His suit and tie appearance for Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement ceremony the night before at Wrestle Kingdom 20 was Will Ospreay’s first time back in New Japan Pro-Wrestling since he signed with AEW in late 2023.
But he didn’t wait long to make his second. He was back today (Jan. 5) at New Year Dash! During the aftermath of United Empire’s win over a quartet now part of Yota Tsuji’s Unbound Company, Ospreay returned as UE’s Callum Newman had the mic during a post-match brawl. After a moment with his old rival David Finlay of War Dogs-now-Unbound Co.‘s David Finlay, Ospreay offered an update on his health.
The 32-year-old English wrestler said his return from neck surgery is still a ways off, but when it happens he wants to wrestle in AEW and New Japan:
I can’t come back right now. I still need to recover. It’s going to take me a long time, but I’m getting closer and closer. I’m getting better and better — and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. When I’m good to go, I’m going to handle some business in AEW. I’m going to come back to New Japan Pro-Wrestling.”
Ospreay’s next return to Japan involves wanting to help sort old his old stable…
… but while he was initially receptive, Newman didn’t seem interested in his old mate’s help. Great O-Khan and the just-returned HENARE stopped his steel chair attack attempt, but he stormed off alone and made it clear all is not well between himself and the Empire’s former leader.
While it seems the legacy Empire members want peace between the Prince of Pace and the Aerial Assassin, new member Jake Lee and new ally Andrade El Ídolo may side with Newman. Andrade is feuding with Unbound Co.’s Gabe Kidd, who just proposed an IWGP Global championship #1 contenders match between them for The New Beginning in Osaka on February 11.
In other AEW-related New Japan news, the triple-contracted Konosuke Takeshita was back in an NJPW ring one day after losing the IWGP World Heavyweight title to Global champ Yota Tsuji at Wrestle Kingdom 20. Takeshita teamed with his fellow Callis Family member Rocky Romero to defeat El Phantasmo & Shoma Kato. In the aftermath, recent Young Lion Kato challenged The Alpha, but in talking about his own return to New Japan, Takeshita seemed more focused on NJPW Television champion El-P…
Here are the complete results from New Year Dash!!:
AloJapan.com