The IWGP United States Championship is now the IWGP United Kingdom Championship, at least according to Will Ospreay.
After today’s G1 Climax semi-finals, current champion Ospreay unveiled the new title.
Will Ospreay and his new belt. Courtesy: NJPW.
“This championship makes me the best in the world but it’s meaningless in someone else’s hands. This is only valuable in my hands. It never mattered in Kenny Omega’s hands or Jay White’s or Juice Robinson’s or Jon Moxley’s or Lance Archer’s, Hiroshi Tanahashi’s or Kenta’s. It means nothing unless it’s in mine,” he said in a backstage interview after the event.
He then introduced the new belt and explained why he has replaced it.
“The belt doesn’t make the man. The man makes the belt. I am sick to death of carrying something I have no attachment to. I don’t want to carry this American flag. I’ve been to America and been the best in the world. Canada, Europe, Australia and Japan, I am the best in the world. The best in the world is from the United Kingdom. So to the IWGP committee, have this, I don’t want it. I want a championship that suits my needs,” he said dumping the old title and revealing the new one.
“This is my championship. This means I am the best in the world. I have beaten Kenny Omega, beaten Kazuchika Okada. I have beaten them all. So, if anyone in the world thinks they are better than me, championship on the line, you beat Will Ospreay and you take this from me, you’re the best in the world,” he continued.
NJPW introduced the IWGP United States Championship back in 2017. In a tournament held to crown the first champion, Kenny Omega defeated Tomohiro Ishii in the finals.
Juice Robinson and Hiroshi Tanahashi have the most IWGP United States Championship reigns at three. Jon Moxley has held the title the longest at 564 days before losing it to Lance Archer.
This is Will Ospreay’s second reign as champion.
