Daily DDT
Fansided

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12: Will Jay White Rise To The Occasion?

By Matthew Dillon

facebooktwitterreddit

The former ‘Young Lion’ Jay White re-debuts in the Tokyo Dome on January 4th.  A marquee match-up at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12 could set the youngster up for long-term success. But will Jay White step up the the plate?

In late 2016, cryptic vignettes aired on New Japan shows. Eventually it was revealed that we would soon witness the arrival of the ‘Timebomb.’ Fans engaged in rampant speculation about who these messages were referring to.

At Power Struggle 2017, former NJPW trainee Hiromu Takahashi returned from his foreign excursion. Immediately, the man who had operated as Kamaitachi declared his intentions: to challenge IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Kushida at Wrestle Kingdom 11.

That bold move would set Takahashi up for a stellar 2017, where he remained atop the junior division for most of the year. At November’s Power Struggle, history repeated itself as another Young Lion returned with lofty ambitions. Jay White, under the moniker of ‘Switchblade,’ laid down the gauntlet for The Ace of New Japan, Hiroshi Tanahashi.

Will Jay White’s 2018 mimic Takahashi’s 2017? Can he translate a Wrestle Kingdom Championship bout into a year of success in the crowded Heavyweight division?

First, a bonafide Champion like Kushida is a tough enough test. But Switchblade has drawn the Ace of the Universe. Sure enough, both Tanahashi and his IWGP Intercontinental Championship have fallen down the card with the introduction of the US Title. Their bout will not be the co-main event as it has been in years past. But in a career as hallowed as Tanahashi’s, this match will become entrenched in his already-storied legacy.

More from NJPW

The pressure will be coming at White from both ends. On the one hand, he needs to deliver a performance worthy of such a highly sought-after slot on the Tokyo Dome card.

There are plenty of wrestlers who had strong 2017 campaigns that would kill for a Tanahashi Wrestle Kingdom match. Looking down the match list, White is holding a more prestigious role at the event than Goto, Ishii, Juice, EVIL, SANADA, Michael Elgin or Zack Sabre Jr. This is all after having done nothing in a New Japan ring since mid-2016.

On the other hand, White will also be expected to keep pace on what will undoubtedly be a full-throttle show.

With such a stacked card, even a decent match can seem like a dud. The excitement surrounding Jericho and Omega has already overshadowed many of the other bouts, so every performer is at risk of becoming a footnote on such a major event.

Tanahashi would never allow himself to become a footnote, but his 25 year-old dance partner will need to step up in a huge way. To make things more difficult, The Ace is suffering from a gradual buildup of injuries that should force him to take time off in the near future. He will surely want to go all-out at the Tokyo Dome, but it may not be the five-star Tanahashi we’re accustomed to at the Tokyo Dome.

While this all seems like an insurmountable task, we need to put faith in White’s ability, and New Japan’s booking. For an idea of White’s in-ring improvement, take a look at his match with Will Ospreay at War of the Worlds. Sure, keeping up with Ospreay’s agility is impressive, but he’ll have a different challenge against the 41 year-old Tanahashi.

Next: What Are The Greatest Characters In Pro Wrestling?

Also, trust in New Japan’s understanding of talent, specifically their home-grown young boys. Jay White would not be in this position if the promotion did not believe he could succeed. The ball is now in Switchblade’s court. It’s a hell of a task, but one any wrestler would be pining to have. It’s time for Jay White to step up and seize this opportunity.

Home/NJPW