Recently, we would see quite a stir caused by Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows signing new deals with WWE. They would return to the company following their 2020 release, despite Karl Anderson being the reigning NEVER Openweight Champion in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Anderson won the belt back in June by defeating Tama Tonga, and successfully defended it on September 25th against Hiroshi Tanahashi. However, his next defence was set for November 5th, which now sees Anderson double booked as he was announced for WWE Crown Jewel the same day.
NJPW Releases Statement On Karl Anderson
With Anderson seeming unlikely to make it to Japan on November 5th, NJPW has released an official statement on the status of Anderson as champion. The statement would read as follows.
“Early morning Japan time on October 20, NEVER Openweight Champion Karl Anderson posted a video on social media indicating that he would not be making his advertised commitment on November 5 in Osaka.
NJPW had announced Anderson’s match with Hikule’o for the NEVER Openweight Championship on October 4. Despite comments from Doc Gallows to the contrary in Anderson’s video, the booking was made through the appropriate channels, and with Anderson’s expressed approval.
However, after the match’s announcement, both Gallows and Anderson would appear on the October 10 edition of WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” broadcast. This led to WWE announcing a match featuring both men for their Saudi Arabia event on November 5, in direct conflict with Anderson’s prior commitment.
NJPW has for the past several days attempted to negotiate with Anderson, but has not been met with a response. Should Anderson decide to renege on his scheduled championship match, he will be required to vacate the NEVER Openweight Championship and return the title belt to NJPW immediately.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling holds its champions to the highest standards of professionalism, and sincerely apologises to fans for any disappointment or inconvenience caused by this matter.”
Standard Practice In NJPW Is To Strip Champions Who Miss Any Defenses
This is standard fair in regards to how NJPW treats champions. If you’re booked for a title match and miss that date, be it for another show, injury, or not being able to travel for the show – you are stripped of that title. Generally, you’ll be able to get a title shot at a later date, but your reign is over – and the vacant title is up for grabs in a match.
If Anderson doesn’t make it to Japan for the previously accepted title match, he will no longer be champion. NJPW will likely have Hikule’o face former champion Tama Tonga for the vacant belt, and the show will go on. This seems to be the case, with Anderson seemingly having no plans to finish up his dates with NJPW, despite stating he’d work with them until Wrestle Kingdom.
Do you think Karl Anderson will make this title defense? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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