Jay White gives his thoughts on the second half of his G1 campaign
Expectations were high for Jay White’s return to Japanese competition for the G1, and the Switchblade has more than lived up to them. Controversial outcomes or not, White is three for three. In the second part of this interview, Jay gives his thoughts on the last five matches of his campaign to come.
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Jeff Cobb gets gifted chance after chance, and squanders it all
–So let’s continue our look at your G1 schedule. On October 5 in Takamatsu, you face Jeff Cobb.
Jay: Jeff Cobb, that’s a familiar face lately.
–He’s been perhaps more active than any of the NJPW roster in America, having wrestled in Lion’s Break Collision and NJPW STRONG.
Jay: He’s pushing himself. He’s trying to show he can play with the big boys and he’s been getting his opportunities on STRONG. But what happened at Fighting Spirit Unleashed?
–He lost to KENTA.
Jay: KENTA beat him twice now. First in the New Japan Cup USA, and then for no reason at all he was gifted, gifted another chance and he wasted that too. So that tells you everything you need to know about Jeff Cobb. He gets gifted opportunity and he squanders it. Now he faces me for another opportunity to prove his worth, and he will fall short again.
Rare as it may be, I like Taichi
–October 7 in Hiroshima, you face Taichi.
Jay: You know something? I like Taichi.
–You do?
Jay: As rare as it is, I like the way he does things. But that isn’t going to change the outcome of the match. But he’s stepped up his game, and he and ZSJ have been making waves. I’m always going to approve of people that embarrass Hiroshi Tanahashi. But when it comes to my match with Taichi, just like last year, the outcome will be the same.
Yujiro and I will fight each other as hard as we can
–October 10 in Osaka, it’s all BULLET CLUB with you and Yujiro.
Jay: I look forward to it.
–Could there be some team orders at this point? Would there ever be the idea of making sure you’re rested and have a guaranteed two points heading toward the end of the league?
Jay: You know, you ask me that kind of question a lot, and the answer is the same every time. I don’t owe you any answer. I don’t owe you anything when it comes to talking about how BULLET CLUB operate.
–My apologies.
Jay: But you know what? I’ll be generous this once. I’ll tell you what will happen in Osaka. We will fight each other as hard as we can. We’re going to beat each other to a pulp and show our heart and fighting spirit. Even if the fans can’t make noise, they won’t be able to help themselves as they scream with joy at myself and Yujiro fighting it out for their entertainment. Write that down.
Minoru Suzuki is two years closer to his grave now
–Toward the end of the campaign, October 13 and Minoru Suzuki.
Jay: Right.
–This is a rematch from a couple of G1s ago, where Suzuki did beat you, but a different Jay White and a different Minoru Suzuki in 2020.
Jay: yeah, we’re different, but you have to remember the biggest difference is time. He might be the NEVER champion, but the point is that he is two years older now. Minoru Suzuki is two years closer to his death, and I’m going to take even more years off his life. I’m getting better, Mr. Suzuki, and you’re getting worse. That’s just how time and aging works.
All Ishii wants to do is stand and trade. I’m smarter
–Your last group match is against Tomohiro Ishii in Ryogoku. You have two tough strikers back to back in your last group matches; do you think that the schedule might hurt you when it comes to wrestling a potential final having incurred a lot of damage?
Jay: Let me answer that with a question of my own.
–Go on.
Jay: You’ve watched my matches from ringside, haven’t you?
–Of course.
Jay: And you know what Kevin Kelly calls me in my matches don’t you? The best defensive wrestler on the planet. Possibly ever. I take away my opponents’ strongest weapon, and leave them with nothing.
–You’re certainly very strategic.
Jay: I have no end of ways to counter people and pick them up. Take Ishii. All Tomohiro Ishii wants to do is stand in the ring and trade with you. I’m smart enough to know if you take his strikes away, he can’t move faster than me, he isn’t stronger than me. Maybe his jaw is stronger, but that’s why I don’t trade with him. Because I’m smarter than the other morons in this thing, who try and prove to these fans that they’re tough and strong. So no, I won’t incur any damage against Ishii. I’ll be fine.
In Japan, it’s all clicking. As a whole, who knows until we’re all together?
–It would be rare indeed if the A block was decided before the closing weekend in Ryogoku. Who do you think will be your biggest competitor in the block going into the closing weekend?
Jay: Well, I suppose even if I am the clear number one, there still has to be a number two. Who would that be… I’d say either Ibushi or Taichi.
–Those are interesting picks.
Jay: Me and Ibushi, obviously we’ve fought a few times, and we have our differences, but I’ve invited Ibushi into BULLET CLUB in the past for a reason, because I know how good he is. And Taichi, like I said, I like Taichi.
–On the other side, in B blo-
Jay (interrupting): KENTA or EVIL.
–OK…
Jay: KENTA or EVIL.
–Which would you-
Jay: KENTA. Or. EVIL.
–Well, let me change the question a little. When we interviewed you in May we talked about how well El Phantasmo and KENTA fit into BULLET CLUB.
Jay: Right.
–And you said that was down to the fact that you were there to oversee that transition, that recruitment. You weren’t there for EVIL joining BULLET CLUB. What do you think of his transition thus far?
Jay: Well, in terms of the members in Japan, it seems like it’s all clicking. As a whole? You can’t say until we’re all together. And who knows when that will happen? So it’s really a case of wait and see. That’s all the insight I’m going to give you. I trust Gedo, and I trusted him while I was away to make all the approvals. But as far as what will happen when we’re all together? I’m waiting to find out just like you are.
–Tetsuya Naito had made comments before EVIL left LIJ that he was at risk of being the number four heavyweight in the group.
Jay: Hahaha! He said that?
–It was meant to motivate him, and although EVIL would deny it, it might have been a deciding factor in EVIL joining BULLET CLUB. It was certainly be a shot to anyone’s ego. Would you say that with BULLET CLUB as dominant as they are, with the strong personalities you have, is ego a concern for the group?
Jay: I’ll ask you another question. Who has the IWGP US Championship briefcase right now?
–KENTA.
Jay: And has there been any issue between myself and KENTA on NJPW STRONG?
–There hasn’t.
Jay: So why would there be any going forward? And when Naito said what he did about EVIL being number four, he looked stupid when he beat both he and SANADA in July, didn’t he? That’s what’s different about BULLET CLUB and LIJ. There isn’t a pecking order, it’s about how you contribute to the better of the group. Naito’s opinion isn’t worth anything anyway; he’s been dropped on his head a few too many times if you know what I mean.
It’ll be an all BULLET CLUB main event at Wrestle Kingdom
–Be that as it may, Naito is IWGP Intercontinental and Heavyweight Champion right now. Are you already setting your sights on him when it comes to Wrestle Kingdom?
Jay: My sights are set on Wrestle Kingdom, yes. But on Naito, no.
–I see.
Jay: First of all, I’ve learned that setting your sights too far ahead can come back to bite you, but there’s also the fact that even though the G1 ends in October, I think that Naito will still have to defend one or both of his championships before January. Usually that happens when someone beats him during the G1, right?
–Right.
Jay: So EVIL and KENTA are definitely beating him. And then it’ll be me against one of them in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom. An all BULLET CLUB main event, and we’ll have all of BULLET CLUB at ringside, it’ll be a united front, and may the best man win.
