In a revealing conversation on the JAXXON Podcast with Rampage Jackson, martial arts legend Michael Jai White shared an extraordinary behind-the-scenes story that exposes the chaos on the set of “Exit Wounds.” The film’s production team was so exhausted by Steven Seagal that they concocted an audacious plan to schedule the final scene as the very last day of filming just in case things went sideways.
White recalled the director’s blunt proposition:
“We’re putting the fight scene with you and Seagal at the very last thing, so if you f–k him up, we don’t need him. We could finish with his stunt double.”
White couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He went to the producer for confirmation and got the same answer. They “were tired of his a–” and were genuinely hoping White might injure Seagal so they could finish the movie without him.
White, who holds multiple black belts and has trained with elite MMA stars including Jon Jones and Remy Bonjasky, was shocked that the filmmakers were actively trying to engineer a situation where their lead actor might get hurt.
“Are you serious? You were trying to get me to f–k up Steven Seagal?”
Even his manager saw the opportunity, telling White it “wouldn’t hurt your career none” if he actually did it. But White refused to participate.
“That’s some chicken s–t stuff,”
he said.
“Steven Seagal is not a fighter. He’s defenseless to us.”
He pointed out that any MMA star on set would be “susceptible” to getting hurt, and if he pulled something like that,
“somebody should knock my g–d d–n teeth out when I’m on a set.”
White was clear about the distinction between movie martial arts and actual competition. He noted that Seagal had never “had to block a punch from anybody trying to hit him in the face in his whole career. That’s not his skill set, but it’s okay.” White acknowledged Seagal’s training in aikido but dismissed it as “choreography,” adding that pretending otherwise was
“a slap in the face of people who put their lives on the line and their hearts and minds and everything else to really fight.”
The tension between the two actors had history. White referenced earlier incidents on the film “On Deadly Ground,” where he witnessed Seagal hurting stunt performers.
“He was hurting the stunt guys,”
White said, describing how Seagal would unnecessarily injure colleagues even off camera, including tearing stuntman Neil Stewart’s bicep “for no reason.” White admitted that behavior made him “snap” at Seagal though Seagal later apologized.
Despite their past conflicts and the opportunity the “Exit Wounds” crew presented him, White maintained his standards. When the scene finally came, White noticed Seagal “looked so nervous,” but he refused to take advantage.
“Listen, if he tries to bully me, I have no problem, but that’s not gonna happen,”
White explained.
“I know that wouldn’t happen.”
White also addressed the broader issue of Seagal’s reputation among real MMA stars. He pointed out that Seagal tries to “legitimize himself by being around UFC stars” like Anderson Silva, who “don’t want to meet somebody they grew up looking at in movies.” White saw through it:
“It bolsters his position and makes him look like he’s legitimate. But I mean, I don’t feel like he needs to even do that because he is a legend as a movie star. That’s what you are.”
Throughout the interview, White emphasized his respect for actual combat athletes, calling professional MMA stars “Gladiators” and “our heroes.” He was adamant about the difference between his own work and theirs:
“Even though I’ll get in the ring with anybody, I’m not… That’s not how I made my living.”
When the cameras rolled on that final scene, White did his job. Nothing more, nothing less.
