Karl Fredericks (born July 15, 1990) is an American
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to real-life wrest ...
. He is best known for his tenure in the
WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is an American professional wrestling promotion. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. A global integrated media and entertainment company, ...
, where he performed under the
ring name
A ring name is a type of stage name or nickname used by an athlete such as a professional wrestler, mixed martial artist, or boxer whose real name is considered unattractive, dull, difficult to pronounce or spell, amusing for the wrong reasons ...
Eddy Thorpe.
Fredericks is also known for his stint in
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
(NJPW) is a Puroresu, Japanese professional-wrestling Professional wrestling promotion, promotion founded on January 13, 1972, by Antonio Inoki, and based in Nakano, Tokyo. It is currently majority owned by card-game company Bushiroad, with TV As ...
(NJPW), where he performed under his real name and was the winner of the 2019
Young Lion Cup.
Professional wrestling career
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2015–2022)
Fredericks debuted on May 17, 2015.
In 2018, Fredericks entered the
New Japan Pro-Wrestling LA Dojo, along with
Clark Connors
Connor Deutsch (born October 6, 1993), better known by his ring name Clark Connors, is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of the Bullet Club stable and ...
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.
Fredericks teamed with
Hirooki Goto
is a Japanese Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion in his first reign. He is also one-half of the tag team Bishamon alongside Yoshi-Hashi. ...
for the
World Tag League The World Tag League may refer to any of the following professional wrestling tournaments held in Japan:
* World Tag League (JWA), 1970 to 1972, hosted by Japanese Wrestling Association
* World Tag League (NJPW), annually since 1991, hosted by New ...
in the same year, finishing with 3 wins and 12 losses. On January 4, 2020, at
Wrestle Kingdom 14, Fredericks, Connors, Coughlin and
Toa Henare defeated
Tencozy (
Satoshi Kojima
is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is signed to both New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Major League Wrestling (MLW), where he is a former two-time MLW World Heavyweight Championship, MLW World Heavyweight Champion and former one half of the MLW W ...
and
Hiroyoshi Tenzan
is a Japanese professional wrestler who is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and is better known by his ring name . With Satoshi Kojima, in 2008, they won the World's Strongest Tag Determination League in All Japan Pro Wrestling and the G1 Tag L ...
), Yota Tsuji and Yuya Uemura in an eight-man tag-team match.
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
The was a professional wrestling championship owned and promoted by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. "IWGP" are the initials of NJPW's governing body, the . The final champion was Will Ospreay, who was in his second reign at the time ...
. He lost to
Kenta
Kenta (廉侍) is a masculine Japanese given name. (written: , , , or in katakana).
Notable people with the name include:
*, Japanese baseball player
*, Japanese film director
*, Japanese kickboxer
*, Japanese professional wrestler
*, Japane ...
in the first round.
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
Thomas Joseph Lawlor (born May 15, 1983) is an American professional wrestler, retired mixed martial artist and podcast host. He is signed to both New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he was the inaugural and longest reigning NJPW Strong Openw ...
for the
Strong Openweight Championship and lost. On August 1, 2022, Fredericks' contract with NJPW expired and he announced he would not renew it, ending his seven-year tenure with the company.
WWE (2023–2025)
In January 2023, it was reported Fredericks signed a contract with
WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is an American professional wrestling promotion. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. A global integrated media and entertainment company, ...
. In February, he was assigned the ring name Eddy Thorpe and he debuted as a
face
The face is the front of the head that features the eyes, nose and mouth, and through which animals express many of their emotions. The face is crucial for human identity, and damage such as scarring or developmental deformities may affect th ...
on the February 17 show of ''
NXT Level Up'', defeating
Dante Chen. On the March 23 episode of
''NXT'', Thorpe would make his TV debut defeating
Myles Borne
David Bostian III (born May 25, 1999) is an American professional wrestler signed to WWE, where he performs under the ring name Myles Borne on the NXT brand. He is the only partially deaf wrestler to be employed by WWE.
Early life
Bostian ...
. In the next weeks, vignettes would air of Thorpe exploring his
Native-American
Native Americans (also called American Indians, First Americans, or Indigenous Americans) are the Indigenous peoples of the United States, particularly of the lower 48 states and Alaska. They may also include any Americans whose origins lie ...
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.
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
Oliver Sauter (born 9 May 1995) is a Nigerian-Swiss professional wrestler. He is best known for his time in WWE, where he performed under the ring names Oliver Carter and Oro Mensah and is a former a one-time NXT UK Tag Team Champion. Prior to ...
. 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. On the November 28 episode of ''NXT'', Thorpe fought
Bron Breakker
Bronson Rechsteiner (born October 24, 1997) is an American professional wrestler and former football player. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Bron Breakker. He is a former two-time WWE Intercontinenta ...
for a spot in the Iron Survivor Challenge at
NXT Deadline
Deadline (stylized as DEADL1NE) is a professional wrestling livestreaming event produced by WWE, a Connecticut-based professional wrestling promotion. Established in 2022, it is held annually in December for the promotion's developmental brand, ...
