Add as a preferred source on Google Jay White made his AEW return at Forbidden Door, held this past Sunday at SAP Center in San Jose, California, during the AEW World Tag Team Championship match. “Switchblade” appeared at the decisive moment and helped Adam Copeland and Christian Cage retain the titles against The Dogs, the team of David Finlay and Clark Connors.
Late in the match, Finlay was preparing to use the shillelagh when the lights went out. Bang Bang Gang appeared on the stage, and White showed up in the ring, hitting Finlay with the Blade Runner. Copeland then followed with a spear to secure the win for the champions.
After the show, during the Forbidden Door post-show media scrum, Tony Khan revealed that the return was only possible because White received medical clearance this week. White had not competed since early 2025 after suffering a hand injury and also dealing with a shoulder issue.
“Jay White actually just officially got cleared this week. This was something we were hoping he was gonna get cleared and he has just been physically cleared and it’s huge excitement. So this was something we were hoping and aiming towards, and working for, and it came out and worked perfectly.”
Tony Khan addresses Jay White’s AEW return, says Jay only got cleared this week:
— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) June 29, 2026
“Jay White actually just officially got cleared this week. This was something we were hoping he was gonna get cleared and he has just been physically cleared and it’s huge excitement.
So this was… pic.twitter.com/9s7H1KRMrR
The choice of Forbidden Door was also directly tied to White’s past in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. In 2023, after leaving NJPW, he was attacked by Finlay, who took on a new role in Bullet Club soon after.
With that, White’s return puts Bang Bang Gang back in the spotlight in AEW and opens the door to a direct rivalry with The Dogs, with Finlay once again at the center of the story.