Karl Fredericks makes WWE NXT debut at house show

Karl Fredericks has made his NXT debut.

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.