Will Ospreay Discusses Possibility Of Wrestling A Bear

Will Ospreay has enjoyed a remarkable run of marquee matches in recent times, becoming one of the most recognisable talents in the world. But could he step into the ring with a bear?

IWGP United Kingdom Champion Will Ospreay has taken on all comers in the squared circle, including recent outings with the likes of Zack Sabre Jr and Chris Jericho. Until now he has never been linked to a match with a furry beast, however.

During a recent appearance on The Battleground Podcast, Will Ospreay was asked how he thought he would fare against a bear and provided mixed views about a potential bout:

“Yeah, I think I could do a suplex on a bear, but then I think the bear would f**k me shortly after, But what type of bear is it? If it’s a polar bear, you’re f**ked; if it’s a brown bear, you might have a chance.

If it’s a grizzly bear, that’s a bad bear. A black bear is kind of an ask to do it on as well. A koala bear easily, it depends on the bear.”

Bear Once Linked To WWE Bout With The Rock

Bears have been used across the decades in professional wrestling, with the likes of ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper, ‘Superstar Billy Graham’ and ‘Classy’ Freddie Blassie all squaring off against a furry foe during their career.

As recently as 2000, Vince McMahon wanted to revive the showpiece. In an episode of his Something To Wrestle With podcast, WWE Executive Bruce Prichard revealed that the ‘Genetic Jackhammer’ was keen on The Rock meeting a bear on New York City’s famous Wall Street:

“The ring on Wall Street is when we moved from NASDAQ to the New York Stock Exchange. Vince came into my office on a Thursday, and I believe that it was going to be a Tuesday or a Wednesday that we were going to go and be on the New York Stock Exchange, to ring the bell on the stock exchange, and Vince wanted to put a ring in the middle of Wall Street. Shut Wall Street down and put a ring there and have matches at noon. Huge spectacle, we’re gonna go live on WWF.com.”

“So it’s like, okay, cool. I thought he was just kind of like telling me this. So that I knew that, ‘Okay, we need to put together a show, we need to come up with something.’ But what he was telling me was, ‘Hey, I want to do this, get it done. As he’s trailing off he goes, ‘…and I want a bear! I want The Rock to wrestle a bear. ‘The Brahma Bull’ versus the bear. The honest to God living wrestling bear, which used to be an attraction back in the day.”

HT: Wrestlezone for the above transcription