“Switchblade” Jay White’s road to AEW gold has hit an unexpected detour. The former NJPW standout had set his sights on winning the 2025 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament and challenging for the AEW World Championship at All In Texas. However, on the April 2 episode of AEW Dynamite, White was officially removed from the tournament after suffering an injury, with a backstage attack serving as the on-screen explanation for his absence.
According to a report from Fightful Select, White sustained a legitimate injury that required surgery. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer revealed that White suffered a broken hand, while Bryan Alvarez added that while the injury isn’t expected to sideline him for an extended period, he will be out of action for now.
With White unable to compete, AEW has brought in its newest signing, Kevin Knight, to take his place in the tournament. Interestingly, White had just defeated Knight on the March 29 episode of AEW Collision, making Knight’s inclusion an ironic twist. Knight now steps into a high-profile first-round match against Will Ospreay at Dynasty on April 6—a bout originally scheduled to feature White.
This marks the second consecutive year that White has been forced out of action due to injury during the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. In 2024, he suffered a broken foot during a semi-final match against Hangman Page, which sidelined him for three months and caused him to miss All In London at Wembley Stadium.
While White’s tournament aspirations have once again been dashed, the focus now shifts to his recovery and eventual return. As for Kevin Knight, he has a massive opportunity ahead—one that could solidify his place in AEW if he can pull off an upset against Ospreay at Dynasty.
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