Recognized for his exceptional in-ring skills and holding the title of WWE Speed Champion, Ricochet has come under the critical gaze of Will Ospreay. Ospreay, a contemporary high-flying wrestler, has expressed his displeasure with Ricochet’s deployment in the WWE.
Ricochet and Ospreay’s dynamic performances against each other in NJPW contributed greatly to their rise to fame, particularly during the Best of the Super Juniors tournaments in 2016 and 2017. Following their spectacular matches, both wrestlers’ careers took on different trajectories—Ricochet to WWE and Ospreay remaining in New Japan Pro Wrestling, later to join All Elite Wrestling.
Ospreay shared his reflections on their shared past and his thoughts on Ricochet’s current situation in an interview with Liam Crowley of ComicBook.com.
“I keep up with him all the time and sometimes I get a little bit sad about it. I hope he’s not sad and I hope he’s real happy. I keep up with him as much as I can, but I feel like people are forgetting who Ricochet was once upon a time. All of these high-flyers that you see, and myself included, we all took inspiration from Pac and Ricochet.”
Ospreay further critiqued WWE’s management of Ricochet, finding the situation borderline disgraceful.
“The fact that they only value his time for under five minutes is appalling to me. I just want people to remember who he is. If you go and look at 2012-2013 Dragon Gate Ricochet, he was untouchable at the time. When it came to this generation of high-flyers, he was the greatest. He’s the greatest high-flyer ever. I know it sounds weird, but I do put him on the same level as Rey Mysterio.”
Presently, the WWE Speed Championship emphasizes swift matches, ones that Ricochet is poised to defend in expedited three-minute encounters. Many fans might resonate with Ospreay’s sentiments, but what truly counts is Ricochet’s satisfaction with his role in WWE.
Do you agree with Will Ospreay’s opinion on WWE’s treatment of Ricochet? Share your thoughts in the comments!
FAQs about WWE’s Treatment of Ricochet
- Who is Ricochet?
- Ricochet is a professional wrestler currently performing in WWE where he holds the title of WWE Speed Champion.
- Why is Will Ospreay unhappy with WWE’s treatment of Ricochet?
- Will Ospreay has voiced his concern that WWE is not properly utilizing Ricochet’s abilities, particularly in limiting his performances to brief matches that do not showcase his full potential.
- What is the WWE Speed Championship?
- The WWE Speed Championship is a title in WWE that focuses on fast-paced, quick matches, typically around three minutes long.
- Did Will Ospreay and Ricochet compete against each other?
- Yes, they have famously competed against each other, notably during the NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournaments in 2016 and 2017.
Conclusion
The conversation surrounding Ricochet’s use in WWE has been ignited by Will Ospreay’s frank critique, highlighting a shared concern among wrestling fans about the underutilization of certain talents in large wrestling promotions. While industry opinions vary, it’s refreshing to see a wrestler like Ospreay advocating for his peers’ legacies, paying tribute to the inspirations they’ve drawn from each other’s work. Ultimately, it seems, what matters most is the satisfaction of the wrestler in question — in this case, Ricochet himself. Whether WWE will adjust their booking to fully embrace Ricochet’s prowess remains to be seen, but the sentiments expressed by Ospreay and echoed by fans are a potent reminder of the high-flying wrestler’s significant contributions to the sport.