Will Ospreay is very open about his learning disabilities, but he does not see it as a deterrent at all. He is rising above his ADHD and dyslexia diagnoses, and he wants to change how those things are perceived while inspiring others.
Speaking to RJ City on Hey! EW, Ospreay’s struggles came up in the conversation. Ospreay was jokingly asked if he is “shaming people without autism.” The Aerial Assassin quickly replied, “f**k yeah, I am.” He continued by discussing some of the challenges he has faced, expressing his desire to serve as a motivation for others.
“I just want to show people that, yeah I have autism. I have ADHD as well. I’m super dyslexic, I can’t read. I had to have someone f**king read my contract out for me. So, it’s like, it’s super embarrassing, man, it really is. But, I feel like I’ve got to the point where I am because of those things that make me who I am, and I wand to inspire people. So, like a lot of people don’t take risks in my area, like autism, and I hope seeing me inspires other people.”
Ospreay Speaks on his Diagnosis
Will Ospreay was diagnosed with ADHD in 2019, having previously discovered he was dyslexic after struggling in school. In his class, Ospreay only managed to pass in drama and physical education, failing the primary subjects that he needed for college admission.
Ospreay has been diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, but he wasn’t officially called autistic by a doctor as of 2023. In an interview with Renee Paquette on her The Sessions podcast, he said he was seeking answers to his autism questions, but the pandemic interrupted that effort.
“The autism thing, I went through a doctor thing, I think it was the start of 2020, the pandemic kicked in, and I’ve never wrote back. I do feel I’m on the spectrum, but I haven’t had that guarantee. The other two, I got diagnosed, the other one, I’ve still yet to have answers for.
The wait list is f***ing long. Even if I did have it, I don’t see it as a detriment. I see it as a superpower. All of us autistic kids, we’re so much better than regular, normal people. We can lock into sh*t and do it. To all my autism kids out there, we’re top.”
Will Ospreay in AEW
After appearing in AEW a few times in 2022 and 2023, Ospreay officially signed with the company and joined its roster once his NJPW contract ended in February 2024.
Since making his full entrance into AEW, Will Ospreay has captured several headlines. The former IWGP Champion has also been involved in a war of words with Triple H. After The Game seemingly referred to the young star during a media scrum, Ospreay got back at Triple H during a recent Dynamite promo.
The Aerial Assassin is set to take on Bryan Danielson at AEW Dynasty in Saint Louis on April 21.
