Karl Anderson Says He Won’t Defend NEVER Openweight Title At NJPW Battle Autumn

Karl Anderson won’t be at NJPW Battle Autumn. 

On Monday it was announced that The OC (Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, & AJ Styles) would face The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio, & Damian Priest) at WWE Crown Jewel on November 5. 

The match announcement caught fans off guard as Anderson was scheduled to defend his NEVER Openweight Championship against Hikuleo at NJPW Battle Autumn on November 5. The Good Brothers returned to WWE on the October 20 episode of WWE Raw despite Anderson being NEVER Openweight Champion, but he was still advertised to defend his title following their return. 

In a new social media video, Anderson said he wouldn’t be at NJPW Battle Autumn. 

“You guys announced ‘Bright Lights’ ‘The Machine Gun’ Karl Anderson for a match November 5. Guess what, we’re a little double booked because you didn’t run it through me. So, he ain’t coming. We’re not coming unless it’s on our time,” stated Gallows.

“New Japan Pro-Wrestling, I love what you’ve done for the Good Brothers through these years. I am the greatest NEVER Openweight Champion of all time. I only work when the lights are bright. November 5, we’re not coming. We’ll come on our time. The Machine Gun will tell you when I’m coming to defend my championship,” said Anderson.

ATTENTION:::::!!!!!!!

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE GREATEST #NEVEROPENWEIGHTCHAMPION ON THE FACT THAT @njpw1972 BOOKED ME WITHOUT GOING THRU MY BOOKING AGENT @the_biglg ……. SO WITH THAT SAID …..
We gotta little problem.
Signed, @wwe ‘s #theOC ‘s Karl “Bright Lights” Anderson pic.twitter.com/b5N8yIW7Xa

— Karl “The Machine Gun” Anderson (@MachineGunKA) October 19, 2022

NJPW has not made an official announcement regarding the status of the NEVER Openweight Championship bout at NJPW Battle Autumn. 

Fightful will continue to update fans when more is known.