‘Switchblade’ Jay White is dealing with a legitimate injury and is set to undergo surgery, which led to his removal from AEW’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament on Dynamite (April 2, 2025).
Jay White’s Injury & AEW Creative Changes
White sustained the injury prior to Dynamite, though details on the exact nature of his ailment remain undisclosed. The injury has reportedly forced “significant creative changes” within AEW, impacting ongoing storylines.
White was one of the first AEW stars to enter the 2025 Owen Hart Tournament, joining top competitors like Will Ospreay and ‘Hangman’ Adam Page. Despite his injury, the tournament will proceed, with AEW unveiling the full brackets:
2025 AEW Owen Hart Tournament - Men’s Bracket
- Match 1: Will Ospreay vs. Kevin Knight
- Match 2: Brody King vs. Konosuke Takeshita
- Match 3: Mark Briscoe vs. Kyle Fletcher
- Match 4: ‘Hangman’ Adam Page vs. Wild Card
The
semi-finals will see the winners of Matches 1 & 2 face off, as well as Matches 3 & 4. The tournament finals are scheduled for Double or Nothing 2025 on May 25. The first match, Ospreay vs. Knight, will take place at Dynasty 2025 this Sunday.
AEW’s On-Screen Explanation for White’s Absence
On
Dynamite, AEW attributed White’s absence to an attack by The Death Riders, continuing his recent feud with Jon Moxley’s heel faction. White had been aligning with Cope (formerly Edge), though he had teased a potential heel turn on his ally in recent weeks.
Jay White’s AEW Status & Recovery Timeline
With the severity of White’s injury still unknown, there is no confirmed timetable for his return. The former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion has been with AEW since April 2023, signing shortly after departing NJPW.
