The former Eddy Thorpe, now back to using his real name Karl Fredericks, has been announced for his first post-WWE matches.
Fredericks was part of the roster cuts revealed on May 2, later stating that he had asked to be released. Over the weekend, he made an unadvertised appearance at a West Coast Pro Wrestling show and has since been announced for the promotion’s September 5 event in San Francisco.
The 34-year-old is also scheduled to face Mance Warner at Jersey Championship Wrestling’s show in Asbury Park, New Jersey, on Sunday, September 21.
Last month, Fredericks explained on social media that he requested his release from WWE because he wanted to do something meaningful with his life.
“I asked for my release from WWE so I could do something f–king meaningful with my life,” he wrote.
He later added, “I set the goal to work (in WWE). I spent a decade working for it. I got it. And in my experience I came to the conclusion I didn’t want to do it.”
Fredericks also mentioned that he was upset WWE wouldn’t allow him to work a volunteer DJ’ing job over WrestleMania weekend.
Prior to signing with WWE, Fredericks joined the NJPW Dojo system in 2015. He won the Young Lions Cup in 2019 but announced in June 2022 that he was leaving NJPW, upset at not being chosen to participate in that year’s G1 Climax.
JUST SIGNED!
Karl Fredericks returns to San Francisco!
West Coast Pro returns to @TheFoundrySF on Friday, September 5th to bring to you…
Karl Fredericks, formerly NXT’s Eddy Thorpe, says he asked WWE for his release.
The 34-year-old was among WWE’s roster cuts revealed on May 2. He had been with the company since early 2023.
When asked online about recent political comments, Fredericks responded that he asked for his WWE release so he could “do something meaningful” with his life.
“I asked for my release from WWE so I could do something f–king meaningful with my life.”
He later added, “I set the goal to work there. I spent a decade working for it. I got it. And in my experience I came to the conclusion I didn’t want to do it.”
In another reply, Fredericks stated that WWE wouldn’t allow him to DJ during WrestleMania Weekend.
“No. WWE wouldn’t let me DJ for free in Vegas mania weekend. While other talent got to make money on their outside ventures,” he wrote.
Before signing with WWE, Fredericks trained in NJPW’s Dojo system beginning in 2015. He won the Young Lion Cup in 2019 but announced in August 2022 that he would not be re-signing with the promotion. He had previously expressed frustration after being left out of that year’s G1 Climax tournament.
“Last thing I’m even going to entertain with a voice rn as far as professional wrestling goes is that @njpwglobal doesn’t deserve Karl Fredericks,” he posted on June 12.
Now going by the name “Eddy Thorpe,” Fredericks will take on Dante Chen on the NXT Level Up episode that airs this Friday. The show airs on Peacock/WWE Network at 10 p.m. Eastern time.
“Thorpe is an intriguing newcomer who has competed all over the world and has a chance to turn heads if he can defeat his fellow veteran, Chen,” WWE.com wrote. “Chen is 6-3 in his last nine matches on NXT Level Up, having most recently picked up a hard-earned win against Kale Dixon.”
Fredericks using “Thorpe” as his last name in NXT appears to be a tribute to legendary Native American athlete Jim Thorpe. Fredericks is also Native American.
The full card for this week’s Level Up is listed below:
Fredericks appeared during Friday’s NXT house show in Fort Pierce, Florida. Footage from NXT’s Instagram showed Fredericks confronting Axiom in the ring. He had a microphone in his hand, teasing he would say something, but then dropped the microphone and made his exit.
It was reported earlier this month by PWInsider that Fredericks had signed with WWE. Fredericks opted not to renew his contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling, leaving the company last August.
Fredericks, 32, became a pro wrestler in 2015. In 2018, Fredericks started to train at NJPW’s LA Dojo under Katsuyori Shibata. He went to Japan the following year to compete in that year’s Young Lion Cup tournament and also competed in that year’s World Tag League, teaming with Hirooki Goto. In 2020, he began competing on New Japan Strong, eventually graduating out of his young lion phase and continued to wrestle there through 2022.
