Will Ospreay: How Five-Star Matches Transformed His Career and Family’s Future

One Big Thing

AEW star Will Ospreay challenges the notion that five-star matches don’t pay bills, revealing how his critically acclaimed performances led to financial success and family support.

Why It Matters

The debate over match ratings’ importance in professional wrestling has significant implications for:

• Wrestler market value and contract negotiations
• Career advancement opportunities
• Financial earning potential

By The Numbers

• 48: Number of Ospreay’s matches rated five stars or higher by Dave Meltzer
• 1: Major accomplishment – securing an AEW contract partly due to match quality
• 2: Major family investments – father’s house and mother’s kitchen

Key Quotes

“If people are looking at it and going ‘this is sick,’ they admired the work ethic and the imagination, and the details that I was putting into the match.”

“Who isn’t going to want the guy that is putting f**king banger, after banger, after banger, after banger, after banger?”

The Impact

Ospreay’s consistent delivery of highly-rated matches:

• Enhanced his negotiating position during free agency
• Provided financial stability for his family
• Built a reputation as one of wrestling’s most reliable performers

The Bottom Line

While match ratings alone don’t directly impact earnings, Ospreay demonstrates how consistent high-quality performances can translate into tangible financial benefits and career opportunities.

What’s Next

How do you think match ratings influence a wrestler’s market value in today’s wrestling landscape? Share your thoughts in the comments below.