Will Ospreay's young career has already turned him into one of the biggest names in indie wrestling.
In speaking with Sports Illustrated, Ospreay said that he had been thinking about wrestling for WWE and competing at WrestleMania one day. But the 23-year-old said that he is happy with being contracted by New Japan Pro Wrestling.
"I'm never going to say that WWE has not been in my mind," Ospreay said. "For anyone who ever gets into wrestling, WrestleMania is always the dream. Right now, I am over the moon with New Japan and I could stay here for another five years with all the talent coming through. Everyone backstage is a joy to work with, but WWE is on my mind, and they obviously had had interest in me. But right now I just want to learn from the best in the world in Japan."
Ospreay was offered the chance to compete for EVOLVE when Paul Heyman offered Ospreay a contract on behalf of Gabe Sapolsky. Ospreay respectfully refused, but said that he was proud of the compliments Heyman gave him when Heyman offered the contract.
"I watched Paul Heyman as I grew up, right on my TV screen, so for him to call me out and say how much of a revolutionary I am in this business, it was so surreal," Ospreay said. "Gabe Sapolsky, who was Paul Heyman's right hand guy back in the ECW days, runs EVOLVE, and they have a connection with NXT. If my contract with New Japan didn't say that I have to hand over all agreements and contracts, then I would have signed on the dot, that moment. I cannot thank Gabe Sapolsky and Paul Heyman enough – it was one of the most touching moments of my life."
Ospreay also spoke to Sports Illustrated on his feud with Vader, which finished with the two competing in a match back in August when Vader won.
