At last year’s New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) G1 Special event in San Francisco, “Switchblade” Jay White ended up enraging NJPW’s English commentator — and MMA fighter — Josh Barnett.
This incident came about after White suplexed his opponent, Juice Robinson, into the guardrail. The rail would then collide into the commentary table causing Jim Ross to suffer a rib injury. This unplanned spot would prompt Barnett to leave the commentary table and pursue White in defense of Ross.
Looking back on the incident with the WINCLY podcast, Barnett admits they have since gotten past those issues.
“This Is Heat, Use It”
“To be perfectly honest, I never wanted to talk about the incident with Jay White, myself and J.R. in a shoot way,” he said. “After it was all said and done, we the principles had sorted it all out, everybody was on board and OK, drinks were had and people became of better use to each other. I figured, it is what it is, but now it’s more useful to be used in a kayfabe manner than it is otherwise. This is heat, use it. He got nuclear heat after what happened. Contrary to what some sources or some critics out there might say, I actually got a huge, gigantic pop when I went after Jay White and went in the ring.”
Barnett would then explain that his actions had no reflection on wanting to “go in business for myself” and that, despite discussing wrestling for NJPW, knew that “as a commentator that [incident] creates an issue.”
“That Was A Moment Of Reality”
“[…] that was a matter of something entirely unrelated to anything that I was interested in terms of doing pro wrestling,” he said. “That was a moment of reality, not of going in business for one’s self. But the result of it was, Jay White got super nuclear heat, Juice Robinson became such a face out of it, got so much of a response, let’s use it. Mistakes are made, you can’t fix that, but we can go forward with something more positive and more beneficial to everyone… If this is how it’s turned out, and people are getting a good, solid heel that’s creating interest and creating conflict, then fantastic. That’s what’s needed.”
Jay White went on to become the leader of Bullet Club and has recently claimed the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. He would defeat Hiroshi Tanahashi for the championship at NJPW’s recent show, The New Beginning in Osaka.
H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
