Report: WWE Prioritising A Major Free Agent Over Signing Jay White

Jay White looks set to depart New Japan Pro-Wrestling on February 18 as the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion will face Eddie Kingston in a Loser Leaves NJPW Match at Battle in the Valley. The match was already scheduled to be a straight singles clash but both men agreed to the stipulation on Thursday night, which comes only days after White lost a Loser Leaves Japan Match to Hikuleo at The New Beginning in Osaka. 

White's contract with New Japan is believed to be expiring and the likes of WWE and All Elite Wrestling are said to be interested in signing the 30-year-old. 

WWE appear to be looking at other avenues first, though, as Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that those in WWE who would normally know about major acquisitions during the build to WrestleMania didn't know about a possible deal for White. All they said too was that there was "a much bigger major free agent in play right now that was internally the priority." The identity of the free agent is unknown.

White has been a key star for NJPW in recent years and he was the promotion's first-ever Grand Slam Champion.