Karl Anderson Set For Sensational NJPW Return

WWE's Karl Anderson is on his way back to NJPW. The work continues...

by Andy H Murray
Karl Anderson NJPW
NJPW

Karl Anderson is heading back to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, reports Fightful Select.

The reigning NEVER Openweight Champion has been at the heart of what appears to be a worked promotional tug of war since he and Luke Gallows returned to WWE in October. NJPW and WWE seemingly double-booked Anderson, who, at one point, had bouts lined up in Saudi Arabia and Japan on 5 November. It later emerged that upon re-signing with WWE, Anderson made NJPW aware of his commitments, including 5 November, revealing the situation to be a work cloaked in pro wrestling drama.

Now, it is set to continue. Fightful has confirmed that NJPW were informed of Gallows and impending Anderson's WWE returns in August. A plan was then devised allowing Karl to make New Japan dates around his WWE commitments.

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Current NJPW plans call for Anderson to work dates leading up to his NEVER Openweight Title defence on 14 December. On top of this, Karl has been pencilled in for Wrestle Kingdom on 4 January.

Anderson has been NEVER Openweight Champion since defeating Tama Tonga on 12 June. He has mounted one successful defence so far, felling Hiroshi Tanahashi in September.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.