NJPW: How The Rise Of Jay White Led To Kazuchika Okada’s New Rainmaker Era

The Rise of Jay White

Jay White’s New Japan career started with a chance meeting. After working alongside Finn Balor (then Prince Devitt) in 2014, White was invited to the New Japan Dojo by Bad Luck Fale, planting the seed of what would come to fruition in just a few short years.

In White’s own words on Talk Is Jericho, he “didn’t know what a Young Lion was” when he agreed to begin training at the Dojo.

The start of White’s journey in NJPW was nothing extraordinary. Donning the black trunks and boots, White competed as a Young Lion in a class which also featured Roppongi 3K, Juice Robinson, and David Finlay. In keeping with the Young Lion tradition, White ventured overseas for excursion to further hone his craft.

While away from Japan, White competed in Ring of Honor and RevPro in the UK. White found success during his time away from New Japan as he competed alongside KUSHIDA and Lio Rush in a losing effort to The Kingdom to crown the first ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions.

Shortly thereafter, White returned to New Japan with a new demeanor. Leading up to his return, vignettes had aired during NJPW events promoting a mysterious figure with a penchant for knives. Once back on comfortable soil, White was quick to make his mark as a full-fledged member of the active roster.

Returning at Power Struggle 2017, White challenged then ambushed Hiroshi Tanahashi to set up an IWGP Intercontinental Title match at Wrestle Kingdom 12. White came up short in the effort and was quickly courted by Kenny Omega, then the leader of Bullet Club. It seemed a natural fit for White to align with the defiant stable, but he swerved Omega and the rest of New Japan when he attacked Omega.

A day later, White became a member of CHAOS in order to have the much-needed backup to be able to hold off an enraged Bullet Club.

2018 saw White establish himself as a serious threat on the roster while ruffling feathers along the way. He defeated Omega to become the second holder of the title before dropping the strap to Juice Robinson prior to the G1 Climax.

G1 Climax 28 was where the dissension within CHAOS truly began to bloom. Throughout the tournament, White continually tried to convince his stablemates to use weapons and other underhanded tactics to achieve victory. He often claimed that this was his CHAOS, not Okada’s and that everybody would be better off if they followed his lead.

With wins over Okada and Tanahashi, it was hard to argue with White’s points. It was, perhaps, with those accomplishments in mind that White finally felt comfortable enough to take the next step on his path.

At Destruction In Kobe, White and Gedo turned on Kazuchika Okada leaving both the Rainmaker and The Ace laying in the ring following their main event war. A month later at King of Pro Wrestling, White and Gedo officially joined the newly-splintered Bullet Club OG.

With a pair of betrayals and a Bullet Club ripping apart at the seams, The Cutthroat Era was born.