Will Ospreay Discusses Callum Newman Nearly Quitting Wrestling Early On
Will Ospreay reflects on Callum Newman almost quitting wrestling early into his career.
This year, few have had a rise quite like Callum Newman. In March, he won the New Japan Cup, going on to earn a surprising win over Yota Tsuji at Sakura Genesis on April 4 to become the youngest IWGP Heavyweight Champion of all time. Newman would successfully defend the title against Shingo at New Japan Wrestling Dontaku before dropping the title back to Yota Tsuji at Dominion on June 14, ending an impressive 71-day reign on top.
Speaking with Poppy Burton from Soundsphere Magazine, Ospreay discussed how Callum Newman’s pro wrestling career almost didn’t happen.
“I was like ‘whoa’. I pulled him and his Mum to one side and I was like: ‘Don’t let him quit, he’s got talent. He’s really good’. I was able to get him into New Japan. I was able to shift some things around, so he would get the opportunity, but he had to work gor it himself. You don’t become the IWGP champion with handouts from your big brother. You have to work for it. I got brought in as a talent, he got brought in as a young boy, and it’s very, very different. You’re in the dojo, you’re learning their way of life and their way of doing it and it’s very brutal and hard on the body. All I ever wanted to do was raise the people around me, and Callum is a very special one for me ‘cause i’ve known him since he was 15 years old. The only thing I’ve ever wanted to do is create a road for British wrestlers to walk on”
-Will Ospreay
After training alongside Ospreay, Newman made his name on the UK independent scene wrestling for Rev Pro and Progress. Newman actually faced his mentor in Ospreay in a Rev Pro ring back in June 2023, which Ospreay won.
Since then, Newman has gone from strength to strength. He debuted with New Japan later in 2023, and he would go on to become the leader of the stable United Empire in New Japan, a group Ospreay founded back in 2020.
Recently. Newman has looked down on Will Ospreay’s association with Jon Moxley, with many expecting “The Prince” and “The Aerial Assassin” to come to blows on a big stage sooner rather than later.
It’s safe to say that Will Ospreay’s words of encouragement to a young Callum Newman certainly paid off. Newman is now reaping the benefits of success in his young career. He currently competes in the New Japan G1 tournament in Block B at 6 points.
For the latest G1 update, you can click here.
As always we will aim to give you more of Will Ospreay’s thoughts on Callum Newman and his career as soon as we hear more.