Former NJPW wrestler Karl Fredericks is now under contract with WWE.
PWInsider reported on Tuesday that Fredericks has officially signed with WWE and will be part of the NXT brand. The 32-year-old Fredericks had been spotted at the WWE Performance Center this past September.
Fredericks began his NJPW career as a Young Lion at the promotion’s LA Dojo. He graduated from the Young Lion system in 2020.
In May 2022, Fredericks wrestled for NJPW for the last time. He announced in August that he was no longer under contract with NJPW and wouldn’t be re-signing with the company:
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.
Fredericks posted a tweet last June where he expressed frustration with not being included in NJPW’s G1 Climax tournament.
A former NJPW wrestler could be on their way to WWE.
PWInsider reported on Wednesday that Karl Fredericks was spotted at the WWE Performance Center earlier this week. The report didn’t confirm whether Fredericks has joined WWE.
“Karl Fredericks, who exited New Japan Pro Wrestling this past August when his contract expired, was seen at the PC earlier this week,” PWInsider wrote.
Fredericks last wrestled for NJPW this May. In a statement posted on social media in August, Fredericks announced his departure from the promotion:
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.
Fredericks started with NJPW as a Young Lion at their LA Dojo. He graduated from the Young Lion system in 2020.
It was announced this June that Fredericks would be teaming with Christopher Daniels in the NJPW Strong Tag Team title tournament, but Fredericks ended up being replaced by Yuya Uemura.
Fredericks posted a tweet in June expressing frustration over not being included in NJPW’s G1 Climax: “Last thing I’m even going to entertain with a voice rn as far as professional wrestling goes is that @njpwglobal doesn’t deserve Karl Fredericks.”
Karl Fredericks is no longer with New Japan Pro Wrestling.
The 32-year-old posted a message to social media announcing he will not be re-signing with the company.
“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.”
Fredericks had previously expressed frustration with NJPW after not being selected for the G1 Climax 32.
“Last thing I’m even going to entertain with a voice rn as far as professional wrestling goes is that @njpwglobal doesn’t deserve Karl Fredericks,” he posted on June 12.
Fredericks hasn’t performed for NJPW since a show from Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena on May 15. He was announced to team with Christopher Daniels in the Strong Openweight Tag Team Title tournament but was later replaced by Yuya Uemura.
Christopher Daniels and Karl Fredericks have agreed to team up and enter the NJPW Strong tag team title tournament.
The promotion announced last week that an eight-team single elimination tournament will begin at Ignition on June 19 with the winners being declared the inaugural NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions.
NJPW released a YouTube video on Sunday featuring Fredericks asking Daniels to be his partner.
“I brought you here in front of this camera, Chris, because I wanted to ask you in front of the whole world,” Fredericks says in the video. “New Japan has announced a Never Openweight Strong Tag Team tournament and you told me, you came and you saved me, you told me awhile back if I ever needed any help, if I ever needed a tag partner, you said that Chris, that you’d have my back. You said the Fallen Angel would be watching over the Alpha Wolf. I’ve been starving for opportunity on this show for a very long time. I need a partner. What do you say?”
Daniels expressed that after his team with Frankie Kazarian broke up, he wasn’t sure he’d ever have another tag partner. He eventually agreed to team with Fredericks, however.
“You make me one promise, you promise me that every time we go out to that ring, when he bell rings, you give me not 100%, not 110%, you give me 200%,” Daniels responded.
“You heard it, the Fallen Angel and the Alpha Wolf, New Japan Strong Openweight tag team tournament,” Fredericks said.
NJPW has revealed the lineup for this week’s episode of Strong.
AEW’s head of talent relations Christopher Daniels will be in action, facing Karl Fredericks. Daniels lost to Jay White at Strong: Nemesis in December. Daniels wrestled four times on Chris Jericho’s cruise last October, but has otherwise not been active in AEW since he and SCU tag partner Frankie Kazarian lost a tag match to The Young Bucks on Dynamite last May.
