We’re in the midst of the biggest wrestling tournament of the year, as the NJPW G1 Climax rages on. However, this tournament might have been the final straw in the NJPW career of LA Dojo trainee Karl Fredericks. He was tired of being overlooked for chances like the New Japan Cup or G1 Climax, and has decided to exit NJPW and explore other options in professional wrestling.
Karl Fredericks Is Gone From NJPW As Of August 1st
In a post to Twitter, Karl Fredericks would explain that he is no longer with NJPW. He would say the following.
“As of today, August 1st, I am no longer under contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling and I will not be re-signing with the company at this time. Though there is a disappointment in the ending of his chapter, I am grateful for the last four years traveling the world and growing with my best friends. I want to say thank you to the company for the opportunities and especially thank you to Shibata-san for believing in me and bringing me along his journey with the LA Dojo. Last, but not least – thank you to my fans and thank you to the NJPW fans for your support over the years. I hope you will continue to support me along my path wherever that may lead.”
What Could His Next Moves Be?
Right now, Karl Fredericks is 32 years old – and in peak physical condition. He went through and graduated the NJPW young lion program, being personally trained by the legendary Katsuyori Shibata. Any company would be glad to find someone like Fredericks on his roster, and had Fredericks been given a bigger spot in NJPW – it is highly likely they would have let him go.
WWE is certainly an option, with Triple H now in charge, the strict rule of not going after older established wrestlers for new hires. Fredericks could tear through the NXT 2.0 roster to flesh out his Alpha Wolf character, and become a strong player on the main roster. Meanwhile, Impact Wrestling is also a fantastic potential spot for Fredericks, with him fitting perfect in their main event scene.
Where do you want to see Karl Fredericks show up following this NJPW exit? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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