NJPW president responds to Karl Anderson being ‘double booked’ on November 5

  • Ian Carey
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NJPW president Takami Ohbari says they are doing everything they can to ensure all matches listed for November 5 in Osaka take place as advertised. 

NEVER Openweight Champion Karl Anderson was scheduled to defend his title against Hikuleo on the show. Anderson was later announced for a match at WWE Crown Jewel on the same date, however. 

The Good Brothers released a video last week claiming that NJPW never confirmed the November 5 date with them and said Anderson will not be defending his title at the Battle Autumn event. 

Ohbari took to social media on Saturday to say they are working to ensure the match takes place, and that they expect all wrestlers to “honor their advertised commitments.” 

“We are doing all we can to ensure every signed match in Osaka on November 5 happens as promised. We expect all wrestlers, especially champions, to honor their advertised commitments,” the NJPW president wrote on Twitter. 

Ohbari also told Tokyo Sports in an interview last week that he is “angry” about the situation involving Anderson and the NEVER Openweight Championship. 

Hikuleo directed his post-match comments on Saturday toward Anderson and the situation involving the NEVER Openweight Championship. 

“You think you forgot about me? I’ve got a lot on my plate right now, but I can make time for you. What are you scared of, Karl Anderson? The second non-Japanese person to make the finals of the G1, scared of someone who’s just coming back from a learning excursion? The former multi-time IWGP Tag Team Champion, scared of someone who’s only had two title matches?”

“Listen, you want to call yourself ‘bright lights’? Don’t forget who turned on those lights for you- New Japan did. And now you want to say those lights are brighter? You want to say your lights are brighter. Well, don’t turn your back on us. Don’t forget where you came from,” Hikuleo said to Anderson. 

“Karl, you want to hide from me? I’ll find you, and when I do- I’ll knock all your lights out.”

WWE is advertising a match featuring Anderson, Luke Gallows, and AJ Styles against Judgment Day’s Finn Balor, Damian Priest, and Dominik Mysterio for Crown Jewel.