AEW’s Ace Austin shared how Jay White, a fellow wrestler, played a significant role in his entry into New Japan Pro Wrestling. White, who once led New Japan’s Bullet Club faction, noticed Austin when he teamed up with Chris Bey. White initially saw the potential in the Austin-Bey pairing during their 2021 and 2022 appearances on Impact Wrestling.
Austin explained on the AEW show (EW) podcast that White joined Impact during the 2020 coronavirus period and was scouting Chris Bey at that time. As an agent, White kept a close watch on the scene, and Austin was among the top talents in that world, making White aware of his rising status. Austin further proved his worth with an impressive showing at the 2022 Best of the Super Juniors tournament, finishing fourth in Block A, which reinforced his place in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Austin mentioned, “When New Japan invited me to the 2022 Best of the Super Juniors, I delivered an exceptional performance, which confirmed what Jay White had seen in my potential.” The tag team ABC, which consisted of Austin and Bey, was once part of Bullet Club but disbanded due to Bey’s severe injury. Austin, who made his New Japan debut earlier this year and is now with AEW, is back in AEW’s Bang Bang Gang, a subgroup of Bullet Club that includes White, The Guns, and Juice Robinson. Since joining AEW, Austin, formerly of TNA Wrestling, has participated in multiple matches and had two title shots for the AEW TNT Championship and the new AEW National Championship, though he did not win either.
Fan Take: This revelation highlights the interconnected nature of wrestling factions like Bullet Club and the opportunities they create for rising stars like Ace Austin. For AEW fans, it emphasizes the growing talent pool and the exciting potential for fresh rivalries and alliances that can elevate the sport’s storytelling and competition.