Also announced, JONAH and Bad Dude Tito will tag against Juice Robinson and David Finlay.
In Friday’s opener, TJP will take on Brogan Finlay.
The Rivals episodes of Strong were taped on February 17 at the Vermont Hollywood in Los Angeles.
Here is the lineup for Saturday:
NJPW Strong: Rivals night one, Saturday, March 5, 8 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. JONAH & Bad Dude Tito
A tag team match will headline this week’s New Japan Showdown episode of NJPW Strong.
In the main event, Will Ospreay and TJP of The United Empire will tag against NJPW LA Dojo graduates Karl Fredericks and Clark Connors.
In the semi-main, Juice Robinson will be in singles competition against Bullet Club’s El Phantasmo.
In the opener, Robinson’s FinJuice tag partner David Finlay will team with Alex Coughlin and Yuya Uemura against Team Filthy’s JR Kratos, Royce Isaacs and Jorel Nelson.
The New Japan Showdown episodes of Strong were taped on October 16 and October 17 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the 2300 Arena.
Strong airs at 8 p.m. Eastern time this Saturday on NJPW World. The show will also be available on demand immediately following airing.
Here is Saturday’s full lineup:
NJPW Strong New Japan Showdown night one, Saturday, November 6, 8 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World–
Will Ospreay & TJP vs. Karl Fredericks & Clark Connors
Juice Robinson vs. El Phantasmo
David Finlay, Alex Coughlin & Yuya Uemura vs. JR Kratos, Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson
NJPW has revealed the full lineup for this week’s episode of Strong.
In the main event, United Empire’s Will Ospreay will face KArl Fredericks. Ospreay is still claiming to be the rightful IWGP World HEavyweight Champion, having never lost the title in the ring. NJPW announced that Ospreay had vacated the title due to injury in May. Ospreay was out of action until returning at NJPW Resurgence in August in Los Angeles and announcing that he was going to defend the “real” World Championship on NJPW Strong.
Also on this week’s episode, Juice Robinson, Lio Rush, Clark Connors and TJP will face Bullet Club’s Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo, Hikuleo and Chris Bey in an eight-man tag.
In the second match on Saturday’s show, Rocky Romero and Ryusuke Taguchi will tag against West Coast Wrecking Crew, Team Filthy’s Jorel Nelson and Royce Isaacs.
In the opener, Alex Coughlin’s challenge series will continue one-on-one against Chris Dickinson.
The Autumn Attack episodes of Strong were taped on September 25 and September 26 in Garland, Texas.
Strong airs at 8 p.m. Eastern time this Saturday on NJPW World. The show will also be available on demand immediately following airing.
Here is Saturday’s full lineup:
NJPW Strong Autumn Attack night two, Saturday, October 16, 8 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World–
Will Ospreay vs. Karl Fredericks
Juice Robinson, Lio Rush, Clark Connors & TJP vs. Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo, Hikuleo & Chris Bey
Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero vs. Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs
Barrett Brown (with Bateman & Misterioso) defeated Wheeler Yuta
Wheeler seemed to have an edge over Brown on offense. He put Brown into a bow-and-arrow stretch submission but Brown slipped out. Wheeler later caught Brown with a high dropkick to the face.
Brown gained an advantage after kicking the ropes into Wheeler’s throat while he was hanging over the ropes. He applied a chin lock and illegally fish hooked Wheeler until the ref made him break the hold. More dirty fighting, or, really, more Bateman-inspired offense. Brown would actually walk over and confer with Bateman, who was cornering him at ringside.
Brown missed a swanton from the top rope. Wheeler earned a close two-count with a German suplex. When Wheeler locked in a modified STF, Bateman slid into the ring to distract the ref. Wheeler broke the hold to confront Bateman, and while the ref argued with him, Misterioso snuck in from the opposite side of the ring and gave a backcracker to Wheeler. Brown recovered then pinned Wheeler to pick up the win.
