Jay White's NJPW Contract Expires, Top Star Becomes Free Agent

'Switchblade' Jay White is now on the market amid heavy WWE and AEW speculation.

by Andy H Murray
Jay White AEW
AEW

Professional wrestling has a new hottest free agent on the market, as 'Switchblade' Jay White is officially unattached following his NJPW contract's expiration.

The Super J-Cast tweeted as much on Thursday morning, stating that White is set to leave NJPW:-

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Thus ends the New Zealander's eight-year association with the market-leading puroresu group, which began when White entered the Young Lion system in 2015. Sent on a global excursion the following year, White returned to Japan under his 'Switchblade' guise in 2017, immediately shooting towards the top of the card through a rivalry with Hiroshi Tanahashi.

Installed as Bullet Club's new leader by the end of the following year, White went on to hold multiple singles titles in NJPW, including the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. He will ultimately go down as one of the most successful foreign wrestlers in the company's history.

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AEW and WWE have both been speculated as potential landing spots for the 30-year-old. Recent reporting suggests that WWE, whose creative team has already started pitching creative ideas for White, are the favourites to land 'Switchblade', who is understood to be looking for a new challenge in the United States.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.