{"id":224331,"date":"2026-10-28T12:54:58","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T17:54:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=224331"},"modified":"2026-10-28T12:54:58","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T17:54:58","slug":"top-five-less-than-obvious-opponents-for-will-ospreay-to-showcase-a-variety-of-match-styles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/10\/28\/top-five-less-than-obvious-opponents-for-will-ospreay-to-showcase-a-variety-of-match-styles\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Five Less-Than-Obvious Opponents for Will Ospreay to showcase a variety of match styles"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-2135460595\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"Advertisements\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p>Modern professional wrestling does a good job with the title chase and creating moments from them. Will Ospreay winning at Wembley Stadium, Stephanie Vaquer winning in Chile, and Cody Rhodes finishing his father\u2019s story are all excellent examples of pro wrestling done well. The problem comes in when it\u2019s time for the champion to have a series of credible challengers. The story doesn\u2019t end when a champion achieves their highest goal; instead, it\u2019s then time to create a legacy with that title run. I saw that as the issue with \u201cHangman\u201d Adam Page\u2019s run, and am seeing it in WWE with only having two credible contenders for Liv Morgan\u2019s Women\u2019s World Championship.<\/p>\n<p>With Will Ospreay, the company has a chance with a special performer to establish the company with real competition and a champion who is able to overcome each challenger for a long run. I want to see Osprey in matches with opponents who are different than what he usually faces. Too many of his opponents will be similar in having matches that are based in workrate. I love a five-star match, but the company has to be more. As I think about the roster and what potential awaits AEW, if it\u2019s the direction Tony Kahn and crew want to see.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Claudio Castignolli<\/h3>\n<p>This would require a split from The Death Riders. Claudio Castagnoli is a main event talent who has been a gatekeeper and tag performer for too long. The man is smart, strong, well-spoken, and knows how to build drama as a heel. If I ever decide to write my top five favorite matches, Sami Zayn vs. Cesaro in NXT will definitely be on the list.<\/p>\n<p>A strong beatdown after a full break from his faction and a heel turn, followed up with strong promos saying he\u2019s seen the best and been in the ring with them. Tear Ospreay down as a \u201chigh-spot\u201d player, then eventually make match stipulations that blows off the feud in a submission match, filling out some ground game for the champion.<\/p>\n<h3>Brian Cage<\/h3>\n<p>Another guy with main event potential, and not as damaged as who is truly like to see. I\u2019d love to see his stablemate Lance Archer have a top program. After watching through Lucha Underground recently, I was reminded of his potential as a powerhouse who works very well with a high-flying opponent.<\/p>\n<p>His look and his ring work will make him easy to see as a legitimate threat. To achieve that look, he was recently very open about his use of steroids to enhance his physique. I actually agree with his take, but it\u2019s still controversial to talk about. I hope that openness doesn\u2019t keep fans from seeing the best that the \u201cHalf-Man, Half-Machine\u201d can bring to the company.<\/p>\n<h3>Kofi<\/h3>\n<p>Here is a performer who has shown top level performance in trios, tag, and in singles; a veteran who has worked every style of wrestler who has been at a top level in WWE for multiple decades. Kofi is still in tremendous shape and still pulls off amazing maneuvers. The knowledge that Kofi could impart to Will during a face-face feud could really help Ospreay\u2019s psychology in future matches and give Kofi one more run at the top of the card.<\/p>\n<h3>Adam Copeland<\/h3>\n<p>It looks like we are getting this one. They hinted hard at it with the Clockwork Carnage match, and I think it\u2019s a smart move. My fear is giving the title to Adam Copeland as a retirement gift. I would much rather see Cope pass his torch and lose. Either way, I expect big things from this program.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-2537597860\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"Advertisements\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Copeland has main evented the biggest wrestling shows with the biggest of names. Ospreay will never get the opportunity to wrestle John Cena or The Undertaker, but the man who made magic with them is available. Copeland can add drama to a match based on facial expressions, which more wrestlers should learn. It\u2019s the selling of a babyface and the look of evil intent on a heel that sells tickets, not just big moves. Big moves are important, but when placed at the right spot of a match and it has been properly built to. Copeland knows this as well as anyone and this wisdom needs to be taught to the e next generation. I\u2019d also love to see Christian Cage involved in this feud and have matches with Ospreay as well.<\/p>\n<h3>Bobby Lashley<\/h3>\n<p>Another pipe dream, I assume, but you have Bobby Lashley under contract. A name that was big in WWE, had a great run in TNA, and has a legitimate background in both folk style wrestling and MMA. He\u2019s a unique powerhouse who is a completely different character than anyone else on the roster.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ve paid for the contract, so get some equity in there. Ospreay could also have great matches with Shelton Benjamin and interact with one of the most underrated on the mic in MVP. Rumor has it that the Hurt Syndicate has backstage heat, but having been a boss for most of my life and handling different personalities, I always tried to maximize my return on investment in that employee. I interviewed, hired, and trained that employee, so if I have to adjust what I expected out of them based on my expectations, that was my job as the leader to make happen. I\u2019d like to see Tony Kahn do the same.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>(Griffin is a lifelong fan of wrestling, superheroes, and rebellious music of all forms. He is the owner of Nerdstalgia, and you can shop online, learn about visiting the store in Colorado Springs, or catch him at a comic con in the Rocky Mountain area by going to http:\/\/nerdstalgia.shop.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Wade Keller Post-show (10\/21) - AEW Dynamite w\/Keller &amp; Halley\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jAML1psKOqg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-2851662142\"><div id=\"pwtor-1246049017\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"Advertisements\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Modern professional wrestling does a good job with the title chase and creating moments from them. Will Ospreay winning at Wembley Stadium, Stephanie Vaquer winning in Chile, and Cody Rhodes finishing his father\u2019s story are <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/10\/28\/top-five-less-than-obvious-opponents-for-will-ospreay-to-showcase-a-variety-of-match-styles\/\" title=\"Top Five Less-Than-Obvious Opponents for Will Ospreay to showcase a variety of match styles\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":224332,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,27,4488],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-224331","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opnionandanalysis","category-specialists","category-top-five-lists"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2026\/10\/Screenshot-2026-10-28-at-12.52.30-PM.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224331","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=224331"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224331\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":224333,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224331\/revisions\/224333"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/224332"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=224331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=224331"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=224331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}