NJPW Issue Statement On Karl Anderson's WWE Double Booking Conversation

NJPW president Takami Ohbari responds to WWE's Karl Anderson's Crown Jewel double booking.

Karl Anderson Ohbari
NJPW/WWE

New Japan Pro-Wrestling president Takami Ohbari has claimed to be doing all he can to ensure every match advertised for his company's 5 November Battle August events goes ahead as planned - including Karl Anderson's scheduled NEVER Openweight Title defence against Hikuleo.

Announced by NJPW two weeks ago, the day after Anderson and Luke Gallows returned to WWE, this bout was thrown into question when Anderson was announced for a match at Crown Jewel 2022 on that same date (5 Nov.). It would have been impossible to make it from Osaka, Japan to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in time, so one bout would have to bite the dust.

The situation is almost certainly a work. Anderson and Gallows released a short video last week stating they weren't coming, giving kayfabe reasons, before Ohbari issued a short statement to Tokyo Sports: "I'm angry."

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Now, Ohbari has tweeted the following:-

Anderson vs. Hikuleo is still being advertised for the show.

Gallows and Anderson had been working for NJPW without a contract prior to re-signing with WWE. The duo have asserted that they are committed to New Japan through Wrestle Kingdom (4 January 2023). The Flagship Wrestling Podcast reported over the weekend that upon signing with WWE, Gallows and Anderson told the NJPW office of all known WWE dates they were committed to, including 5 November.

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New Japan, therefore, were aware of the situation prior to announcing the Hikuleo match. Confirming the bout regardless of this was pitched by somebody internally, with the idea being to turn it into a storyline.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

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.