ROH’s Flip Gordon on facing Will Ospreay at Global Wars, national anthem protests

Rising Ring of Honor star Flip Gordon is set to face off with Will Ospreay this weekend at ROH Global Wars.

Ring of Honor is notorious for churning out some of the best young talents in the professional wrestling industry and aerial ace Flip Gordon is no different. The 25-year-old Gordon is one of the fastest risers in wrestling right now. Just two years into his professional career, he’s enjoying being signed to one of the top promotions in the world, where some amazing opportunities are being placed on his plate.

“Ring of Honor has been great, they’ve been taking good care of me. I get really excited every time I see an ROH date coming up,” Gordon said. “They sent me down to CMLL [Mexico], which was a great experience. Guys don’t normally get that within their first months signed to the company. I’m very appreciative of what they’ve given me and the opportunities they’ve provided me.”

Gordon is unquestionably on the fast track to stardom, signing with Ring of Honor just two years into his career after he made his pro wrestling debut back in May of 2015. For as talented as Gordon is in the ring, though, he had some doubters along the way.

“This journey has been crazy,” Gordon admitted. “I went from being a little kid in Montana being told I could never do this, to being told that I was crazy for traveling across the country [on the independents] for two years. With the job I have with Ring of Honor now, it’s really cool to see how everything came about just from believing in myself.”

The Montana native put full belief in his abilities and drive, and now he’s being featured on top Ring of Honor events, such as Global Wars this Sunday in Chicago, IL.

This weekend at the Global Wars event, fans will be treated to a high-flying dream match as Gordon goes 1-on-1 with one of the best aerial talents wrestling has ever seen — IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay. As you’d expect, Gordon is more than ready for the opportunity to showcase his skills against the British sensation.

“Oh, 100 percent,” Gordon said when questioned about how exciting it is to be getting in the ring with Ospreay. “He and Ricochet have been changing the game for the last few years. To be getting in there 1-on-1 is gonna be really fun because it gives me an opportunity to show that I can get in there and hang with this guy or that guy.

“So it’s gonna be a huge test for me to be able to get in there and keep up with him to put on a good match. Then, it just makes me look good in the end.”

Wrestling fans adore when two smaller guys get in the ring for some high-flying action, keeping them on the edge of their seat with every flip and dive. You’d assume that someone like Gordon prefers to have these types of matches as opposed to getting in there with a larger competitor who can’t match him move-for-move.

Well if you did assume that, then you’d shockingly be incorrect.

“I love going up against bigger guys that aren’t high flyers,” Gordon revealed. “I actually don’t like going up against high flyers because … I don’t know, like, it’s too choreographed. I like the way the styles clash, and I just think it tells a better story. I feel like I, personally, have better matches against bigger guys, or striker guys, or submission guys. I just think it tells the best story.”

When Gordon applies the reasoning of storytelling to explain his preference of facing larger opponents, it’s apparent he has a bright future in the industry.

As for where that future may guide him?  Well, a stint with Ring of Honor partner New Japan Pro Wrestling is in his sights, as it is for most up-and-comers in the pro wrestling world these days with the resurgence the promotion has enjoyed. Maybe even a spot in one of their most famous annual tournaments that would put everything in his arsenal on full display?

“Oh I would love to [wrestle in Japan], and that’s my next goal, actually,” he admitted. “My goal is to within three years be wrestling in New Japan. Hopefully, I could be a part of the Best of the Super Junior.”

Now when you see Gordon walk down the aisle to the ring, you’ll notice he sports a vest from the United States Army. That’s not just a gimmick, either.

Gordon is an active member of the U.S. Army National Guard. Back in 2012, along with his best friend, Gordon enlisted and became a Horizontal Construction Engineer, basically a heavy equipment operator. He then moved to Boston, transferred units and reclassified as a Combat Engineer, where he got to toy around with explosives such as C-4 and TNT. It’s actually quite the metaphor, given his explosive, high-flying style in the ring.

But as a member of this country’s military, it’s hard not to talk about the most prevalent topic in sports at the moment — national anthem protests. Athletes all over are voicing their displeasure with the state of the country, some during the national anthem.

As a member of the National Guard, Gordon sees no issue with protesting, but just wishes it wouldn’t take place during the playing of the anthem.

“I think that it’s disrespectful,” Gordon said in response to protests during the anthem. “But I do understand they’re trying to do a peaceful protest, I just wish it was at a different time, whether that’s before the anthem or after it. I just find it disrespectful and that’s just my opinion.

“Obviously, people are booing every time it happens, so they find it disrespectful as well. But I do think there are issues in the world that need to be addressed that aren’t, so I do agree with protesting as a whole.”

Flip Gordon will always be passionate about the flag and this country, but right now he’s continuing to make his mark as one of the best young wrestlers on the planet. And he wants everyone to know that when you enjoy one of his matches, he’s out there trying to make you question your view on wrestling as a whole.

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“I’m just an original; I have original stuff and I try to be different,” Gordon stated. I’m a hybrid style I don’t consider myself just a high flyer because I can do so much more.

“I’m definitely someone that should be seen if you haven’t already because I can make you rethink this whole wrestling thing.”

Flip Gordon will take on Will Ospreay this Sunday at ROH Global Wars: Chicago which begins this Sunday, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. ET. You can stream the show on ROH Wrestling.com.