Brown’s win streak continues, and the story is that Brown only wins matches when he resorts to illegal tactics, ones that he learned from Bateman.
Hikuleo defeated Fred Yehi
Hikuleo shoved Yehi to the mat at the beginning of the match, then sneered at him. Yehi later took the big man down to the mat and locked in a Koji Clutch early on. Hikuleo shut Yehi down early and took control of the offense for much of the middle part of this match, up until Yehi shot a flurry of bicycle up-kicks to a standing Hikuleo. Yehi went back to the Koji Clutch, then transitioned to a seated headscissors and threw a few Gary Goodridge-style elbow smashes.
Hikuleo wrapped his hand around Yehi’s throat and threatened a chokeslam; Yehi escaped. When he ran off the ropes, Hikuelo caught him with a sudden snap-powerslam for two. He’d put Yehi away in 5:39 after a sit-out Death Valley Bomb.
Afterwards, Hikuleo grabbed the mic and cut a rare in-ring promo demanding that New Japan give him stronger opponents. “This is too easy,” he said. As soon as he said that, Juice Robinson’s music sounded. He appeared at ringside, mic in hand.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but did I hear your 8’0” ass whining about the lack of competition here on Strong?” After calling him a “baby giraffe”, Juice challenged Hikuleo to a match that was later confirmed for Resurgence tomorrow.
Karl Fredericks and Lio Rush defeated Team Filthy (Tom Lawlor & Danny Limelight)
Lots of action in this one. Fredericks jumped Team Filthy before the bell. He laid in about a half-dozen elbows to Lawlor before “Filthy” was able to temporarily neutralize Fredericks to collect himself. Rush did a bottom-rope springboard dive onto Limelight who was on the floor.
Fredericks went for Manifest Destiny early but he couldn’t lift Lawlor up. He’d instead drop a huge elbow onto Lawlor, and then Rush caught Lawlor with a running frog splash.
When Fredericks next bounced off the ropes, Limelight kneed him in the back. Fredericks turned around and ran towards Limelight on the apron with a big boot, but Limelight dropped to the floor, so Fredericks’ leg got hung up on the top rope. Lawlor took advantage and went to town on an incapacitated Fredericks. He’d next apply a straight ankle lock and tore away at Fredericks’ knee.
The middle part of this match was primarily Lawlor and Limelight attempting to destroy Fredericks’ knee, right up until Fredericks was able to escape to the red corner and tag out to a fresh Lio Rush, who’d go on to clean the proverbial house. He caught Limelight with a handspring elbow, then dove through the bottom ropes onto Lawlor with a tope suicida.
Back in the ring, Lawlor launched Rush with a modified uranage slam. Rush would recover later but miss a frog splash from the top. He tumbled through and went for a frankensteiner, but Limelight turned it into a backcracker bomb for two.
Towards the end, Fredericks and Lawlor brawled all the way down to the floor. In the ring, Rush was able to use his first-rope springboard cutter to put Limelight away and pick up the win for him and Fredericks.
After the match, Fredericks and Rush cut a promo on Tom Lawlor and Team Filthy and claimed Lawlor wouldn’t be Openweight champion for much longer. Fredericks said he wouldn’t let Lawlor walk into New Japan and take his and his boys’ jobs. Both showed good delivery on the mic.
Final thoughts:
Tonight’s episode was solid, yet again. Barrett Brown’s working relationship with Bateman continued to develop as Brown picked up another singles win over Wheeler YUTA. Yehi, who’s usually a tag wrestler on the show, fell to Hikuleo, who will challenge the returning Juice Robinson in the near future. And Team Filthy vs. NJoA continues to evolve, with Fredericks as the de facto leader of the Strong ship, so it seems.
