Report: Chris Jericho Tried To Bring NJPW Star Will Ospreay To AEW
The forbidden door almost creaked open...
During the build to Wrestle Kingdom 14, both Hiroshi Tanahashi and Chris Jericho talked about opening "the forbidden door" between All Elite Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling. They even set the stipulation that if The Ace Of The Universe defeated Jericho on January 5, he would earn a shot at the AEW World Championship.
Ultimately, Le Champion emerged victorious, closing the forbidden door for now. This hasn't stopped Jericho from trying to strike up a working relationship with New Japan's talent, however. Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that The Painmaker tried to bring former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay to AEW. The plan would have been for Ospreay to do a program with Jericho for the AEW World title between his tours in Japan.
The Ariel Assassin ultimately rejected the offer as he is "100 percent loyal to New Japan right now."
Ospreay's girlfriend Bea Priestley already has a similar arrangement with AEW, whereby she works in the US between her Stardom dates. She is currently the Goddess Of Stardom Champion with Jamie Hayter.
For the avoidance of doubt, Meltzer penned: "Chris Jericho tried to get Ospreay to take some AEW dates and do a program with him for the AEW title in the U.S. between Japan tours but Ospreay is 100 percent loyal to New Japan right now."
Ultimately, Le Champion emerged victorious, closing the forbidden door for now. This hasn't stopped Jericho from trying to strike up a working relationship with New Japan's talent, however. Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that The Painmaker tried to bring former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay to AEW. The plan would have been for Ospreay to do a program with Jericho for the AEW World title between his tours in Japan.
The Ariel Assassin ultimately rejected the offer as he is "100 percent loyal to New Japan right now."
Ospreay's girlfriend Bea Priestley already has a similar arrangement with AEW, whereby she works in the US between her Stardom dates. She is currently the Goddess Of Stardom Champion with Jamie Hayter.
For the avoidance of doubt, Meltzer penned: "Chris Jericho tried to get Ospreay to take some AEW dates and do a program with him for the AEW title in the U.S. between Japan tours but Ospreay is 100 percent loyal to New Japan right now."
Written by Aidan Gibbons
Editor-in-Chief of Cultaholic.com Twitter: @theaidangibbons