Ahead of the launch of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, we had the opportunity to speak with AEW star and huge fan of the Ubisoft series, the “Aerial Assassin’ Will Ospreay, about his love for Assassin’s Creed and how he brings his love for the series into the world of professional wrestling.

Will Ospreay’s love for the series never began with a typical entry at the beginning of a story, but rather 2011’s Assassin’s Creed Revelations, which was the final chapter of the Ezio Auditore da Firenze trilogy, and the fourth entry in the franchise.

“My introduction to the series was Revelations. So I played that, fell in love with the older version of Ezio after he’s been through some wars,” began a passionate Will.

“I hadn't played the games before. So it was really cool to play that first and then the preludes to find out how Revelations came to be and how Ezio got to that situation. That's my earliest memory, I had such an awakening in my brain to be like, ‘Oh, I can move like this character, and that’s why I started incorporating parkour into my move-set in pro wrestling.”

Experience Assassin's Creed Black Flag Like Never Before

Obviously, Will has immense love for the Assassin’s Creed series and the Ezio character, but with the launch of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced this week, a remake of the beloved 2013 release starring Edward Kenway, the “Aerial Assassin” explains what this entry means to him.

“It's one of my favourite games for the storyline and the character. Ezio is my OG and is the sole reason why I fell in love with the franchise. But getting to play as Edward, and now seeing the graphics updated in this remake, it just reaffirmed to me that he's one of the coolest assassins,” explains Will.

“I’ve been playing Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, the graphics update, the gameplay improvements, and reliving some of those nostalgia pops from the original game. It’s amazing to see how far this modernised version of the game has come.”

Pretty much since the beginning, while the Assassin’s Creed series has primarily been about stealth, it also gives players the option of going in all guns blazing. Well, unless you plan to utilise your best sneaky skills, before it goes epically wrong and chaos consumes. But what kind of player is Will Ospreay?

“I try my best to be stealthy, because that’s what the Brotherhood of Assassins is all about,” he recalls. “They’re like ninjas, before there were ninjas. I try to play it that way, but that doesn't mean I’m any good at it,” but that’s why I love it, it’s all about having fun.”

Which Assassin's Creed games should get the remake treatment next?

For centuries, the Templars and the Brotherhood have been at war over the Apple of Eden. In the Assassin’s Creed universe, the Apple of Eden gives its holder unlimited power and can even control every human on the planet.

The Templars say it's about peace, but the Brotherhood knows it’s about power, and that’s why they will stop at nothing to prevent the world from turning into a hub of slaves. However, if Will had the Apple of Eden just for one moment and had the power to have Ubisoft remake any game in the Assassin’s Creed series, what would he choose?

“Ohh, that’s a good one. Can I make improvements, as well?” He asks. “A lot of people didn't like Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, but I love it. Especially as it's set in London, so close to my home. If I were able to modernise it for today, not only with its graphics, but also the parkour, combat and abilities. I would love to see that. Also, because I love Assassin’s Creed Revelations so much, I’d have to go with that, along with the whole Ezio trilogy. Oh, and Assassin’s Creed III.”

Other than being a huge fan of the series, Will Ospreay has not only incorporated his pro wrestling move-set inspired by Assassin’s Creed, but he’s also had some of his ring walk entrances inspired by the series, such as the aforementioned Assassin’s Creed Syndicate at Wrestle Kingdom 18 during his time at NJPW, as well as Assassin’s Creed Shadows at All In at Wembley for his current promotion, AEW. With the next All In taking place next month at Wembley once more on August 31, could we see another spectator entrance inspired by his beloved series?

Will Ospreay backstage at All In Wembley 2024, Credit: Michael Watson/AEW

Will Ospreay has an Assassin's Creed-inspired entrance up his sleeve

“Maybe not next month at Wembley, just because we had two real stellar entrances on both All In shows in 2023 and 2024, I don't want to oversaturate it,” explains Will. “If we were to do it again, some strings will need to be pulled, and I do have something in my back pocket related to Black Flag, but I’m saving that for further down the line,” he teases.

Spectacular entrances aside, what other Assassin’s Creed collaborations could there be for the Aerial Assassin, perhaps a cameo? “I need to do a cameo,” he says. “At the very least, I would love to get some DLC in the game inspired by my ring gear. I have such a connection with the series throughout my career that I feel we’d complement each other perfectly.

“But of course, I’d love to be in one of the games, or even a live-action project like a movie or TV series. I’d love to try to dip my toes into something like that. Whether it’s a voice or full-on live-action acting.” Netflix does have an Assassin’s Creed movie in the works, Ubisoft, just saying.

Recovering from neck surgery while still chasing a dream

Following Forbidden Door at the O2, London in July 2025, Will Ospreay would be out of action for around eight months after needing vital surgery on his neck to repair two herniated discs, a severe injury that he had been dealing with for close to a year. When Will walked down the aisle in what would be his final match for quite some time at the O2, the emotion was clear on his face, likely wondering if he would ever return to the business he loves again. Next month, when he faces current AEW World Champion, Kenny Omega at All In Wembley, Will is to face an emotion of a very different kind.

“Honestly, it's so hard to put into words. So I tell people the story of when I was a 14-year-old kid, when my mum and dad bought me a wrestling ring to put in my back garden. Mainly because I was a little troublemaker, at that age where I grew up, it was a natural thing to find yourself in trouble,” Will recalls.

“My mum and dad thought that the best way to keep me off the streets and keep me home was to keep my passion burning alive, and put a wrestling ring in our back garden. I always remember in school, every boy wanted to be a football player. But I just wanted to be a professional wrestler, and people laughed at me.

“Now, being the age that I'm at now, where I've wrestled in front of 40,000 people in the Tokyo Dome, nearly 80,000 people in Wembley Stadium, I've got to dip my toes into so many amazing moments in wrestling. Now I get to return to Wembley Stadium. I'm fighting for a piece of history that no one else in the world can say that they've done. Being the first Englishman to win a World Championship on home soil is such a huge thing that I could never even dream of.

“It’s a feeling that I struggle to put into words, of how special it feels to be in this position and fighting for that prize. I am grateful, man. I'm so grateful. To be able to influence a new generation coming through and to give hope to anyone who was ever told that they're not going to be able to fulfil their dreams because of where they're from,” he continues.

“I wasn't an academic kid; I just had a belief in my stomach that pro wrestling was going to pay off one day. And next month, I'll be in Wembley Stadium fighting for the most important prize in pro wrestling. I hope I can just walk away as the first Englishman to ever do it.”

New Assassin's Creed gameplay confirms setting fans have been begging for

New Assassin's Creed gameplay confirms setting fans have been begging for

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