Karl Fredericks

Last updated

Karl Fredericks
Birth nameKarl Fredericks
Born (1990-07-15) July 15, 1990 (age 34)
Reno, Nevada, U.S.
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Eddy Thorpe
Karl Fredericks
Billed height6 ft 0 in (183 cm) [1]
Billed weight222 lb (101 kg) [1]
Billed from"Sacred indigenous land"
Trained by
DebutMay 17, 2015 [2]

Karl Fredericks (born July 15, 1990) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Eddy Thorpe. He is also known for his stint in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he was the winner of the 2019 Young Lion Cup.

Contents

Professional wrestling career

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2015–2022)

Fredericks debuted on May 17, 2015. [2] In 2018, Fredericks entered the New Japan Pro-Wrestling LA Dojo, along with Clark Connors and Alex Coughlin. He visited Japan for the first time as a representative of the LA Dojo at the 2019 Young Lion Cup and won the tournament with 12 points. [3] [4] Fredericks teamed with Hirooki Goto for the World Tag League in the same year, finishing with 3 wins and 12 losses. [5] On January 4, 2020, at Wrestle Kingdom 14, Fredericks, Connors, Coughlin and Toa Henare defeated Tencozy (Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan), Yota Tsuji and Yuya Uemura in an eight-man tag-team match. [6]

In August 2020, Fredericks competed in the inaugural New Japan Cup USA tournament, with the winner receiving a match for the IWGP United States Championship. He lost to Kenta in the first round. [7] From this time on, he changed the colors of his shorts from black to red. At the main event of Ignition on June 25, 2021, Fredericks challenged Tom Lawlor for the Strong Openweight Championship and lost. [8] On August 1, 2022, Fredericks' contract with NJPW expired and he announced he would not renew it. [9]

WWE (2023–present)

In January 2023, it was reported Fredericks signed a contract with WWE. [10] In February, he was assigned the ring name Eddy Thorpe and he debuted as a face on the February 17 show of NXT Level Up , defeating Dante Chen. [11] On the March 23 episode of NXT, Thorpe would make his TV debut defeating Myles Borne. In the next weeks, vignettes would air of Thorpe exploring his Native-American background. Thorpe would soon begin a feud with Damon Kemp which led to Thorpe enlisting the help of Gable Steveson (Kemp's real life brother) to train for his NXT Underground match with Kemp on the July 4 episode of NXT, which Thorpe won. [12] [13]

Soon after, Thorpe would begin feuding with Dijak, who took offense to Thorpe being referred to as the toughest man in NXT and attacked him in a match with Oro Mensah. On the September 26 episode of NXT, Thorpe beat Dijak in a strap match but was attacked after the match by Dijak who struck him repeatedly with the leather strap. [14] On the November 28 episode of NXT, Thorpe fought Bron Breakker for a spot in the Iron Survivor Challenge at NXT Deadline but was defeated and once again attacked post match by Dijak. At NXT Deadline on December 9, Thorpe attacked Dijak during the Iron Survivor Challenge and cost him the match. On the December 26 episode of NXT, Thorpe defeated Dijak in the second NXT Underground match to end the feud. [15] [16] [17]

On the November 19, 2024 episode of NXT, Thorpe participated in the Iron Survivor Challenge qualifier where he lost to NXT Tag Team Champion Nathan Frazer after being distracted from the NXT tag team division brawling outside the ring. [18] Two weeks later, he won a fatal four-way last chance match to qualify for the Iron Survivor Challenge at NXT Deadline. However, he was later found attacked backstage [19] and was ruled out for NXT Deadline. [20] Two days after NXT Deadline on the December 10 episode of NXT, Thorpe confronted NXT Champion Trick Williams and demanded a title shot, which Williams agreed. Upon signing the title match contract, Thorpe revealed to NXT general manager Ava that he staged his own attack to ease his way into a title match, turning heel in the process. [21] The title match on the following week ended in double pinfall and Williams retained his title. After the show went off the air, a dissatisfied Thorpe then got into an argument with Ava and shoved WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative Shawn Michaels, cementing his heel turn. [22] [23]

Personal life

Fredericks is a Native American and his WWE ring name is a reference to athlete and fellow Native American Jim Thorpe. Fredericks also incorporates his Native American heritage into his character by doing the Native American war dance in his entrance and by wearing tassels on his ring gear. [24] [25]

