Will Ospreay Explains Why NJPW Departure Was About ‘Being Over The Office’

**Will Ospreay has revealed one of the key reasons he left New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 2024 was because he was ‘over the office’-a decision that reshaped his career trajectory.** In an exclusive interview with *Marking Out with MVP & Dwayne Swayze*, the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion (with HENARE and Great-O-Khan) shared how creative differences, personal life, and a need for fresh challenges led to his departure from NJPW’s full-time roster.

Ospreay’s exit wasn’t sudden. As early as **2023**, he told NJPW booker **Gedo** he was leaving, and the reaction was visceral. *“I remember his face,”* Ospreay recalled. *“‘I don’t want you to go…’”* The emotional weight of the moment underscored how deeply embedded he was in the promotion-yet his mind was made up.

Behind the scenes, tensions had built. *“There were some things happening behind the scenes,”* Ospreay admitted. *“I was just over the office.”* But it wasn’t just work. A new relationship and fatherhood to his girlfriend’s child pushed him toward prioritizing presence over wrestling. *“I wanted to be there more,”* he said.

The timing aligned with **All Elite Wrestling’s** expansion. Ospreay’s final NJPW match came in **February 2024**, but his transition to AEW wasn’t a clean break. *“I didn’t wanna cut my ties with Japan,”* he explained. AEW’s global reach-including Japan-allowed him to maintain that connection while pursuing new opportunities.

Despite the departure, Ospreay’s NJPW legacy isn’t over. Just months after his exit, he returned to **Wrestling Dontaku 2026** to win the **NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship** with HENARE and Great-O-Khan-a title that cements his enduring influence in the promotion.

Ospreay’s candid remarks paint a picture of a wrestler at a crossroads: torn between loyalty to NJPW and the need to evolve. His choice to join AEW wasn’t just about creative control-it was about life balance. And yet, his return to NJPW for titles proves one thing: the bond isn’t broken.

**Quote credit:** *Marking Out with MVP & Dwayne Swayze* (H/T *Fightful* for transcription).