Jay White

Jamie White (October 9, 1992) is a New Zealand professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) under the ring name Jay White. He was formerly signed to New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), where he became the fifth NJPW Triple Crown Champion and the first NJPW Grand Slam Champion, having won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, and the NEVER Openweight Championship. In 2022, White also won the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
==Professional wrestling career==
===Early career (2013–2014)===
White initially trained under The UK Kid at Varsity Pro Wrestling (VPW) in early 2013, and made his professional debut on February 19, working for VPW as well as All Star Wrestling, among other promotions. In early 2014, White met New Japan Pro Wrestling's Prince Devitt and competed alongside him in a tag team match for VPW. After the match, Devitt gave White his card and told him to keep in touch. Shortly thereafter, White was contacted by Bad Luck Fale, who said that Devitt had spoke to NJPW officials about White and that he could get him a place as a young lion in the dojo if he wanted it. Several months later, White met with Fale, Devitt, and Shinsuke Nakamura in London, where White accepted their offer and began finalizing his visa to leave for the NJPW dojo.
===New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2015–2016)===
White left for Japan on New Year's Eve 2014, began further training as a young lion upon his arrival, and made his debut for NJPW on January 30, 2015, losing to Alex Shelley. White lost all but eight of his matches in 2015, as is common for young lions in NJPW. In 2016, White began gaining more victories, and on March 27 competed in his biggest match to date when he was defeated by then-reigning IWGP Intercontinental Champion Kenny Omega in a non-title match. White's final match in NJPW took place on June 19, 2016, at Dominion 6.19 in Osaka-jo Hall, when he, David Finlay Jr., and Juice Robinson were defeated by Satoshi Kojima, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, and Manabu Nakanishi. White left for his excursion to the United States the following week.
===Foreign excursion (2016–2017)===
Upon moving to the United States, White was first based in New Jersey, before moving to Detroit, where he lived with Alex Shelley. White debuted in Ring of Honor (ROH) at the June 25 TV tapings, defeating Kamaitachi by disqualification and teaming with The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) to defeat Kamaitachi and The Addiction (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian). White and The Motor City Machine Guns eventually formed a stable named "Search and Destroy" with Jonathan Gresham and Lio Rush. On July 8, White defeated Lio Rush. At the next set of TV tapings, White defeated Will Ferrara and wrestled Jay Briscoe to a time limit draw. White debuted for England's Revolution Pro Wrestling on August 12, 2016, defeating Josh Bodom. On August 19, White competed in a fatal four-way match against Kamaitachi, Lio Rush, and Donovan Dijak, which was won by Dijak. The following day, White and Rush were defeated by The Briscoe Brothers (Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe). White returned to RPW on August 26, defeating Mark Haskins. On September 30, White teamed with Kushida and ACH to defeat The Briscoes and Toru Yano in a quarter final match in the ROH Trios Tag Team Championship Tournament. White, ACH, and Kushida then defeated The Cabinet (Rhett Titus, Kenny King, and Caprice Coleman) in the semi-finals, but were defeated by The Kingdom (Matt Taven, Vinny Marseglia, and TK O'Ryan) in the final at Final Battle. White competed once again for RPW on January 21, 2017, defeating Martin Stone. On June 6, White received his biggest title opportunity in his career when after winning a Battle Royal he unsuccessfully challenged Christopher Daniels for the ROH World Championship in a triple threat match. At Best in the World, White, teaming with Search and Destroy defeated The Rebellion in a losers must disband match thus keeping the group together.
===Return to NJPW (2017–2023)===
====CHAOS and IWGP United States Championship Reign (2017-2018)====
On November 5, 2017, at Power Struggle, White returned to NJPW as the mysterious "Switchblade", who had been teased for the past several months, challenging Hiroshi Tanahashi to a match for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 12, before attacking him. The following day, NJPW officially announced the match between Tanahashi and White for Wrestle Kingdom 12. On January 4, White was defeated by Tanahashi in the title match. On January 5, Jay teased joining BULLET CLUB; however, White then betrayed Kenny Omega by attacking him with a Blade Runner. A day later he joined the CHAOS faction in order to face off against BULLET CLUB and Kenny Omega, claiming he needed backup in his fight against BULLET CLUB. On January 28, at The New Beginning In Sapporo, White defeated Omega to become the second IWGP United States Champion in the title's history. On March 25, he went on to defend the title for the first time against Hangman Page at the Strong Style Evolved event in Long Beach, California. White would make his second successful title defence against David Finlay at Road to Wrestling Dontaku Night 10. White would make his third defense of the title at ROH-NJPW War of the Worlds Night 2, beating Punishment Martinez . 
At Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall, White suffered a pin fall loss in a tag team match to Juice Robinson. Because of this, White defended but lost the title to Juice at the G1 Special in San Francisco. White would then compete in the 2018 G1 Climax, finishing with twelve points in Block A, failing to advance. During the tournament, White would score a victory over CHAOS leader Kazuchika Okada, along with defeating Hiroshi Tanahashi. 
====BULLET CLUB (2018-2023)====
At Destruction In Kobe, following Hiroshi Tanahashi's match with Kazuchika Okada, White would attack Tanahashi. White, turning his back on CHAOS, would then turn his attack towards Okada. This would bring out Okada's former manager, Gedo, who also betrayed him, siding with White by hitting Okada with a chair. At King of Pro-Wrestling, White was defeated by Tanahashi. After the bout, White attacked Tanahashi, however, Okada made the save. This would bring out Jado and the BULLET CLUB OGs, who joined Gedo and White in the attack on Okada. As a result, White, Gedo, and Jado all completed their defection from CHAOS to BULLET CLUB, with White becoming the new leader of BULLET CLUB. On January 4, 2019, at Wrestle Kingdom 13, White defeated Okada. The following month, at The New Beginning In Osaka, White defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. At the 47th Anniversary Show, White defeated NEVER Openweight Champion Will Ospreay in a non-title match.
After 54 days as IWGP Heavyweight Champion, White was dethroned by Okada at ROH-NJPW G1 Supercard. Throughout July and August, White competed in the 2019 G1 Climax, finishing with twelve points in Block B, advancing to the final. At the final on August 12, White was defeated by Kota Ibushi. The next month, at Destruction In Kobe, White won the IWGP Intercontinental Championship after defeating Tetsuya Naito. White made his first, and only, defence of the title at Power Struggle, defeating Hirooki Goto. At Wrestle Kingdom 14 Night 1 on January 4, 2020, White lost the IWGP Intercontinental Championship back to Naito. On Night 2 of Wrestle Kingdom 14, White defeated Kota Ibushi, avenging his loss to Ibushi in the 2019 G1 Climax final.
Following an absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, White returned on NJPW's American show, STRONG, teaming up with Chase Owens in a loss to Brody King and Flip Gordon. White would compete in the 2020 G1 Climax, finishing with twelve points in Block A, failing to advance. At Power Struggle, White defeated Kota Ibushi, winning the G1 Climax briefcase from Ibushi, allowing White to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships at Wrestle Kingdom 15. On January 5, 2021, at Night 2 of Wrestle Kingdom, Ibushi defeated White to retain the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships. Following Wrestle Kingdom 15, White announced he wanted to quit NJPW after New Year Dash. At New Year Dash, White was pinned by Tomohiro Ishii in a Ten Man Tag Team Elimination Match. After a month long absence following New Year Dash, White would return at Road To New Beginning Night 10, attacking Ishii. At Castle Attack Night 1, White defeated Ishii.
In March, White competed in the 2021 New Japan Cup, defeating Toa Henare in the first round, before eliminating Hiroshi Tanahashi in the second round. In the quarter-final, White was eliminated by David Finlay. At Wrestling Dontaku Night 1, White defeated Tanahashi to win the NEVER Openweight Championship. White made his first defence at Resurgence, defeating David Finlay. Three months later, at Battle In The Valley, White was dethroned by Tomohiro Ishii. On May 1, 2022, White returned to Japan at Wrestling Dontaku, attacking IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada. At Dominion 6.12, White defeated Okada to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. White went on to take part in the 2022 G1 Climax, finishing with ten points in Block B, failing to advance due to his loss to former BULLET CLUB member Tama Tonga. As a result, White defeated Tonga to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Declaration of Power. At Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4, 2023, White lost the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship to 2022 G1 Climax winner Kazuchika Okada. 
