The match between Hikuleo and WWE’s Karl Anderson for Anderson’s NEVER Openweight Title has been officially announced by NJPW.
As PWMania.com previously reported, The O.C. took to Instagram on Tuesday to announce that Anderson will defend his NEVER Openweight Title on Wednesday, December 14 from Sendai Sunplaza Hall in Sendai, Japan at NJPW’s World Tag League & Super Junior Tag League finals event. You can watch the video from Anderson, Luke Gallows, and AJ Styles by clicking here. The announcement followed a storyline in which NJPW threatened to dethrone strip Anderson of the title, amid reports that he and Gallows may be working NJPW dates in the future, including the big Wrestle Kingdom 17 show from the Tokyo Dome in January. Hikuleo later stated that he would challenge Anderson, which was expected given that their fight was originally scheduled for November 5.
In an update, NJPW announced today that Hikuleo will be Anderson’s title challenger.
“December 14 in Sendai, Karl Anderson will defend the NEVER Openweight Championship at the combined Super Junior and World Tag League finals against Hikuleo. After defending the NEVER Championship against Hiroshi Tanahashi on September 25 in Kobe, Hikuleo moved to be next in line. The match seemed set for November 5 at battle Autumn Osaka, but Anderson and partner Doc Gallows would suddenly appear on WWE Raw, before finding themselves ‘double booked’. As the match had been made through the proper channels and advertised, NJPW moved to strip Anderson of the NEVER Openweight Championship, but Hikuleo refused to let the move happen, demanding that he fight Anderson for the title in an NJPW ring. On November 23 Japan time), Anderson posted a message on social media indicating that he and Gallows would be in Sendai on December 14, and the match has now been made official. Will Anderson continue to hold NEVER gold hostage, or can Hikuleo bring the title home and to Hontai? Find out December 14!,” the announcement said.
The Super Junior and World Tag League 2022 finals of NJPW will be broadcast live in English on NJPW World.
You can read more about Anderson and Gallows possibly working more NJPW dates by clicking here.
