Will Ospreay's Final NJPW Match To Be Held Under WarGames Rules

Will Ospreay’s final match as a full-time contracted New Japan Pro-Wrestling star is fast approaching, with Ospreay set to lead his United Empire into battle against David Finlay and the Bullet Club War Dogs in a rare cage match at NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka on February 11.

After tensions between Ospreay and Finlay escalated before and after Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4, Ospreay proposed a match to settle the two groups’ differences, with Finlay later declaring he wanted it to be a WarGames rules cage match. NJPW have confirmed that Finlay will get his wish, posting the following on the official NJPW website:

“When Will Ospreay challenged David Finlay to settle the score between War Dogs and United Empire February 11 in Osaka, Finlay was quick to demand a steel cage for this blood feud between the two teams and for Ospreay’s final outing as part of the NJPW roster. What Finlay didn’t present at the time was the exact rules of the cage bout, which are now official after backstage comments from the IWGP Global Champion this week in Korakuen Hall.

“In a format similar to team cage matches overseas, the match will begin as a singles contest, with a new member added to the match every two minutes. Finlay has declared that the War Dogs will have the advantage, his wrestlers making their entrance first and alternating until all ten men are in the match. From that point on, a pinfall or submission will decide the bout.

“Finlay has requested that Ospreay start opposite him in Osaka, but time will tell; after Ospreay has been absent from action since January, War Dogs have gained a significant physical and mental advantage, and although Jeff Cobb, HENARE and Francesco Akira will all be part of the lineup as planned, the damage done to all three in recent weeks will see the War Dogs at a distinct advantage Sunday. Who will survive the steel cage?”

WarGames was a Dusty Rhodes creation in Jim Crockett promotions and WCW, and whilst other promotions such as AEW run their own version of the infamous gimmick, WWE currently holds the copyright on the name ‘WarGames’.

Ospreay is set to start with All Elite Wrestling full-time later in February.