“Steady as she goes” would be an accurate phrase to describe tonight’s show. It was quality but also didn’t deviate from prior episodes. No surprises here, but really, that’s not to be expected on this show. Strong succeeds in its quality consistency and its commitment to a simple, hard-hitting in-ring product. But if you’re expecting angles and surprise swerves peppered into your wrestling, maybe NJPW Strong isn’t the show for you.
Tonight was the first show of NJPW’s Ignition tour.
Fred Yehi and Wheeler Yuta defeated The DKC and Kevin Knight
Karl Fredericks earned tonight’s title shot by eliminating the current STRONG Openweight champion, “Filthy” Tom Lawlor, from an eight-man elimination tag team match on the show a few weeks back.
Yehi lifted DKC with one arm and slammed him to the mat early on in a nice display of power. Knight and DKC joined up moments later to double-hip toss the larger Yehi into the center of the ring. The Young Lions were aggressive with their double-team offense against Yehi, a logical strategy from the younger and less experienced team.
Yehi finally tagged out to a fresh Wheeler Yuta, who worked Knight over for a bit. At the five-minute mark, Yuta went to whip Knight into the ropes, but Knight reversed it, then landed a spectacular dropkick. Kevin Kelly accurately compared with legend Doug Furnas’ dropkick.
DKC tagged in and he and Yehi got into it with DKC getting the better of things this time around. DKC is unique in that he incorporates a karate-wrestling hybrid style of offense. I can’t really compare it with anything else other than Yoshi Kwan in early ‘90s WCW.
Yuta and Knight traded elbows and near falls towards the finish, but Yuta used a modified armlock cradle to pin Knight in 7:47.
Clark Connors defeated Rocky Romero
This was good. Connors went for a single-leg takedown early. They grappled for a few minutes with Connor as the aggressor. Romero was able to slow things down and put Connors in a headlock, but Connors exploded out of that. The two traded chops and elbows. Romero took Connors out with a lariat but wasn’t able to connect well due to slight exhaustion.
Romero hit a missile dropkick from the top ropes while Connors was draped over the ropes nearby. He started laying it in later, throwing Connors to the floor with a headscissors, then ran off the apron and caught him with a flying knee strike.
Romero blasted Connors with low kicks later in the match. When he went for Sliced Bread, Connors bounced off the opposite ropes and took Romero out with a spear. After a snap powerslam off the ropes, Connors used an authoritative backdrop suplex bomb on Romero for the pin in around ten minutes. This was Connors’ first singles win over Romero.
In the post-match interview, Connors was pumped. He explained how many times he had wrestled and lost to Romero in the past, which made his win that much sweeter. The rise of the “Wild Rhino” continues.
STRONG Openweight title match: “Filthy” Tom Lawlor (c) defeated Karl Fredericks to retain
Lawlor came to the ring with Team Filthy soldier JR Kratos. Aghast with Lawlor’s cocky-guy Flair strut, Kevin Kelly cried out that “Jackie Fargo is rolling in his grave.”
Lawlor threw hand-strikes and low kicks early on. As soon as Fredericks would gain any momentum, Lawlor would back into the corner for a rope break. He consulted Kratos at ringside.
Fredericks went for an armlock minutes later, but Lawlor escaped and went for a leg lock before Fredericks grabbed the bottom rope for a break. Fredericks would begin to get the upper hand once again, but Lawlor slipped under the bottom rope to the floor to regroup.
Back in the ring, Lawlor feigned a collar-and-elbow tie-up with Fredericks, then laid in a big knee to Fredericks’ gut followed by a few chops. Fredericks answered back with a hard shoulder block. The 6’1” Fredericks would then whip Lawlor into the ropes and leapfrog over him as if he were SANADA before landing a picture-perfect cross-body block. This man is limber.
