Will Ospreay's record-breaking AEW match rating explained by veteran - "I agree with him [Dave Meltzer]" (Exclusive)
Will Ospreay is considered one of the most athletic stars in not just AEW, but in the entire pro wrestling scene. His recent match rating by the Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer has invited a lot of criticism, but veteran journalist Bill Apter thinks it makes perfect sense.
Ospreay recently faced his former partner Kyle Fletcher at Full Gear in a match that garnered significant praise. As expected, The Aerial Assassin was able to work beautifully with Fletcher, delivering an entertaining showdown. The bout earned 5.25 stars from Dave Meltzer, marking a special milestone in the British performer's career.
The rating drew criticism, with fans comparing the figure to that of matches involving legendary names like Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker. On Sportskeeda's The Wrestling Time Machine, hosted by Mac Davis, Bill Apter provided a potential explanation for the decision.
"In 2024, Ospreay versus Kyle Fletcher, I saw the match, was great. It was a five and a quarter stars. I agree with him [Dave Meltzer]. But you can't put that up against the match from the '80s because it's a different style and it's a different fan (...) You can't compare." [3:20 onwards]
Ospreay vs. Fletcher at Full Gear was the highest-rated bout of the night, surpassing the match between Mercedes Mone and Kris Statlander, which earned 4.5 stars.
AEW star Will Ospreay's match apparently scared Jim Ross
Will Ospreay is known for taking high-risk bumps, and his match at Full Gear was no exception.
On the Grilling JR podcast, Jim Ross admitted that while watching the match, he was very concerned about a particular piledriver Ospreay had to take. He said:
"It was scary. I go back to my talent relations days; the worst thing that could happen is a main event-type player getting injured on a show that would require him or her to miss time. It not only adds to your medical bills on your budget, which is neither here nor there; that's not the biggest deal, but it takes somebody away from your booking.''
Thankfully, the AEW star was able to walk out of the match unscathed. It remains to be seen what is next for him in AEW.
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