Big update on Karl Anderson, NJPW, WWE
Added 2022-10-26 18:30:21 +0000 UTCKarl Anderson is a hot topic in wrestling, and for good reason.
The active NEVER Openweight Champion was scheduled to defend the championship against Hikuleo in November, the same date as WWE's Crown Jewel show. However, since he's been announced for WWE's Crown Jewel show, things have seemingly went awry. Anderson posted a video saying the NJPW booking wasn't cleared with his tag team partner Gallows, and NJPW says they'll strip him of the title if he doesn't appear.
Despite this, Fightful is told there still are and always have been active plans for Karl Anderson to compete in NJPW. We haven't heard an update on the title itself, but that NJPW does expect Anderson to fulfill additional dates, which WWE was fine with.
Beyond that, we're told that New Japan has been aware that Anderson and Gallows were heading to WWE as far back as August, and that's when the deal was hammered out.. Those familiar with the situation say that things are fine between Anderson, NJPW and WWE.
Comments
I'm sure karl will compete in new Japan, when it's convenient for wwe
e d
2022-10-27 21:23:18 +0000 UTCGet someone to come onto Raw and take the belt from Karl. This can lead to discussions and the start of building a business relationship with NJPW. Or work a deal out with AEW. It’s a long shot but get a DB to show up, pop a rating and take the belt in friendly hands.
Lawrence Robinson
2022-10-27 02:41:49 +0000 UTCIt worked for hulk hogan apparently
Jayson Major
2022-10-26 20:22:11 +0000 UTCLike him or not. Karl is just doing what an "independent contractor does. Shop around using what you got and selling those attributes to that company. That is if you can do that in WWE? LOL
NateF_81
2022-10-26 19:59:21 +0000 UTCCould take the WWE jet.
Excellence of Flexecution
2022-10-26 18:46:23 +0000 UTCYeah just looked at flights times. He couldn't lol
2022-10-26 18:41:01 +0000 UTCThey didn't specify what company they just said he's still a champion in japan.
Jayson Major
2022-10-26 18:40:45 +0000 UTCSince he hasn’t worn the title on raw yet then I agree. But when they were on NXT they did mention he was the NJPW champ. I do think they might send AJ for WrestleKingdom. If this is all a work
Jordan Cassatt
2022-10-26 18:40:08 +0000 UTCNo, he couldn't
CMRN
2022-10-26 18:40:00 +0000 UTCPretty mid work regardless. So they say "we'll strip you if you don't show up" he says "lol no" and then... What? He doesn't show up and then... They don't strip him anyways?
CMRN
2022-10-26 18:39:53 +0000 UTCMakes sense Karl can do these extra things since it was talked about in August. But it being a story in both companies? I hope not.
2022-10-26 18:39:47 +0000 UTCThey'll never do that
CMRN
2022-10-26 18:39:12 +0000 UTCOsaka is 6 hours ahead of Riyadh. He could make both shows.
2022-10-26 18:38:55 +0000 UTCNot gonna happen
CMRN
2022-10-26 18:38:43 +0000 UTCIt’s funny that Anderson is being a clear Heel in the NEVER title story while being a face on Raw against JD lol. That man has range. Really want to see that title on Raw tho, since this clearly seems like a work and that he’ll defend it at some point
2022-10-26 18:37:22 +0000 UTCPerhaps they're trying to set up some kind of WWE vs NJPW story. I guess we'll see if the NEVER Openweight Belt shows up on WWE TV
Kian Hartley
2022-10-26 18:35:39 +0000 UTCWWE should send Anderson Gallows and AJ to NJPW dates. And Anderson should wear the title on Raw. would be cool.
Jordan Cassatt
2022-10-26 18:35:02 +0000 UTCAnderson's responses to all of this point to it being a work.
Tempo1337
2022-10-26 18:34:59 +0000 UTC
