As previously reported, top AEW star Jay White was among those who attended last weekend's NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20 pay-per-view to honor Japanese pro wrestling legend Hiroshi Tanahashi following Tanahashi's final match. This appearance led to speculation about White's potential return to AEW soon.
However, according to Fightful Select, that is not the case. While White's participation in Wrestle Kingdom 20 was kept under wraps, AEW sources have clarified that he is still not cleared to return to the ring. The report also indicated that White is not expected to be cleared in the immediate future and is not currently included in any AEW creative plans.
White has not competed in-ring since March of last year due to a broken hand and shoulder surgery that he needed. He was "banned" from NJPW after losing his final match for the promotion in February 2023, making his return for Wrestle Kingdom 20 particularly surprising. There is currently no timeline for when White might be cleared to compete, beyond the indication that it will not be imminent. Updates will be provided as they become available.
