Karl Anderson is a veteran pro-wrestler with twenty years’ experience wrestling in companies all over the world. He was a founding member of the Bullet Club and a tag team specialist in New Japan for many years.
His reputation as a tag specialist got him WWE’s attention, which led to him signing a WWE contract and working for them for five years. Anderson was released in 2020 only to make a surprise return in October 2022. But that return hasn’t been without controversy.
“Machine Gun” Karl Anderson expected to work multiple New Japan dates
Earlier in October, Karl Anderson, along with Luke Gallows, returned to WWE to reunite with AJ Styles. Upon his return, Anderson was – and still is – the reigning and defending NEVER Openweight Champion.
One of the bigger questions that arose following Anderson’s WWE return was his scheduled title defence. He was booked to defend the NEVER title on November 5th on a New Japan show but didn’t appear because WWE booked him for Crown Jewel.
Following that situation, questions have been asked regarding Anderson’s status and that of the NEVER title. Now it appears that the situation may finally be resolved.
According to a report by Fightful Select, Anderson is expected to honour several upcoming New Japan dates. Those close to the situation reported that both Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows told New Japan of their plans to return to WWE as early as August.
Furthermore, Anderson is “penciled in” for both a scheduled NEVER title defence in December and for an appearance at Wrestle Kingdom 17. The report further noted that both Anderson and Gallows had committed to work the January 4 Tokyo Dome show quite some time ago and both intend on honouring that commitment.
As an added anecdote, if this arrangement does go as planned, then WK17 will be the first show to feature wrestlers from NJPW, STARDOM, AEW, and WWE all on the same card.