Both Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez of The Wrestling Observer’s “Wrestling Observer Radio” had extremely complimentary things to say about Will Ospreay after he became victorious in the Best Of The Super Juniors tournament against Shingo Takagi to become the winner of the famed event. Meltzer compares this victory to the rise of Kenny Omega after winning the G1 Climax back in 2016 while Alvarez praises Ospreay for working a well-balanced and safer style. Quotes are below:
Dave Meltzer on Will Ospreay’s BOSJ victory:
“This reminded me of the night that Omega won the G1 in 2016 where it’s like, ‘Oh yeah, he’s a great worker and we all know he’s a great worker and he has great matches,” but his promos. His promo on Monday night was so great and his promo tonight, he did two of them, he did the one after the match and the one backstage. The one after was great, in front of the fans, the one backstage was very human and also great. He’s a great worker, he’s maybe the best worker in the business right now, but there’s a difference between being a great worker and being a guy who can carry a promotion or a guy who’s like a superstar and today was the day where I think he stepped from one category into the other.”
Meltzer on it ranking up as one of the best matches of the year so far:
“It killed everything on Takeover except Adam Cole and Johnny Gargano. I thought it was better than Adam Cole and Johnny Gargano, but it’s different. You’re talking different matches. This was much better storytelling and it was much better spectacular moves wise…”
Bryan Alvarez praising Ospreay for working a well-balanced, safer match than what we’re used to seeing from him:
“He was so great in this match, he was like the best in the world on this particular day and he didn’t do anything stupid in this match. He didn’t land on his head one time. He had all of his athleticism, he had great selling, I mean I don’t want to take anything away from Shingo, but I was just watching Ospreay this entire match, he was just out of this world. I mean it was an unbelievably fantastic match and it was largely, a very safe match compared to some of the things he’s done in the past.”
Meltzer and Alvarez continue:
Meltzer: “I would say that the Will Ospreay performance on today’s show would be among the best I have ever seen.”
“I don’t think it’s close. I do not think it’s close. I didn’t think that we’d see a guy better than Okada for years, but he’s so athletic to go with everything else and I just hope his body doesn’t break down, of course we always said that but God he’s working so much smarter this year than last year.”
Alvarez: “He is working so much smarter but he’s put a lot of miles on his body not working smart for many years.”
Meltzer: “Right. Right.”
(Transcription credit should go to @DominicDeAngelo of WrestleZone.com)
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