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Well, we all knew it would come to this, didn’t we?
Vader, like a lot of fans, had issues with the Will Ospreay/Ricochet match from this year’s New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) Best of the Super Juniors (BOSJ) tournament. Even though he wasn’t alone, because of his fame and how publicly he stated his opinion, Vader’s critique of the bout as acrobatics with “no story” became the one to which everyone on the other side of the argument, including the two performers, responded.
One of those performers, the 23 year old Brit who would go on to win BoSJ, hasn’t really let it go. This being wrestling, it’s impossible to discern how much is Ospreay reacting because he was legitimately hurt or offended by the 61 year old veteran’s remarks and how much is a realization that reminding people he’s the harbinger of pro graps’ “evolution” is good for his brand - but young master Will has continued to use the Vader Bomb (which his opponents don’t sell) and cut thinly-veiled promos in Big Van’s direction.
The legend, who’s worked for WCW, WWE, All Japan and NJPW in his decades long career, apparently had Ospreay’s continued antics drawn to his attention recently and...
Couldnt leave this shit in the past keep on and keep on u need to spanked boy
— Big Van Vader (@itsvadertime) June 16, 2016
Leave this alone,my orginal crtique was harsh u both have so much potential great athleticsmn I grew tired of being humilated day after day
— Big Van Vader (@itsvadertime) June 17, 2016
With arrogance &Distain he sought to to embarass&humilate me ENOUGH PLEASE STOP@Ospreay
— Big Van Vader (@itsvadertime) June 17, 2016
Multiple Tweeters came to Ospreay’s defense, leading to Vader clarifying he’s not concerned with being labeled “the past” by fans, but by the younger man’s disrespect.
This, of course, lead to setting up a match/fight:
Just throwing it out there I would absolutely love to face @itsvadertime people think I hate him but i don't, I genuinely want this match
— William Ospreay (@WillOspreay) June 17, 2016
Shoot style anything goes
— Big Van Vader (@itsvadertime) June 17, 2016
While it doesn’t appear to be public, Vader’s account of things is that Ospreay backed out of a match/fight. He also got cheeky again, which only set Vader off again:
@itsvadertime you're a really angry person ain't you?
— William Ospreay (@WillOspreay) June 17, 2016
Rt now extremely https://t.co/AM5CkauUNC
— Big Van Vader (@itsvadertime) June 17, 2016
@itsvadertime what did I do again?
— William Ospreay (@WillOspreay) June 17, 2016
Acted like a boy instead of a man I had let go admitted some guilt and praised ur potential u kept on https://t.co/Nx8xqj3ddb
— Big Van Vader (@itsvadertime) June 17, 2016
@itsvadertime well this has been a laugh. However I have a plane to catch and history to make. Hope you have a wonderful day my friend
— William Ospreay (@WillOspreay) June 17, 2016
Little chicken shit backed out of the match same day he accepted it U dis honor u self and ur colors https://t.co/CDacIxBmie
— Big Van Vader (@itsvadertime) June 17, 2016
There’s actually a lot more, but you get the drift.
Vader calmed down a bit later and shifted into clear work mode, asking if fans want to see the match. While I think, at least right now, there’s probably a little too much ‘reality’ to the issue for Ospreay to safely take that booking, it will almost certainly happen at some point.
While there’s an interesting debate about how any established art form develops and some real emotion on both sides, it’s still pro wrestling.
There’s too much money to be made for it to not end in a fight.