“Switchblade” Jay White is one of professional wrestling’s made men. The first Grand Slam Champion in New Japan history having captured the IWGP Heavyweight, Intercontinental, NEVER Openweight, and United States Championships–and he’s not even 30. Having been elevated the leader of Bullet Club in late 2018, the Auckland native made history as the youngest leader of the faction ever, and he’s only just begun.
In almost a year, White has been on New Japan Strong, which is filmed in New Japan’s dojo in Los Angeles, Impact Wrestling, and most recently AEW, coming to the aid of Adam Cole and the Young Bucks.
“I’ve done more than anyone could really hope for in a career,” White tells Gamespot. “So I’m running out of goals, to be honest.”
Because of COVID-19 travel restrictions, several American and non-Japanese talent have not been able to travel overseas. White missed last year’s G1 Climax tournament as well as New Japan Cup tournament. He missed out on this year’s tournament as well but doesn’t see it as a setback for his career. Instead, it’s a chance to take on some of the best talent the United States has to offer.
“That company is starving for me to be on their shows, just like every company is,” he explains. “So no, it’s not a setback for me at all. If it allows me to explore the United States a little bit more, then that’s great, but definitely not a setback.”
Bullet Club is one of the longest-running factions in modern-day wrestling and will turn nine years old this May. White talks about comparing how the team has run under his leadership rather than others as he’s also the longest-reigning leader at almost four years.
“With how things have been going the last month or so I think I’ve staked my claim for being the most groundbreaking one,” he said. “I’m talking about trying to almost have an elite or super Bullet Club across Impact, New Japan, and AEW. I think having Bullet Club across this many promotions is something none of the other guys have ever done.”
That vision mirrors the peak days of the NWO with splintered groups in different countries like the NWO Japan with Scott Norton, Muta, Kojima, and Chono, all former IWGP Heavyweight Champions. White says he wants to bring that sort of momentum back.
“I can see the momentum it once had, and I see myself leading it as everything I touch turns to gold,” he said. “I could do that with Bullet Club as well because, for almost two years now, guys have been trying to throw their weight around and make certain decisions when they probably shouldn’t. I’ve got to come in and clean it up a little bit and that starts with cutting out GOD.”
GOD, or Guerillas of Destiny Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa, were two longtime members of the group, with Tama being the only remaining founding member. Ironically, it was he who announced White as the new leader after Kenny Omega, thought of as the most popular leader of Bullet Club, had been kicked out.
Turning on GOD, White looked to the Good Brothers, Anderson and Gallows, as the muscle and tag team representation in the Club. Just last year though, White and the Brothers exchanged some heated words in the ring over at Impact. He had a change of heart, though.
“They’ve proven to be the best tag team, and hey GOD in the New Japan Tag League couldn’t even go after those belts,” White laughed. “I think it was Yujiro and EVIL that got past them so once that started happening, I don’t think you have any claim to being the best tag team in the world anymore.” He went on to praise the Good Brothers and how he feels like drafting them back to Bullet Club is a step up.
“The Good Brothers on the other hand…and if you want to talk about somebody who has been there since the start, so were Karl Anderson and Gallows almost as well, if only by a short time. Those guys have their Impact Tag Team Championships so I feel like I’m trading up, but it’s also somebody with a history here.”
White said that this version of Bullet Club is maybe the most relevant its been in a long while and he’s trying to make it dominant once again.
“It’s never been on three shows before like this and having myself picking the right guys and being younger than the other leaders, or whatever you want to call them, I feel like I might be able to what’s coming to the future rather than those who hold on to the past. That’s why we had to get rid of those guys anyway.”
As the Good Brothers represent the past of Bullet Club, with White as the present, the future of Bullet Club is Chris Bey. Bey has been one of Impact Wrestling’s brightest new stars and joined last August after White invited him. Switchblade had nothing but praise for his first recruit in America.
“Man, that guy’s got flair. I know he’s called the Ultimate Finesser, but that is the word I use to describe the guy,” he said. “He’s a guy who is so smooth and so charismatic as well, he has everything we look for in Bullet Club. He’s got big goals and big aspirations and stuff for himself and I think he sees the potential I see in him as well. You can see the belief he has in us and himself and that’s the kind of guys we look at. They have that belief in themselves that’s going to allow them to do whatever it is they need to do.”
Over in Japan, White’s manager Gedo passed along a message to Bullet Club members, essentially saying it’s time to pick a side. White didn’t see that as a threat, but definitely something to think about.
“I’m letting the guys make a choice and if they’re not interested in what I’m putting out there, then that’s fine. They shouldn’t get in my way, then. That’s where I’m going to have an issue. If the guys don’t like my direction or take on things, then they don’t have to be a part of it. If they do, and if they had half a brain they would, then I’m sure they’re going to want to be a part of it. I do imagine I’m going to have to turn some people down rather than them turning me down.”
Lastly, with his US of Jay tour heating up, White recently took on former mentor Alex Shelley at Sacrifice for Impact. White picked up the win and had nothing but positive words to say about Shelley. “He was my mentor for quite a while there and was my first match in New Japan. We spent a lot of time training together in Japan and when I came to Ring of Honor, I was actually living with him down in Detroit.” White said while there’s history, it’s still always just business.
White also has been setting up open challenges across the different promotions and a who’s who of contemporary legends has taken them up. From Christopher Daniels to Jay Lethal, White has faced any and all challengers, but a name most folks might not be familiar with took up his latest one.
“Speedball” Mike Bailey has been talked about for over a decade having competed in several promotions such as Ring of Honor, CZW, WXW, Progress, and Evolve. He was actually banned from America back in 2016 due to visa issues and finally made his way to the states once again. Having joined up with Impact earlier this year, Bailey has set his sight on Switchblade.
“I’ve mixed it up a little bit with him before. I’ve had him scouted and covered, so I’m not too worried about Speedball,” White smirked. “He wanted to step up to my US of Jay Open Challenge on April 1 at Lonestar Shootout, I was more than happy to oblige.”
Source: Gamespot
