Will Ospreay To Return To NJPW When Medically Cleared, United Empire Stops Callum Newman From Attacking Ospreay

Callum Newman was looking to target Ospreay.

On the bill for NJPW New Year Dash was an eight-man tag team match that saw United Empire (Jake Lee, Callum Newman, HENARE & Great-O-Khan) pick up a win over David Finlay, Drilla Moloney, Shingo Takagi and Yota Tsuji.

After the bout, Finlay was trying to go after Newman but was being held back by Gedo and the Young Lions, who were ringside. Newman stated that the current United Empire is not the version of the group that Finlay left to crumble. He stated that it’s a new United Empire, and coming out to the ring was former United Empire leader and current AEW talent Will Ospreay.

Finlay and Ospreay locked eyes, and Gedo walked Finlay away. Ospreay greeted HENARE and O-Khan but did not greet Jake Lee. Newman had the mic ready for Ospreay.

He spoke directly to Newman and said Newman is like his little brother, and Ospreay did not realize that him leaving NJPW would cause United Empire to go through the struggles they did. He added that he wants to make things right.

Ospreay underwent surgery in 2025 for a neck injury. He stated that when he’s medically cleared, he’s going to handle business in AEW first, and then he’ll be back in New Japan. He stated that he’s coming back to support Newman, and they’ll take over New Japan as United Empire, and they’ll do it Newman’s way. Newman was reluctant to hug Ospreay, but he did it.

Ospreay asked everyone to throw up the United Empire hand signal, but Newman didn’t. Callum proceeded to grab a chair, but HENARE and O-Khan stopped him from using it. Ospreay did not see that unfold, but he did see Newman storm out of the ring.

Before Wrestle Kingdom 20, Newman did an interview with NJPW1972.com and spoke about how United Empire fell apart after Ospreay left NJPW.