WWE/NJPW News: Bullet Club member reveals which WWE stars helped him get into NJPW

What's the story?

New Japan Pro Wrestling star Jay White was recently a guest on the Talk is Jericho podcast, hosted by former WWE World Champion, Chris Jericho.

During the interview, White revealed which WWE Superstars helped him being recruited by NJPW.

In case you didn't know...

Jay White initially started out in the Pro Wrestling business as a young boy in the United Kingdom before eventually moving to Japan where he started training as a Young Lion in the New Japan Dojo. In his first run in NJPW, White competed as a young lion and underwent the training process much as every other young lion did.

In 2016, White competed in his biggest match till date when he was defeated by then IWGP Intercontinental Champion, Kenny Omega in a non-title match before heading to the US for excursion as part of Ring of Honor. As part of the ROH roster, White shared the ring with the likes of Alex Shelley, Hiromu Takahashi, and even challenged Christopher Daniels for the ROH World Championship.

In 2017, White made his return to NJPW, under the moniker of 'Switchblade' and shortly after his match against Hiroshi Tanahashi at WK 12, the New Zealander was given an offer to join the Bullet Club by Kenny Omega, which he eventually turned down. White would eventually avenge his 2016 loss to Omega by beating him for the IWGP US Championship and in doing so, 'The Switchblade' caused dissension within the BC.

The following year, Jay White would emerge out as the NJPW's next big stars, as he first betrayed Kazuchika Okada and left CHAOS and then set his sights on Hiroshi Tanahashi. In the meantime, not only did Okada's long-term manager Gedo align himself with White but the two also joined the Bullet Club.

The heart of the matter

While speaking with Chris Jericho on his Talk is Jericho podcast, 'Switchblade' Jay White revealed that current WWE star and former Universal Champion, Finn Balor (then known as Prince Devitt) initially helped him to get in contact with Bullet Club OG and fellow New Zealander, Bad Luck Fale. (H/T: Wrestling Inc)

White revealed that he had first met Balor at a RevPro show in the UK, stating the following:

"What was funny though is Revolution Pro works with New Japan now and we trained out of the back of what was an automotive shop. There were a lot of different units. We were in the unit next door to them and you could call us competition if you want because they did shows in a similar area as well, but so we trained next door to them, obviously, for a year until they booked Devitt, so he came over and did shows for our little company. Yep, Finn Bálor, so he came over and I met him. He gave me his card and said to stay in touch. And a hen he got back to Japan, he talked to Fale, being a fellow Kiwi, and he said he met a Kiwi in England, so he got in touch."

The former IWGP US Champion then revealed that Balor eventually came back to the UK with Fale and Shinsuke Nakamura in order to recruit White for New Japan Pro Wrestling.

"And in June 2014, Nakamura, Fale, and Devitt were flying back over to do shows for Rev Pro, so I messaged them to say 'hi' again, and he said, 'yeah,' so I met those guys up there. And from there, I think Fale did the work behind-the-scenes, based on [Bálor's] recommendation, did the work behind-the-scenes to get me a spot in the dojo."

What's next?

Jay White is currently set to challenge Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at the upcoming New Beginning in Osaka show.