Backstage news on why Will Ospreay’s MLW debut didn’t happen as originally planned

Will Ospreay was scheduled to make his MLW debut this month, but that didn’t happen as originally planned.

Ospreay later took to Twitter to note that he would still be appearing for the promotion, but just not when he first thought it would be happening.

Dave Meltzer reported in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Ospreay was supposed to debut at the MLW tapings in Tijuana, Mexico this past weekend. However, NJPW wouldn’t allow it because there would be AAA wrestlers on the show considering they don’t have a working relationship with the promotion and MLW’s working relationship with New Japan Pro Wrestling ended in mid-November.

Meltzer added, “plus the issue of MLW’s middleweight title being on the line for All Japan in Japan also made it politically difficult since New Japan and All Japan currently aren’t working together.”

There was hope he would also work the MLW tapings this month in New York, but the tapings were postponed. It was pointed out that with Ospreay returning to Japan in January, it will make it more difficult for dates.

Ospreay will wrestle either Shingo Takagi or Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title on January 5 at WrestleKingdom.