Top Prospect Leaves NJPW

LA Dojo prospect Karl Fredericks has opted against re-signing with NJPW.

by Andy H Murray
Karl Fredericks
NJPW

Karl Fredericks has announced his New Japan Pro Wrestling departure, with the LA Dojo product confirming that his contract expired yesterday - and that he didn't plan on re-signing.

Breaking the news via Twitter, Fredericks said that while he was disappointed about this chapter of his career coming to an end, he was grateful for the four years he had spent with NJPW. The fans and trainer Katsuyori Shibata were amongst those he said thanks to on his way out:-

"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 disappointment in the ending of this 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 these years. I hope You will continue to support me along my path wherever that may lead."

The 32-year-old last wrestled for NJPW at its 15 May STRONG tapings in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Fredericks had been with the promotion since joining the LA Dojo in 2018, training alongside Clark Connors and Alex Coughlin under the legendary Shibata.

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It didn't take long for him to emerge as one of NJPW's brightest prospects, having participated in the 2019 Young Lion Cup and World Tag League tournaments, though Fredericks' prominence started to wain shortly after his emergence as a potential breakout star.

Fredericks has already been announced for a West Coast Pro show in September:-

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. 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.