Introducing Jay White

[Big Red Machine]

INTRODUCING JAY WHITE - PART #1 BREAKING IN
New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Jay White is one of the most highly touted young talents in the sport. The New Zealand native makes his much-anticipated debut in the United States at Ring of Honor’s national television taping on Saturday in Concord, N.C. This is the first installment of a three-part series on the NJPW Young Lion.

In January 2013, 20-year-old Jay White was living on the small island of Guernsey in the English Channel when he packed up all of his belongings and took the ferry across to Portsmouth, England.

White did not have a place to stay in Portsmouth, nor did he know anyone.

“All I knew was that there was a pro wrestling training school there,” he said.

And so began White’s pursuit of his dream to become a professional wrestler.

“I didn’t tell anyone that my plan was to become a wrestler,” White said. “It’s kind of a crazy idea to go and do that.”

White started training with Varsity Pro Wrestling, where he learned the ropes from VPW owner Thomas Jones. Jones, who wrestles as The U.K Kid and received his training from wrestling legends Shawn Michaels and Dory Funk Jr., has broken a number of British wrestling stars into the sport.

The athletic White, who had a background in sports such as rugby, soccer, cricket and tennis, proved to be a quick learner inside the ring.

White appeared on about 15 shows a year for VPW in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas. He gained further experience by competing on All Star Wrestling events throughout England, in addition to wrestling on a number of shows in France for Catch WS.

A little over a year after he began training, White crossed paths with NJPW star Prince Devitt. It turned out to be a life-altering moment for White.

Devitt wrestled on three VPW shows and also conducted a seminar with the trainees. In one his matches with the promotion, he joined forces with White in a tag team match.

White made a positive impression on Devitt, who gave White his card and told him to keep in touch.

Shortly thereafter, NJPW star and founding member of The Bullet Club Bad Luck Fale contacted White to tell him that Devitt had talked about him to NJPW officials. Fale, who had played rugby in New Zealand before becoming a pro wrestler, said that he would try to get White into NJPW if he was interested.

Needless to say, White was very interested in joining of of the biggest and best pro wrestling promotions in the world.

Several months later, Devitt and Fale came to England to appear on a Revolution Pro Wrestling event, so White hopped on a train to London to meet up with them.

White ended up hanging out with the two of them as well as NJPW star Shinsuke Nakamura.

“We all went out for a few beers, and from there I kept in touch with Fale,” White said. “Next thing you know, I was getting a visa sorted and had a spot in the NJPW Dojo.”

Part 2 of Introducing Jay White will focus on his experience at the NJPW Dojo. Part 3 will look at his imminent debut in ROH.

[cero2k]

he just had a pretty decent debut at BITW.