Will Ospreay Says His 2016 NJPW Match With Ricochet Reshaped the Way Wrestlers Approach Their Craft

Will Ospreay believes the match that made the wrestling world stop and pay attention nearly a decade ago didn’t just go viral — it fundamentally changed how professional wrestling is performed.

Ospreay has spoken about his 2016 encounter with Ricochet at NJPW Best of the Super Juniors, calling it a bout that altered how people wrestle. It’s a bold claim, but one that’s hard to argue with when you look back at the moment it happened. Clips from the match spread across social media at a speed rarely seen for a pro wrestling bout, and the conversation it sparked lasted well beyond the typical 24-hour news cycle — stretching into weeks, months, and years of discussion that continues even now.

The match became a defining moment not just for both men involved, but for the style of wrestling they represented. The combination of athleticism, aerial innovation, and in-ring chemistry on display that night gave fans and performers alike a new benchmark for what high-flying wrestling could look like. It’s the kind of match that gets referenced in broader conversations about the evolution of modern in-ring work, and it played a significant role in establishing Ospreay as one of the most exciting talents on the planet.

Since that night in 2016, both men have gone on to reach the top of the industry. Ospreay is currently one of the biggest names in AEW, while Ricochet has carved out his own path in WWE and beyond. But for many fans and observers, the Best of the Super Juniors match remains the moment that introduced the world to just how far professional wrestling’s ceiling could be pushed — and Ospreay clearly hasn’t forgotten its significance.