Fredricks is currently in a relationship with fellow professional wrestler Dakota Kai. [26]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

  1. 1 2 "Profile of Karl Fredericks". Cagematch. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  2. 1 2 ベースボールマガジン社『週刊プロレス』2019年12月15日号増刊No.2045 とじ込み付録7頁
  3. 1 2 "【新日本】ヤングライオン杯で外国人初V "猛獣"フレドリックスはナイスガイ". 東京スポーツ. September 26, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  4. ↑ "JRA presents Road to Tokyo Dome". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  5. ↑ "後藤洋央紀リーグ初白星「こんなんで満足してねえ」". 日刊スポーツ. November 18, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  6. ↑ https://www.f4wonline.com/news/new-japan/results/njpw-wrestle-kingdom-14-night-one-live-results-okada-vs-ibushi-300816 [ bare URL ]
  7. ↑ "2020.08.07 NEW JAPAN CUP 2020 in the USA". New Japan Pro-Wrestling . Bushiroad. August 7, 2020. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  8. ↑ NJPW. "2021.06.25 IGNITION | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  9. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (August 1, 2022). "Karl Fredericks Says He's No Longer Under NJPW Contract, Won't Re-Sign With The Company". www.fightful.com. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  10. ↑ "FORMER NEW JAPAN STAR SIGNS WITH WWE". PWI Insider. January 10, 2023.
  11. ↑ Chik, Jon (February 17, 2023). "Feroz and Nile to throw down on NXT Level Up". WWE.com. Retrieved February 17, 2023. Eddy Thorpe making his debut against Dante Chen... 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.
  12. ↑ "WWE NXT Results: March 21, 2023". WWE.com. March 21, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  13. ↑ "WWE NXT Results: July 4, 2023". WWE.com. July 4, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  14. ↑ "WWE NXT Results: July 18, 2023". WWE.com. July 18, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  15. ↑ "WWE NXT Results: November 28, 2023". WWE.com. November 28, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Full NXT Deadline 2023 Results". WWE.com. December 9, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  17. ↑ "WWE NXT Results: December 26, 2023". WWE.com. December 26, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  18. ↑ Moore, John (November 19, 2024). "NXT TV results (11/19): Moore's review of Ridge Holland vs. Andre Chase for a shot at the NXT Championship at NXT Deadline, Iron Survivor Challenge qualifiers". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  19. ↑ Moore, John (December 3, 2024). "NXT TV results (12/3): Moore's review of Iron Survivor Challenge last chance qualifiers, Eric Bischoff and Sean "X-Pac" Waltman appearances, Battle Royal for a shot at the NXT Tag Titles at Deadline". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on December 8, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Eddy Thorpe is OUT of the Men's Iron Survivor Challenge Match at Deadline". WWE . December 7, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  21. ↑ Powell, Jason (December 10, 2024). "NXT TV results (12/10): Powell's review of the Deadline fallout show featuring Je'Von Evans vs. Wes Lee, Iron Survivor Challenge winner Oba Femi, Tatum Paxley and Gigi Dolin vs. Jacy Jayne and Jazmyn Nyx". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  22. ↑ Defelice, Robert (December 17, 2024). "NXT Title Match Between Eddy Thorpe And Trick Williams Ends In Controversy | Fightful News". Fightful. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  23. ↑ Lambert, Jeremy (December 17, 2024). "Shawn Michaels Gets Into An Altercation With Eddy Thorpe After WWE NXT | Fightful News". Fightful. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  24. ↑ Currier, Joseph (February 17, 2023). "Karl Fredericks gets new WWE name, will debut on NXT Level Up". Wrestling Observer.
  25. ↑ Rueter, Sean (February 17, 2023). "Former New Japan wrestler gets a new name ahead of WWE debut". Cageside Seats.
  26. ↑ Mukherjee, Subhojeet (July 27, 2024). "Dakota Kai Goes Public with New Relationship". Ringside News. Archived from the original on July 27, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Karl Fredericks defeats Will Cuevas" . Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Karl Fredericks & Styker defeat Reno SCUM (Adam Thornstowe & Luster The Legend) (c)" . Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Karl Fredericks defeats JJ King (c) and Styker" . Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  30. ↑ "PWI 500 2021 List In Full". Wrestling Travel. September 21, 2021. Archived from the original on September 22, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
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