The professional wrestling stable built on a global empire
In short: United Empire isn't just a team; it is a sprawling, multi-national collective of athletes. Born from a betrayal in Japan and expanding across the globe, this faction unites wrestlers from nine different countries to hold championships across four major promotions simultaneously.
The United Empire was forged in October 2020 during New Japan Pro-Wrestling's G1 Climax 30. The catalyst was Will Ospreay turning on his stablemate Kazuchika Okada. This betrayal led to the formation of 'The Empire,' a group initially featuring Ospreay, Bea Priestley, and Great-O-Khan (who changed his name from Tomoyuki Oka to evoke Genghis Khan). By January 2021, after defeating Tencozy and Yota Tsuji, the group officially rebranded as United Empire.
The faction's core identity is its international diversity. It currently features members from nine countries, including Australia (Aussie Open), Canada (Mike Bailey), Italy (Francesco Akira), Japan (Great-O-Khan), Korea (Jake Lee), Mexico (Andrade El Idolo and Templario), New Zealand (Aaron Henare), the Philippines (TJP), and the United States (Jeff Cobb, Jakob Austin Young, and Zane Jay). This global reach allows them to hold titles in AEW, NJPW, Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, and Major League Wrestling.
The group has undergone significant leadership shifts. Will Ospreay led the faction from 2020 until early 2024, during which time he recruited various members and even kicked out Bea Priestley in March 2021 to focus on his own goals. Following a departure from NJPW in February 2024, Ospreay transitioned his leadership role primarily to the AEW branch, while Callum Newman took over as the leader of the NJPW branch.
The stable's history is marked by high-stakes betrayals and expansion. While it grew through strategic recruitment—such as adding TJP in 2020 or Dan Moloney in 2023—it has also seen internal fractures, notably when Dan Moloney betrayed the group in July 2023 to join Bullet Club. Despite these shifts, United Empire remains a dominant force across multiple wrestling territories.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: United Empire
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