AEW star Will Ospreay shares how ADHD has actually helped him do really well in wrestling.
AEW star Will Ospreay has shared how having ADHD has helped him “excel” in pro wrestling as he prepares for the biggest match of his career. On Sunday, Ospreay will face Kenny Omega for the AEW World Championship in the main event at a sold-out Wembley Stadium during All In.
He’s the first Brit to headline a major wrestling show at Wembley since British Bulldog did it in 1992, when he beat Bret Hart for the Intercontinental Championship.
While England didn’t win the football World Cup this summer, finishing third after losing to Argentina in the semis, Essex-born Ospreay hopes to bring pride to the “Home of Football” by winning the wrestling title.
“Being one of the first British people to main event at Wembley in AEW means so much to me,” he told SPORTbible. “When I was at school, boys always said they wanted to score the winning goal at Wembley. It’s like the cathedral of football, a place every football fan dreams of playing. I never really wanted that because I wasn’t into football as much.
“But being able to have that feeling in wrestling — coming from the British wrestling scene, working hard all over the country, and now getting to fight for one of the most important titles in world wrestling — it means the world to me.”
Ospreay started wrestling in his backyard and worked a regular job sealing windows before signing with New Japan wrestling. He’s dyslexic and didn’t do well in school, but wrestling quickly became his true passion. Known as “The Aerial Assassin,” he’s now seen as one of the best wrestlers worldwide and even turned down WWE offers.
Diagnosed with ADHD in 2019 and on the autism spectrum, the diagnoses helped him understand his hyperactivity and emotional control better. While ADHD can be challenging, Ospreay says it’s also a superpower in wrestling, letting him focus on many things at once, like the match and the crowd.
“It’s helped me a lot,” he said. “I’m thinking about the match, pacing, and if the crowd is quiet, I make sure to bring their energy back. Sometimes ADHD has been harder for me backstage and personally, but in wrestling, it’s pushed me forward. I’m grateful to represent others who feel the same.”
Ospreay has already won once at Wembley, beating MJF to become AEW Intercontinental Champion earlier this year during All In. That same event saw British wrestling legend Nigel McGuinness return after more than a decade to a huge cheer.
Ospreay hopes to get that same huge reaction when he walks to the ring this time. He hinted at a special entrance song for his big moment but didn’t want to reveal too much yet.
“I’m trying hard to get the rights for a song I love. I’m still coming out to ‘Elevated,’ but there’s one song I really want for my walk to the ring, to make it feel special — like a group of English fans singing together, creating that connection and vibe. It’s like a concert or football chants where everyone joins in. I want to feel that with the crowd.”
AEW All In London takes place at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, 30 August. Tickets are available now at LiveNation.co.uk.