Ric Flair made sure to give a top AEW star praise despite them being in an uncomfortable situation.
Ric Flair signed a multi-year deal with AEW back in November 2023, and was involved with the storylines leading up to Sting’s final match at Revolution in March. Another momentous match that took place on the same show saw Will Ospreay make his debut as an AEW-contracted wrestler in a classic match against Konosuke Takeshita.
During the bout, Takeshita delivered a Brainbuster to Ospreay from the top turnbuckle, dropping The Assassin on his back and leaving him with a visibly bruised ass.
Ric Flair Praised Will Ospreay While Recovering From Ass Injury
Ospreay went on to win the bout, but he was not unscathed. Speaking on AEW Unrestricted, the English star admitted the move was the most painful thing he’s experienced in the ring.
“F**k me, my ass after that match mate. I will say it until the cows come home. That was the most painful thing that has ever happened to me in a match ever. Not enough to stop the match, but my ass was hurting so much, it was flipping blue afterwards.
“For me, having all that reaction and having all that expectation, even in the pain that I was in going backstage and this giant ice pack and this weird drink that looked like piss. But it’s so lovely again.
Ospreay recalled that as he was lying on a table in pain, Flair came over to him and took the time to tell him he was “everything they’ve said and more.”
“Then, laying on the flipping table crying like, ah, my ass hurts so much. I felt somebody grab my hand and go, ‘Mr. Ospreay?’ I looked up and it was Ric Flair and I was like, ah! Let me stand back up again like, ‘Yes sir?’ He was just like, ‘You’re everything they’ve said and more.’”
Despite being praised by numerous legends during his career, Will Ospreay doesn’t believe he is on the same level as Hall of Famers like Kurt Angle.
H/T to Fightful for the above transcription.