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.
On the November 19, 2024 episode of ''NXT'', Thorpe participated in the Iron Survivor Challenge qualifier where he lost to
NXT Tag Team Champion
The NXT Tag Team Championship is a men's Professional wrestling championship, professional wrestling tag team championship created and promoted by the United States, American professional wrestling promotion, promotion WWE. It is defended on NXT ...
Nathan Frazer after being distracted by the NXT tag team division brawling outside the ring.
Two weeks later, he won a
fatal four-way last chance match to qualify for the Iron Survivor Challenge at
NXT Deadline
Deadline (stylized as DEADL1NE) is a professional wrestling livestreaming event produced by WWE, a Connecticut-based professional wrestling promotion. Established in 2022, it is held annually in December for the promotion's developmental brand, ...
. However, he was later found attacked backstage
and was ruled out for NXT Deadline. Two days after NXT Deadline on the December 10 episode of ''NXT'', Thorpe confronted
NXT Champion Trick Williams
Matrick Mondre Belton (born May 26, 1994) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on its NXT brand, under the ring name Trick Williams. He also makes appearances in WWE's partner promotion Total Nonstop Acti ...
and demanded a title shot, which Williams agreed. Upon signing the title match contract, Thorpe turned
heel
The heel is the prominence at the posterior end of the foot. It is based on the projection of one bone, the calcaneus or heel bone, behind the articulation of the bones of the lower leg.
Structure
To distribute the compressive forces exerted ...
and revealed to
NXT general manager
Ava that he staged his own attack to ease his way into an NXT Championship match. The title match on the following week ended in a double pinfall and Williams retained his title. After failing to win the NXT Championship again on separate occasions, Thorpe continued his feud with Williams, who had since lost the NXT Championship. The feud culminated in a
strap match
A strap, sometimes also called strop, is an elongated flap or ribbon, usually of leather or other flexible materials.
Thin straps are used as part of clothing or baggage, or bedding such as a sleeping bag. See for example spaghetti strap, should ...
at
NXT Vengeance Day on February 15, 2025, where Thorpe won in his first
NXT PLE appearance. On the March 18 episode of ''NXT'', Williams defeated Thorpe in an NXT Underground match to end their feud. On May 2, Thorpe was released from WWE, ending his two-year tenure with the company.
Personal life
Fredericks is a
Native American and his WWE ring name is a reference to athlete and fellow Native American
Jim Thorpe
James Francis Thorpe (; May 22 or 28, 1887March 28, 1953) was an American athlete who won Olympic gold medals and played professional American football, football, baseball, and basketball. A citizen of the Sac and Fox Nation, Thorpe was ...
. 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.
Fredericks is currently in a relationship with New Zealand professional wrestler Cheree Crowley, who is best known under the ring name
Dakota Kai
Cheree Georgina "Charlie" Crowley (born 6 May 1988) is a New Zealand professional wrestler. She is best known for her time in the WWE, where she performed under the ring name Dakota Kai.
Prior to her signing with WWE, Crowley performed under t ...
.
Championships and accomplishments
*
All Pro Wrestling
All Pro Wrestling is an American professional wrestling promotion and training school, based in Hayward, California. The company was founded by Roland Alexander and managed by him until his death on November 5, 2013. It is located 45 miles so ...
**
APW Worldwide Internet Championship (1 time)
**
APW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Styker
*
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
(NJPW) is a Puroresu, Japanese professional-wrestling Professional wrestling promotion, promotion founded on January 13, 1972, by Antonio Inoki, and based in Nakano, Tokyo. It is currently majority owned by card-game company Bushiroad, with TV As ...
**
Young Lion Cup (
2019
This was the year in which the first known human case of COVID-19 was documented, preceding COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic which was declared by the World Health Organization the following year.
Up to that point, 2019 had been described as ...
)
*Pro Championship Wrestling
**PCW Inter-California Championship (1 time)
* ''
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'' (''PWI'') is an American professional wrestling magazine that was founded in 1979 by publisher Stanley Weston. ''PWI'' is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and published by Kappa Publishing Group. The maga ...
''
** Ranked No. 287 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the ''
PWI 500
''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'' (''PWI'') is an American professional wrestling magazine that was founded in 1979 by publisher Stanley Weston. ''PWI'' is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and published by Kappa Publishing Group. The maga ...
'' in 2021
References
External links
*
Karl Fredericks'Japanese
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
(NJPW) is a Puroresu, Japanese professional-wrestling Professional wrestling promotion, promotion founded on January 13, 1972, by Antonio Inoki, and based in Nakano, Tokyo. It is currently majority owned by card-game company Bushiroad, with TV As ...
profile
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fredericks, Karl
1990 births
Living people
People from Reno, Nevada
American male professional wrestlers
Native American professional wrestlers
Professional wrestlers from Nevada
American expatriate professional wrestlers in Japan
21st-century American people
Young Lion Cup winners