The Owen Hart Cup Tournament is upon us once again. The men’s and women’s brackets are scheduled to be released on the next episode of AEW Dynamite. Will Ospreay and “Hangman” Adam Page have declared for the tournament. However, so does Jay White and he’s the individual that needs the win the most compared to the rest of those on the roster.
Since April 5, 2023, Jay White has been a member of the AEW roster. One of the most important performers in recent New Japan Pro Wrestling is a part of the second-biggest promotion in North America. White was a big signing then, and he’s still a big signing years later.
Still, many of White’s fans and media personalities do not think the former leader of “Bullet Club” is being leveraged to his fullest potential. White remains just outside the title picture. He’s sitting at a tier just below the likes of MJF, Swerve Strickland, Will Ospreay, Kazuchika Okada, and others. Regardless of the fact that he’s as good a performer as all of those individuals named. This has led to some to wonder if White will ever be used “correctly” in AEW and hope that he will head to WWE when his contract expires.
Winning the Owen Hart Cup Tournament would be a huge step in changing that perception. Seeing White pick up several important wins would help him remain a top contender for the AEW World Championship – exactly where he belongs.
It is still surprising to see that Jay White has yet to hold a singles championship in All Elite Wrestling. He, along with The Gunns, held the AEW World Trios and ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championships, but those belts are a joke. Especially for someone who is a former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. White needs to be battling for and winning the most important championships the company has to offer.
Jay White is a performer who draws a lot of attention. He was recognized as an important signing in 2023 when many reported there was heavy interest from WWE. Nearly two years later, he’s yet to be the main event superstar fans wanted him to be. AEW has to change that and winning the Owen Hart Cup Tournament is a move that must happen this year.