Will Ospreay Wants To Defend The IWGP World Heavyweight Title Against Drew McIntyre, CM Punk
Shooting his shot
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Apr 6, 2021
Will Ospreay shocked the world over the weekend as he defeated Kota Ibushi to capture the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis.
The new champion already has one defence on the horizon and he will face Shingo Takagi at Wrestling Dontaku night two on May 4. If he manages to retain, The Commonwealth Kingpin will then face Kazuchika Okada on May 29 at Wrestle Grand Slam In Tokyo Dome.
Ospreay has title challengers outside of New Japan Pro-Wrestling on his mind, though, and he noted in his first press conference as champion that he wants to defend the gold against WWE's Drew McIntyre and CM Punk.
"I firmly believe I am the best British wrestler of all time," Ospreay said. "There is not a single British wrestler that has ever ventured to Japan and climbed to the top of the mountain. Dynamite Kid, British Bulldog, didn't get to the top of the mountain. Pete Dunne, great wrestler, didn't come close. I can name a bunch of British wrestlers who didn't do what I have done. But I would like to test myself against another British wrestler that calls himself the best. A man that held the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Drew McIntyre, he called himself the best British wrestler that ever lived, so if there was ever a chance that we could work out the visas, I'd love IWGP World Heavyweight Champion vs. WWE Champion between two British wrestlers.
"Before I was champion, a man who sparked a whole lot of interest in pro-wrestling, CM Punk said he'd like to face Will Ospreay. Now I have the biggest prize in pro-wrestling, so if you really want to prove you were the best in the world and not the best of a bad bunch, come over here and try and take this."
CM Punk vs. Will Ospreay has been talked about ever since The Straight Edge Superstar admitted he would be open to returning to the ring for a match with Ospreay. No match has been booked as of yet, though. The Ariel Assassin also has a history with Drew McIntyre and the two men previously faced off in 2017 for the WCPW Title.
