In his latest, PWP Nation’s Caden Moran discusses the fast rise of “Switchblade” Jay White and how his rise has been a surprise the wrestling world needed
In the world of professional wrestling, we as fans are not immune to shocks and surprises. However, in today’s age, major shocks and surprises are becoming more rare. Rarely do we see shocking victories and championship wins. It is unfortunate, but that is the way things are in today’s world of professional wrestling.
The professional wrestling world has been in dire need of something shocking. Whether it be a surprise champion crowned, or a surprise heel turn, we as fans needed something. We finally received that something eight days ago in Osaka, Japan.
We finally received that surprising something in the name of the new IWGP Heavyweight Champion, “Switchblade” Jay White.
On February 11th, 2019 in Osaka, Japan, the new leader of Bullet Club shocked the entire wrestling world when he defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to become the fourth youngest champion in the belts history. Jay White’s stunning victory over the New Japan legend was not predicted by anybody to happen. However, it did.
Some may not agree with the decision to put the prestigious championship on Jay White so quick. In my opinion, however, I believe this is what professional wrestling needed.
As I mentioned previously, we rarely see such surprise victories like Jay White’s over Hiroshi Tanahashi, especially in today’s world. When was the last time something in WWE, or any promotion for that matter, genuinely shocked you? For me, it has been a very long time.
Many of us, myself included, believed that Tanahashi would reign supreme for quite a bit. I did envision Jay White becoming the top guy in New Japan Pro Wrestling when he busted onto the scene, but there is no way I envisioned it to be this fast.
It took Kenny Omega, who many believe to be the best in the world, two years to win the big one. It only took Jay White one opportunity.
After Jay White won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship last week, I saw many people across social media asking one question: why?
Well, in my opinion, I am a big fan of “Switchblade” Jay White, and I believe he needed to defeat Tanahashi immediately to fulfill his fast rise to the top of New Japan.
Jay White made his return to New Japan Pro Wrestling in late 2017 after being on excursion for about a year. Before being sent away to improve his craft, Jay White was not the dark and egotistical man we now know today. He was just a young kid and looking to make a name for himself. After returning from excursion during NJPW’s Power Struggle event in November of 2017, Jay White was a new man. Wearing all black and referring to himself as “Switchblade” showed that Jay White had something special about him. One year later, he proved just how special he really is.
Jay White’s rise to stardom did not come easy. White failed to defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 12 in January of 2018, but the match did show that White had what it took to hang with New Japan’s big dogs. Following Wrestle Kingdom 12, Jay White’s rise to the top truly began.
Before Jay White became the leader of Bullet Club, he was a member of the Chaos faction. White claimed he was joining Chaos for the time being and that he would eventually turn his sights to Kazuchika Okada. As we now know, Jay White did set his sights on the “Rainmaker“, and even pulling off one of the most shocking victories in New Japan’s history at Wrestle Kingdom 13 earlier this year.
It took “Switchblade” Jay White only two and a half months to claim his first piece of gold in NJPW. After defeating Kenny Omega at the New Beginning in Sapporo event in 2018, Jay White became the second ever IWGP United States Champion. It was the first sign of many that showed the 26 year old would be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.
After losing the title to Juice Robinson, Jay White continued his rise to the top of New Japan’s mountain. He went on to defeat Okada and Tanahashi in the annual G1 Climax tournament, and was the only man able to defeat Tanahashi in the entire tournament.
Ever since becoming the new leader of Bullet Club, Jay White has drawn comparisons to the “Real Rock n Rolla” Prince Devitt, now known in WWE as Finn Balor. As a fan of both Finn Balor and Jay White, I definitely see the comparisons. I believe Jay White is exactly who Bullet Club needed to be interesting once again. I also believe Bullet Club is what Jay White needed to reach the top of the mountain.
“Switchblade” Jay White has shown an edgy, egotistical, arrogant, and dangerous side ever since putting on the black and white of Bullet Club. Jay White is obviously all in on himself, and New Japan is all in on the “Switchblade“.
After defeating Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 13 this past January, in what will go down in history as one of the most shocking victories, White set his sights back on Hiroshi Tanahashi and the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Personally, I saw Jay White winning the IWGP Heavyweight Championship eventually in his career, but there was no way I thought it would be only a month after defeating Okada.
Looking at it now, I should have expected it. We all should have.
Considering Jay White defeated Kenny Omega, Kazuchika Okada, and Hiroshi Tanahashi within his first legitimate year with New Japan Pro Wrestling, it felt right that White would win the big one immediately. Did we expect it? No. Was it the right call? Absolutely.
Jay White’s rise from foreigner being on excursion to defeating Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship within a month of also defeating Okada is unprecedented. Never did we expect this from a guy like Jay White. However, White’s rise to the top has done something that not many moments have done in a long while. That was surprise us.
“Switchblade” Jay White and New Japan Pro Wrestling shocked the entire world of wrestling last week when Jay White became one of the youngest champions in their history, and winning it at such a fast rate. This needed to happen to fulfill White’s fast rise to the top, and to also shock us fans. Genuine surprises are rare in professional wrestling, but when they happen, it reminds us that professional wrestling is one of the greatest things in the world.
New Japan Pro Wrestling is all in on “Switchblade” Jay White. I am all in on “Switchblade” Jay White. Are you?
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