New Zealand-born Jay White has risen to the top of NJPW, taking over as leader of the Bullet Club in 2018 and winning both the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
His latest reign as World Champion came to an end at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17, where he lost the title to Kazuchika Okada, the man he’d defeated for the title 206 days prior. Jay White blamed his loss on former Bullet Club member Hikuleo, and the two are scheduled to compete in a ‘Loser Leaves Japan‘ match, leading to speculation about White’s future with the company.
Jay White’s NJPW Contract Expires Soon According To A New Report
The outcome of White’s match against Hikuleo is by no means a certainty, but according to a new report from Fightful Select, it looks like he may indeed be leaving Japan. The report states that the former champion’s contract is set to expire soon, and that he’s expected to make his exit from the company.
Those who spoke with Fightful indicated that both WWE and AEW are interested in signing White, and sources within WWE seemed confident that they could close a deal. However, nothing is close to official as sources within multiple companies relayed the information that no one is legally able to approach White in an official capacity while he’s still under contract to New Japan.
WWE has also shown interest in Hikuelo, which puts the result of the ‘Loser Leaves Japan’ match in doubt. Sources indicated to Fightful that they believe White currently wishes to be in the United States.
The report continues, noting that WWE has been recruiting White for some time, a fact the star himself confirmed in 2021. WWE’s advances have only accelerated since that time.
While it was previously reported by some outlets that White would be under contract to NJPW until 2025 and that AEW had shown interest, White has debunked those rumors in multiple interviews with Fightful, stating:
“Them approaching me and some contract I was on, both things 100% false.”
The report clarifies that no deal has been signed and will not be able to be signed until White’s contract is officially expired. Fightful has not heard back from either White or NJPW when reaching out for a comment.