Now Reading: Will Ospreay Embraces Autism as His ‘Superpower’ in Pro Wrestling
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Will Ospreay Embraces Autism as His ‘Superpower’ in Pro Wrestling
Will Ospreay Embraces Autism as His ‘Superpower’ in Pro Wrestling
Will Ospreay proudly identifies as autistic, describing it as a “superpower” that has elevated his wrestling abilities to a “superhero level, super genius level.”
In an interview with Alistair McGeorge of Metro, The Ariel Assassin explained that he doesn’t view autism as a hindrance. Instead, it has enabled him to become one of the top wrestlers today.
“I feel like it’s excelled my abilities to the point where I do think I’m at a superhero level, super genius level of pro wrestling now.”
Ospreay also hopes to inspire others not to let their condition hold them back:
“I do feel like this has helped me out so much because it helped me dive into something that I genuinely love, and I think about constantly, and I want everyone else to feel the same love that I feel.”
But in the same way, I do understand when people see someone and go, “I’ve got the same thing as you do and you’re on this stage. If anyone is struggling with that and is struggling to find their joy and their happiness, because they feel like this is holding you back – don’t let it hold you back. Look straight ahead at where you want to get to and then you’ll find a way of getting there.”
In an April interview on Hey! EW, Ospreay discussed his upbringing in Essex and the challenges he faced with learning difficulties, including needing someone to read his AEW contract to him. “I just want to show people that, yeah, I’ve got autism,” Ospreay said. “I have ADHD as well. I’m super dyslexic. I can’t read. I had to have someone read my contract out for me.”
The former IWGP Champion became emotional after his bout with Swerve Strickland at AEW Forbidden Door 2024. You can check out what happened after the show went off the air here.
