time in the promotion was not all positive.
The young star struggled with immaturity during his time in Britain, as he explained in the “RevPro: How To Start A Revolution” documentary.
He explained that he “dropped the ball” many times in the company, but booker Andy Quildan still kept faith in a young Will Ospreay.
“I feel like there are so many times that I dropped the ball and I’m aware that I dropped the ball, and having to come back to RevPro with my tail between my legs, having to prove myself not only to the wrestlers, but to fans and to Andy.” Will Ospreay told the cameras.
Michael Oku (c) vs. Will Ospreay – RevPro High Stakes 2024 (2.18.2024)
— headskull (@awesomePuro) February 19, 2024
RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship#HighStakes2024 pic.twitter.com/ypL1BgyL2L
“Because Andy’s the one that got me over to New Japan in the first place. And there’s so many times that I feel like I’ve let him down, whether it was from anything that I did on social media, to even attitude backstage.”
“So he’s allowed me to, just to grow up. I feel like he’s allowed me to be a young man in wrestling and slowly mature.”
Ospreay has fond memories of RevPro but his match with Vader wasn’t one of them
While RevPro held some happy memories for Will Ospreay, his “dream” match with Vader from RevPro Uprising 2016 was not one of them.
Will Ospreay vs Vader is a match that sounds like something from WWE 2K25. However, it really happened in 2016, decades after the former WCW Champion’s prime.
He politicked his way into the match after online criticism of Will Ospreay vs Ricochet in New Japan. Andy Quildan quickly booked Ospreay to battle Vader, with the American star picking up the win after a poor match.
The result wasn’t ideal for the young Will Ospreay but the match itself was also a tough experience for him.
Speaking with Fightful, Will Ospreay revealed that he “hated” his match against Vader, calling it a “horrible experience with a horrible dude”.
“I really don’t like speaking ill of the dead, but that Vader match, I f**king hated,” Will Ospreay said.
“It was just a horrible experience with a horrible dude. I wish nothing ill on him and I hope his family are well, but he just wasn’t kind to work with. That’s all, that’s it.”
This match was just one tough experience that helped shape Will Ospreay into the man he is today. Without the match with Vader in RevPro, it’s unlikely he’d be the huge star in AEW that Ospreay is today.
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A New Chapter at AEW Revolution 2025
Now, Ospreay is gearing up for a huge match at AEW Revolution 2025 where he’ll face fellow RevPro standout Kyle Fletcher in a steel cage match.
This marks a new chapter in Ospreay’s career, showcasing how far he’s come since his time in RevPro. This will also be the rubber match between the pair with both men holding a recent victory over one another.
#AEWRevolution
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 3, 2025
THIS SUNDAY LIVE on PPV@cryptocomarena Los Angeles
Steel Cage Match
Will Ospreay vs Kyle Fletcher
Two bitter enemies locked in a STEEL CAGE, bruv! @WillOspreay faces @TheDonCallis Family's @KyleFletcherPro 1-on-1 at #AEW Revolution! pic.twitter.com/L1Wne05SZA
The stakes are high, and Ospreay will undoubtedly bring everything he’s learned from his time in RevPro to this major event.
It’s a full-circle moment that highlights how his evolution in the British scene laid the groundwork for his success on the world stage.
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