After losing the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, White would blame his loss on former BULLET CLUB member Hikuleo. At New Year Dash on January 5, White would challenge Hikuleo to a Loser Leaves Japan Match, which was accepted. The bout took place on February 11 at The New Beginning In Osaka, where White would lose, forcing him to leave Japan. White was scheduled to face Eddie Kingston at Battle In The Valley on February 18, however, a Loser Leaves NJPW stipulation was added. At the event, White lost to Kingston, leaving NJPW as a result.
===All Elite Wrestling (2022-present)===
White made his debut for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) on the February 9, 2022 episode of Dynamite, helping Adam Cole and The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) attack Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta. On that week's Rampage, White again attacked Beretta. On the following week's Rampage, White defeated Beretta. 
On the April 20 episode of Dynamite, White interrupted the announcement of AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door, declaring the event would be centred around BULLET CLUB and The Undisputed Elite. On the June 15 episode of Dynamite, White attacked Adam Page, who had been distracted by Adam Cole. White would then announce that he would not defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against either Cole or Page at Forbidden Door. The following week, White and Cole would attack Page, however, Kazuchika Okada would make the save. It was later announced that White would defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Cole, Page, and Okada in a Four Way Match at Forbidden Door. On June 26, at Forbidden Door, White pinned Cole to retain his title. 
On the April 5, 2023 episode of Dynamite, White would appear, attacking Ricky Starks before his match with Juice Robinson. White would then embrace with Robinson thanks to their BULLET CLUB connection. Soon after, AEW President Tony Khan announced that White had signed with AEW.
==In wrestling==
*Finishing moves
**Kiwi Krusher (Outside leghook fisherman driver)
**Blade Runner / Shellshock (Swinging reverse STO) – adopted from Alex Shelley
*Signature moves
** Boston crab
** Crossface
** Dropkick, sometimes from the top rope
** Knife edge chop
** Lariat
** Leaping followed with back elbow to an oncoming opponent
** Multiple suplex variations
*** Butterfly
*** Saito
*** Sleeper
*** Snap, into the turnbuckle
** Running Death Valley driver
** Running European uppercut, to a cornered opponent
** Ura-nage
*Tag teams and stables
**CHAOS
**BULLET CLUB
*Nicknames
**"King Switch"
**"Switchblade"
**"Knife Pervert"
*Entrance music
**"Crossbody" by Yonosuke Kitamura
**"Switchblade" by Yonosuke Kitamura
==Championships and accomplishments==
*New Japan Pro Wrestling
**IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
**IWGP Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
**IWGP Intercontinental Championship (1 time)
**IWGP United States Championship (1 time)
**NEVER Openweight Championship (1 time)
*Ring of Honor
**ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn
*Pro Wrestling Illustrated
** Ranked No. #44 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2018
**PWI ranked him #32 in the 2023 PWI Top 500 Wrestlers
*Wrestling Observer Newsletter
**5 1/2 Star Match (2019) vs. Kota Ibushi on August 12
==External links==
* Profile
Category:New Zealand wrestlers
Category:2013 debuts
Category:Living people
Category:1992 births
Category:All Star Wrestling alumni
Category:Varsity Pro Wrestling alumni
Category:Union Of European Wrestling Alliances alumni
Category:Ultimate Pro Wrestling alumni
Category:Wrestling Stars alumni
Category:Impact Pro Wrestling alumni
Category:Male wrestlers
Category:Ring of Honor alumni
Category:New Japan Pro Wrestling alumni
Category:IWGP United States Champions
Category:IWGP Heavyweight Champions
Category:IWGP Intercontinental Champions
Category:NEVER Openweight Champions
Category:Total Nonstop Action Wrestling alumni
Category:IWGP World Heavyweight Champions
Category:ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champions
Category:All Elite Wrestling current roster