10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (Feb 1)

9. Attending WrestleMania XXVII Changed Jay White's Mind

The Miz John Cena WrestleMania 27
WWE.com

New Japan fans will know Jay White as a former IWGP United States Champion. His match with Kenny Omega on night two of The New Beginning in Sapporo last year was epic, and it was a bit of coming out party for White. One thing NJPW hardcores might not know is that it wouldn't have happened had the Kiwi not attended WrestleMania XXVII.

Yep.

On Talk Is Jericho, White told how he won the competition of a lifetime and snagged a trip to 'Mania in Atlanta with his best friend. The pair were buzzed, but the 2011 pay-per-view (headlined by John Cena vs. The Miz) opened Jay's eyes to the possibilities of becoming a pro wrestler. That's something he'd given up on before winning the contest.

To him, it all happened for a reason. As Cena and Miz worked the main event, White had an epiphany. If he could win something as unlikely as the comp he'd entered, then he could become a wrestler and live out his dreams.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.