Will Ospreay is shouldering the burden of being dubbed 'best in the world'

Will Ospreay is one of the most popular wrestlers on the planet. His deep skill set and high-flying antics have endeared him to a widespread wrestling fan base.

Since joining AEW earlier this year, Ospreay has rapidly emerged as one of the faces of the company. His match against MJF at Dynamite 250 on July 17 will undoubtedly be among the top contests of the year.

However, the pressure of being seen as one of the industry's premier talents is starting to weigh heavily on Ospreay.

"It’s starting to now. I won’t lie, the toll it takes now, weekly as well, to try and remind people over and over again that there are levels to this," Ospreay told Danny Stone of The Daily Star during an exclusive interview. "But it does come with a price. I have to change constantly. I have to adapt. My mind is under constant stress all the time that I don't really cope well with. Just because the cameras aren't on me, I don't really cope well with it. But I have to because it's a part of a responsibility and I want to prove it to myself."

Ospreay's tenure with AEW is still in its infancy. His popularity will continue to rise if he keeps putting on exceptional matches and letting his personality shine through during his promos. However, the pressure to be the best in the world and continually prove it won't go away.

There are some incredibly talented wrestlers between AEW and WWE. Ospreay is fighting against Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega, Roman Reigns, CM Punk and others to wear the crown of being the world's top talent.

AEW appears to be regaining some momentum after a tough start to 2024. Ospreay has been a legitimate part of that revival. He can potentially be a driving force for Tony Khan's company . Nevertheless, he must balance striving to be great and enjoying the fantastic journey his career is taking him on. Otherwise, he could find himself getting burnt out, leading to him missing a prolonged period.

Ospreay is at his best when he's on AEW programming week in and week out. The fans love him. His peers respect him. And sooner or later, he will be seen as the premier talent in professional wrestling.