Karl Anderson: I Felt I Deserved More In WWE, Getting Released Was The Best Thing To Ever Happen

Since being released by WWE in April 2020, Karl Anderson, alongside Doc Gallows, has found plenty of success in multiple companies.

Though the Good Brothers signed with IMPACT Wrestling once they officially became free agents, they’ve been featured weekly on AEW television and are headed to NJPW Strong on Friday.

Speaking to Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Anderson discussed his frustrations with WWE, where stop-and-start pushes and a lack of focus on the tag team division were commonplace for him.

“What we do is scripted entertainment, and I’ll be honest, there are times when I felt like I deserved more in WWE,” Anderson says. “Going on the road in WWE, especially in 2018 and 2019, I was taking my frustrations from the road back home. My wife didn’t understand what I was going through; my kids couldn’t understand why I was in a bad mood. All I wanted to do was get out of that bad mood. I was only home for two or three days, and then I had to go back to this f—— place I didn’t want to go back to. A couple weeks very quickly turns into six months. I love my family so much, but that affected my life at home. Getting released by WWE was the best thing that ever happened to me. “It’s been a reminder that wrestling isn’t everything. At the end of the day, family is No. 1. Sometimes you can lose sight of that. I am honored to do what I do in wrestling, but I’m also extremely proud to be a husband and a father.”

Though Anderson is best known as a tag team wrestler, he’s found singles success in the past, most notably as a finalist in the G1 Climax 2012 Final against Kazuchika Okada.

On Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, Anderson will challenge Jon Moxley for the IWGP United States Championship.

“I’ve been counted against my entire life,” Anderson says. “When I first told people that I was going to be a pro wrestler, I was told I was too small. When I moved to Los Angeles for more opportunities, I was told I wouldn’t make it. Then I got hired by New Japan, and people told me I’d only be a job boy there. Next thing you know, I’m IWGP tag champ with Giant Bernard [Matt Bloom] for a record amount of days. Then Giant Bernard goes to WWE, and I get a chance in a singles match in 2012 against Nakamura in the New Japan Cup at Korakuen Hall, and I beat him. I’ll always bet on myself. I knew we could bring more eyes to Impact, and now we’re able to work with New Japan and AEW. It’s such a unique time, and we’re making the most of it. This is a badass chance for me to show what I can do. It’s an opportunity I have wanted, and I’m confident it’s going to live up to the expectations.”

You can view the current lineup for Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite by clicking here.

Fightful will have live coverage of AEW Dynamite beginning at 8 p.m. ET.