When Fredericks charged at Lawlor in the corner, Lawlor ducked and back-body dropped Fredericks over the top and to the floor. Lawlor would work over Fredericks on the floor until the count of 15, where he’d then roll in and out of the ring in order to restart the count. In this ring-out, Lawlor ambushed Fredericks and clotheslined him over a guardrail. Lawlor would eventually re-enter the ring and leave Fredericks outside, but the “Alpha Wolf” was able to make it back into the ring at the count of 16.
Lawlor locked Fredericks in a cravat while throwing knee strikes. He took Fredericks down to the mat and laid in more low kicks. When Lawlor went for a running Penalty Kick, Fredericks caught his leg, stood up and threw chops. Ten minutes had elapsed at this point. Lawlor locked in a guillotine choke after jumping guard but Fredericks broke the hold with a rope break. Lawlor used a big slam that laid Fredericks out.
Moments later, Lawlor and Fredericks would exchange even harder strikes in the corner. When Fredericks went for his Shibata-inspired running dropkick in the corner, Lawlor launched himself at Fredericks with a spinning European uppercut. He locked in a standing ankle lock next but Fredericks escaped after connecting with a Pele kick which announcer Alex Koslov called an “impaler kick.”
Fredericks finally connected with the running dropkick but he could only garner a two-count. Fifteen minutes had gone by when Fredericks had Lawlor in a crossface submission. Lawlor escaped after pulling Fredericks’ hair and reversing the hold into a crossface of his own, but again it was for naught as Fredericks escaped to his feet. Lawlor blatantly pulled Fredericks’ hair again, but this time Fredericks countered into Manifest Destiny, his finisher. Lawlor looked to be out but was right next to the ropes, so he draped his leg over the bottom to break the count.
The two would then fight for leverage on the top rope. After a minute of back-and-forth exchanges, Lawlor planted Fredericks with a falling DDT off the top rope. Lawlor then used the PK to put Fredericks away at 18:04.
Afterward, Lawlor extended Fredericks his hand. He and Kratos lifted him off the mat. When Fredericks finally went to shake Lawlor’s hand, “Filthy” threw another low kick at Fredericks’ leg. He’d then strangled Fredericks as Kratos trash-talked until Satoshi Kojima came out for the save. When Kojima went to lariat his head off, Lawlor escaped from the ring.
“Hey! Tom Lawlor! Listen: I’m next challenger. . . I will kick your ass.”
Kojima’s short and sweet words for Lawlor indicated that he’ll likely be facing off with “Filthy” Tom soon for a chance at the STRONG Openweight championship. Lawlor was visibly furious as he headed to the back.
Final thoughts:
This was a solid episode that really felt like it was all about the main event. Fredericks and Lawlor had a great match, but I think their next down the road will be even better. I’m also looking forward to seeing more of Fred Yehi and Wheeler Yuta in action this summer based on how impressive they looked in tonight’s opener.
Tonight’s episode of NJPW Strong was described as an LA Dojo showcase, with a focus on each of the trainees. Karl Fredericks and Alex Coughlin were pushed as the show centerpieces. Trainer Katsuyori Shibata spoke in English about his trainees, basically hyping his guys up for tonight’s card.
TJP defeated the DKC via submission
The opener saw TJP take most of the first part of this match on offense, and it was mostly on the mat. The DKC came across as a competent grappler, though. He never felt like he was too far behind TJP. DKC caught TJP with a dropkick late, kicking off a short series of fiery comeback action. He has great babyface energy. TJP eventually tapped him with a modified STF/abdominal stretch submission. They shook hands afterward.
DKC said backstage that he’s in the gym and giving his best effort in his new path as a LA Dojo Young Lion under Shibata.
Fred Rosser and Ren Narita defeated Alex Coughlin and Kevin Knight
We saw some feistiness between Coughlin and Rosser before the bell. It was a simple way of drawing me into the match without any other context. Rosser and Knight were in together first and had a great exchange. Knight is super athletic. Rosser bullied Knight around before tagging out to partner Ren Narita, stomping over Knight a few times.
