5 Dream matches for Will Ospreay in MLW

Will Ospreay will be debuting in MLW this December.
Will Ospreay will be debuting in MLW this December.

After making his presence known in NJPW and Revolution Pro, Will Ospreay will debut in MLW this December. The "real" IWGP World Heavyweight Champion is the leader of the United Empire and has firmly cemented their spot as one of the top stables in wrestling.

MLW has garnered attention with its debut on Vice TV last Wednesday with the Fightland event. Major League Wrestling will be in front of its biggest audience on the new network. MLW wrestlers must be excited to welcome a superstar of the caliber of Will Ospreay, who presents plenty of first-time matchups fans want to see.

With just two months away from Will Ospreay's arrival, it's an ideal time to look at all the potentially high-profile encounters that the Aerial Assassin presents in MLW. In this article, let's take a look at the five dream matches for Will Ospreay in MLW.


5) Calvin Tankman – MLW

Calvin Tankman has been a rising star in MLW since his arrival last year. Heavyweight Hustle was a standout on the independent scene and has taken Major League Wrestling by storm. He has beaten the likes of Zenshi and Laredo Kid since his arrival, as well as a recent victory over AEW's Lee Moriarty.

Will Ospreay officially moved from the junior heavyweight division to the heavyweights last year. He immediately scored one of his biggest wins over Zack Sabre Jr. to win the Revolution Pro British Heavyweight Championship. Since then, he won the 2021 New Japan Cup and parlayed that to a victory over Kota Ibushi to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

Tankman has plenty of experience against smaller, agile opponents and could present a different challenge for Ospreay in MLW. Calvin is often the base for athletic challengers that fly all over before he smacks them out of the air. Ospreay will have to utilize his quickness and agility to overcome Heavyweight Hustle.

These two men have such diverse styles that could mesh well to create magic. Calvin Tankman has sneaky athleticism for a man of his size and a hard-hitting arsenal that could score him a knockout win. There aren't many in MLW that could provide such a formidable challenge for WIll Ospreay.

4) Myron Reed – MLW

Myron Reed might be the most underappreciated star in MLW. The Young GOAT is a gifted high flyer who has beaten the best in the middleweight division. He was the longest-reigning MLW Middleweight Champion and scored victories against the likes of Lio Rush, Laredo Kid, and Brian Pillman Jr.

Myron Reed is part of one of MLW's signature factions, The Injustice. Reed and Jordan Oliver are often regarded as the future of Major League Wrestling. Will Ospreay could be setting the groundwork for an eventual arrival of the United Empire in MLW, which would make a rivalry with Reed that much more intriguing.

Myron Reed is the type of competitor who can match up well with Will Ospreay's breathtaking aerial offense. Since moving up to the heavyweight division, Ospreay has shown that he's not just a one-dimensional performer but can beat his opponents in different ways. He can showcase technical wrestling ability, as well as hard-hitting strikes, to set up for his Storm Breaker finisher.

Will Ospreay would have the strength advantage against Myron Reed, so the former MLW Middleweight Champion may need to use his speed to keep Ospreay on his heels. This might be the most evenly balanced challenge for the Commonwealth Kingpin and a guaranteed show-stealer.

3) Davey Richards – MLW

Davey Richards's return to pro wrestling surprised fans. He was one of the top picks in the MLW 2021 Open Draft. Richards was an independent standout, former two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, and former five-time TNA World Tag Team Champion with Eddie Edwards as the Wolves.

After a hiatus of several years, Davey Richards has made his return to the business for MLW. He is immediately one of the best wrestlers on the roster. Richards is a versatile performer who is a skilled striker and a technical wrestling expert. He can get the job done in a multitude of ways inside the squared circle.

Will Ospreay vs. Davey Richards is a mouth-watering encounter that many fans will be anticipating. Ospreay matches up well with competitors who are similar to Richards and has to look at Davey as one of the dream matches that he has wanted for years. This has to be at the top of the list for MLW to put on with Ospreay debuting.

Will Ospreay will be looking to prove himself as the "real" IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Defending that title in MLW would add prestige and credence to his claim with Shingo Takagi currently active as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion back in Japan for NJPW. A successful defense against Davey Richards will be just the thing Ospreay needs.

2) Alexander Hammerstone – MLW

As previously mentioned, MLW made its debut on Vice TV with the Fightland event. The main event saw Alexander Hammerstone defeat Jacob Fatu to win the MLW Heavyweight Championship and unify the title with his National Openweight Championship. It was hyped as one of the biggest matches in the promotion's history.

Hammerstone has been firing on all cylinders and gained plenty of momentum over the past year. His win signified him becoming the man in Major League Wrestling. This is a spot that will immediately be challenged by the presence of the "real" IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay.

For Ospreay, he will be looking at the top dogs of MLW. Will Ospreay was on a tear to start 2021 with many excellent encounters. He stole the show on Night 1 of NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 with Kazuchika Okada.

Ospreay followed it up with tremendous bouts with Zack Sabre Jr., David Finlay, and Shingo Takagi in the 2021 New Japan Cup. He then had an all-time classic against Takagi in his first and only defense of the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestling Dontaku. He will be looking to add more fantastic contests to his catalog in MLW, and Hammerstone could provide that.

1) Jacob Fatu – MLW

Although Alexander Hammerstone is the new MLW Heavyweight Champion, Jacob Fatu could still stake his claim to being the top star in the promotion. For well over two years, Fatu held the gold while defeating Tom Lawlor, LA Park, Calvin Tankman, Davey Boy Smith Jr., and many more.

Jacob Fatu is a member of the Anoa'i family. He was trained by his uncle Rikishi and is the son of Sam Fatu. His cousins are the current SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos and current WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.

MLW would be hardpressed to find another star who they can build the company around quite like Jacob Fatu. With Will Ospreay about to debut, Fatu may see this as a direct challenge to his supremacy. Ospreay has never been across the ring with an opponent like Jacob Fatu.

The former MLW Heavyweight Champion weighs over 280 lbs but moves like a cruiserweight. The agility that Fatu possesses is quite amazing. His double jump moonsault finisher is impressive every single time he pulls it off. Jacob Fatu also has a great deal of strength and shows off his power in astounding ways.

The mix of unreal athleticism and exceptional power is something that Ospreay might not be ready for. Ospreay will have the speed and agility advantage over Fatu, but his Storm Breaker finisher may not be possible against the big man. Will Ospreay will have to break out his Oscutter or 630 Senton to find a way to beat Fatu.

This might be the most ready-made encounter for Ospreay's impending debut. Jacob Fatu has all the attributes needed to compete with a star on the level of Ospreay. A battle with Ospreay will elevate Fatu in a major way. That's why Jacob Fatu is the biggest dream match for Will Ospreay in MLW.

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