Will Ospreay: The Death Riders Gave My Character An Edge

Jon Moxley and the Death Riders put Will Ospreay out of action in August 2025, sidelining him for seven months with a neck injury.

When Ospreay returned, he was out for revenge. His revenge was stopped at AEW Dynasty when Moxley defeated Ospreay. The loss led to the Death Riders helping Ospreay, who would go on to join the group.

In the end, Ospreay would reject the Death Riders way of doing things as he prepared for his AEW World Title bout against Kenny Omega at All In.

Speaking to Jon Alba of SI’s The Takedown, Ospreay was asked what the story did for him.

“I think it’s given my character a little bit of an edge. Throughout my time in AEW, after the Bryan Daniels Tiger Driver, there has been hesitation from me, and it’s because there is an element of humanity about me where I am a dad now and I don’t want people to go back to their families all messed up. After Jon broke my neck, there was nothing but rage and revenge on my mind. The moment I came back, there was no game plan or strategy; it was just go in and take his head,” he said.

Speaking about his loss to Moxley, he commented, “That, for me, has completely derailed everything I ever wanted because in my head it was ‘beat Moxley, go to Wembley.’ Instead, I had this moment of, ‘I don’t think my body is capable of being able to put out the old Will Ospreay. I need to find a new one.'”

He continued, discussing the moment the Death Riders saved him from Mark Davis.

“It was a crazy moment for the guys who took away my old life, give me a new one. It’s given my character an edge and more ground to work with, where, before, I would steer away from that because it’s not something I found comfort and confidence in. Now, I found a new layer to my character. My character has morals and lines he will not cross, but the hesitation has completely gone.”

Ospreay vs. Moxley will headline AEW All In on Sunday.

While making the media rounds, Ospreay discussed the importance of headlining Wembley. You can find his full comments here.

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