Knight and Rosser made a comeback midway through this after Narita got the better end of a beating from both Coughlin and later Knight. Knight at one point landed a beautiful high dropkick on Narita. It wouldn’t be hyperbole if I were to compare him with Okada’s. Some may even rate Knight’s higher. Go and watch for yourself.
Coughlin took Rosser out with a missile of a shoulder tackle. He later showcased his raw power by ragdolling the not-small-at-all Rosser, and later launching Narita with a deadlift backdrop suplex from hell.
Towards the end of the match, Rosser landed a powerful lariat on Knight, sending Knight spinning to the mat. Narita and Coughlin brawled on the floor as Knight and Rosser struggled for control on the top rope. Knight knocked Rosser off the turnbuckle and landed a high crossbody block, but Rosser held onto Knight while rolling through, reversing Knight’s momentum and lifting him into a double-knee gutbuster. Rosser pinned Knight after connecting with a running basement dropkick, picking up the win for him and Young Lion Narita.
Knight talked about how he’s taken a loss every single time he’s been in the ring, then said he “couldn’t do it.” Coughlin shared some words of support for his training partner and urged him to keep going. Knight said he’d keep training.
Karl Fredericks defeated Clark Connors
Tonight’s main event was between the hypothetical “best of the best” on NJPW Strong. Connors and Fredericks trained at the same time in the LA Dojo, alongside Alex Coughlin, but Fredericks won the Young Lions Cup in 2019, hence “graduating” from the dojo one year ahead of Connors, who would go on to win the Cup last year.
Things kicked into overdrive early on. After an even exchange between both on the mat, the action spilled to the floor. The bigger Fredericks at one point dove through the ropes, landing onto Connors with a tope suicida. They continued to brawl on the floor, with Connors suplexing Fredericks onto the floor.
Connors kept control on offense from the time he’d brought the fight back into the ring. The pace slowed, and Connors seemed to target Fredericks’ back and shoulder area, using a variety of both modified abdominal stretches and hard double-chops to the back of Fredericks.
Fredericks powered back from Connors’ control and threw some hard kicks to a seated Connors, then both continued exchanging hard shots for a short while.
At the ten-minute mark, Connors collided with Fredericks, sending him flying with a shoulder tackle. Towards the end, their exchanges got much faster, with one exchange ending with Fredericks picking Connors up and drilling him into the mat with a backdrop suplex. Fredericks dropped his jumping elbow drop on Connors before locking him into a crossface submission. Connors made it to the ropes for a break, then was able to lock Fredericks into a Boston Crab, the Young Lion signature. Fredericks was close to tapping but eventually made it to the bottom rope to break the hold.
Connors went to the top, assumedly for a super flying shoulder block, but Fredericks got up and knocked him dizzy with a jump enzuigiri kick to the face, then superplex’d him from the corner post into the ring.
Both looked exhausted and were slow to their feet by around 15 minutes into the match. The two then traded even harder elbows and slaps. Fredericks leveled Connors with a running basement kick, but Connors asked for more. Fredericks went for another kick, but Connors stood up and caught Connors with a snap powerslam. We saw a big spear from Connors next. The two then went back and forth, teasing finishers until Fredericks finally was able to plant Connors with Manifest Destiny, his version of an elevated DDT, and picked up the win.
Connors said he’d watched all of his matches on NJPW Strong and that he’s noticed he has grown since he’d gotten to NJPW. He also said he liked that announcer Kevin Kelly had been referring to Connors as a “wild rhino” that now, the Young Lion Clark Connors is dead. He’s now the “motherf**king” Wild Rhino”.
Final thoughts: This was a hell of a showcase. Everything was very good, but I thought both the tag team match and the main event stuck out in the best kind of way. The effort both Fredericks and Connors gave in tonight’s main event was comparable to any modern high-impact sport. Kudos to them for shining in the spotlight. Also, fans should keep their eyes peeled on both Fred Rosser and Kevin Knight as the show goes forward. Both are unique and could add a very interesting element to the show later in the year.
