Report: Former NJPW Talent Spotted At WWE Performance Center

WWE are indeed looking at talents from the independent wrestling scene, Japan, and other companies, as Shawn Michaels claimed. 

According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider, former NJPW talent Karl Fredericks was spotted at the WWE Performance Center earlier this week, signalling he could be set to sign or has already joined the company. 

Fredericks has been a free agent since August when he announced his contract with New Japan Pro-Wrestling had expired and he did not plan on re-signing with the promotion. He had been with New Japan since 2018 following three years on the California independent wrestling scene and he looked set to be a star, winning the Young Lion Cup in 2019. He spent much of his time on the promotion's US shows, competing on STRONG. 

Since exiting NJPW, Fredericks has returned to the California indies, competing for UWN and on a joint West Coast Pro/Prestige Wrestling show. 

If Fredericks were to sign with WWE, it would be somewhat of a departure from recent additions as the company has focused on bringing in athletes who can be moulded into WWE wrestlers over the past year.