Will Ospreay Questions Kenny Omega’s Mental Toughness Ahead Of Wrestle Kingdom 17

Ahead of their highly anticipated clash at Wrestle Kingdom 17, Will Ospreay has continued to fire shots at long-time rival Kenny Omega.

Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay have been locked in a war of words for months, but the talking will soon stop at Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4th. Omega laid down the challenge to Ospreay via a video message at JPW x STARDOM Historic X-Over, and the tension has only increased in the weeks since.

Although Kenny Omega cemented his status as one of the premiere wrestlers in the world in NJPW, he had long since left the promotion by the time the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. However, British star Ospreay continued to perform with the company despite the many challenges doing so presented.

Speaking in a new interview with Inside The Ropes’ Liam Wyatt, Ospreay claimed that Omega wouldn’t have had the mental toughness to endure what he did during that period.

“I think the one thing that people can’t take away is that Kenny never wrestled in pandemic era New Japan Pro Wrestling – and it was hell. It wasn’t even just the wrestling – it was not being able to hear the fans, it was whenever we flew over that we had to do two weeks isolation in a room no bigger than the wrestling ring that we compete in. It was restaurants not being open till late, so then you’d finish a match and not eat, so you’d have to wake up super early to find like some convenient food and stuff like that.

I don’t think Kenny had the mental state to be able to endure that. I have. And not only have I endured that, I’ve surpassed any expectations that people had of me. I was able to win the New Japan cup, I was able to win the World Heavyweight Championship, I’ve done a phenomenal job in the G1, and now I’m standing as the United States Champion.”

You can watch all of the action from Night One of Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4th with English commentary on New Japan’s streaming service, NJPW World.

H/t to Inside The Ropes.