Will Ospreay has offered his bluntest assessment yet of the growing fracture between himself and Callum Newman, describing the situation inside United Empire as both personal and increasingly difficult to keep out of the public eye.
The tension between Ospreay and Newman has been building for roughly a year, with the two men repeatedly appearing close to a full confrontation. Their disagreements have played out in person and across social media, while a recent incident involving Newman nearly striking Ospreay with a sword took the hostility to an even more alarming level. Ospreay made clear that he does not believe the strain can simply be ignored, particularly when the group’s identity is at stake.
Speaking in a new interview, Ospreay said he and Newman have not had a meaningful conversation since their latest escalation. That breakdown in communication has left Ospreay questioning how the two could possibly function together when strategy and unity are required.
“We haven’t really spoke to each other since then, so it’s going to be quite difficult to try and work out strategies if my little brother isn’t picking up the phone.”
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Ospreay’s use of “little brother” is notable because it reflects the complicated bond at the center of the dispute. This is not being framed as an issue between distant rivals with no shared history. Ospreay sees Newman as someone close to him, but that familiarity has made the apparent power struggle and personality clash considerably more combustible.
There is also a clear disagreement over leadership. Newman has been positioned as United Empire’s leader, but Ospreay remains deeply protective of the faction he says he created. Ospreay suggested that Newman believes he is entitled to appreciation and recognition, while Ospreay sees his approach as a departure from the values and atmosphere that originally made United Empire important to him.
“He’s just, he’s a little bit of a dickhead, mate. I’m not going to lie to you. He’s stuck in his ways and he thinks that he’s owed a thank you and he thinks he’s a leader, and I just see him as a little bit of a dickhead right now and he’s changed everything that I love about the faction that I created.”
The comments leave little doubt about the depth of Ospreay’s present frustration. He did not merely describe a disagreement over tactics, a misunderstanding, or a momentary argument. Instead, he portrayed the divide as a conflict over what United Empire should represent and who has the right to shape its future.
That distinction matters. Factions in New Japan Pro-Wrestling often depend on a shared presentation, hierarchy, and sense of purpose. When a group’s former central figure feels that its identity has been fundamentally altered, the issue becomes more serious than a routine disagreement between teammates. Ospreay’s remarks suggest he is not comfortable standing at a distance while Newman directs the group in a way he believes runs counter to its original character.
At the same time, Ospreay did not state that the relationship is beyond repair. He indicated that he may need to become more involved rather than allowing the situation to continue unchecked. His preferred solution, at least in principle, is to get Newman back onto the same page rather than publicly declare an irreparable split.
“So maybe I need to stick my nose in a little bit more and hopefully we can get on the same page. But it’s just something that I think we need to work out privately, but it’s taken its place in front of so many people.”
That is the central contradiction facing both men. Ospreay wants the issue handled privately, but the events surrounding it have become impossible to describe as private. Their friction has already been visible to fans, their verbal exchanges have spilled onto social media, and the sword incident has added a dramatic and dangerous edge to the conflict. Even if both men would prefer a direct conversation away from an audience, their problems now carry public consequences for United Empire.
Ospreay acknowledged the discomfort of that reality. He called the situation “awkward,” an understated term given how openly antagonistic the relationship has become. Yet he also expressed belief that he and Newman can eventually move through it. That leaves room for reconciliation, but it does not remove the immediate sense that both men are moving toward a decisive reckoning.
“It’s awkward, of course it is, but I’m sure we’ll get through it.”
Any optimism in that statement was quickly balanced by Ospreay’s warning about Newman’s actions. Ospreay stressed that he is not the person bringing weapons into the dispute. In his view, Newman is responsible for escalating the conflict to that point, and Ospreay made it clear that he will respond if he feels threatened again.
“He’s pulling the sword, mate. He’s the one pulling the sword. I ain’t rocking out with swords. If he does, he’s getting his ear cut off, mate.”
While the wording carries Ospreay’s familiar directness, the underlying message is serious: he believes Newman has crossed lines that cannot be treated as harmless posturing. The sword incident is now part of the story between them, and Ospreay’s reaction indicates he does not intend to simply dismiss it as an isolated spectacle.
A Leadership Dispute With No Easy Separation
The conflict is made more complicated by the fact that it revolves around United Empire rather than an ordinary one-on-one grudge. Ospreay is emotionally invested in the group because he identifies himself as its creator. Newman, meanwhile, is the current leader being challenged by the faction’s founding figure. That creates competing claims to authority, even before accounting for their personal relationship.
For Newman, leadership means having the freedom to direct the group and establish his own standards. For Ospreay, the faction’s past and its foundational identity appear to give him a responsibility to intervene when he feels it has changed too much. Neither position easily accommodates the other. A private conversation could reduce the personal hostility, but it may not solve the wider disagreement over control and direction.
Ospreay’s comments also suggest that respect is a major issue. His criticism that Newman believes he is “owed a thank you” points to a disconnect in how each man views their contributions. Newman appears to feel that his role merits acknowledgment. Ospreay, however, appears to believe Newman’s conduct has not earned that kind of deference, especially if it comes at the expense of the faction’s identity.
That dynamic could prove more difficult to resolve than a simple competitive rivalry. Matches can settle questions of superiority for a night, but they do not automatically restore trust, clarify leadership, or repair a relationship in which one man feels ignored and the other feels unappreciated. Ospreay’s complaint that Newman is not answering the phone illustrates how basic communication has become an obstacle before either side can address larger issues.
What Comes Next for Ospreay and Newman?
There is no stated timetable for a face-to-face resolution, nor has Ospreay outlined a specific match or confrontation as the next step. What he has done is make his position unmistakable. He is unhappy with Newman’s leadership, believes United Empire has changed in ways he does not accept, and is prepared to involve himself more directly if necessary.
At the same time, Ospreay has not abandoned the possibility that the two can work things out. His comments contain criticism, sarcasm, and a clear warning, but they also contain an acknowledgement that the matter should be addressed between the people involved. Whether Newman is willing to have that conversation is now a crucial question.
If the pair can communicate, there remains a path toward some form of understanding. If they cannot, every fresh public exchange and every further escalation will make the situation harder to contain. The fact that Ospreay now sees the dispute as affecting something he loves about United Empire raises the stakes considerably. He is no longer speaking as an observer of Newman’s reign; he is speaking as someone who feels compelled to protect a legacy.
For now, United Empire’s future is tied to whether Ospreay and Newman can reconcile their differing views of leadership, respect, and the faction’s purpose. Ospreay’s tone makes one point especially clear: he is willing to seek common ground, but he will not quietly accept what he believes Newman has turned the group into.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.