Karl Anderson is still the NEVER Openweight Champion after retaining the title over Hikeuleo at Wednesday’s NJPW World Tag League/Super Jr. Tag League finals.
After the match, he cut a promo about how he thought he was the greatest NEVER Openweight Champion of all time and would hold the championship for eternity. This led to Tama Tonga coming out to challenge him, which led to them getting into a brawl and ended when Anderson got the upper hand by laying him out with his finisher.
Anderson then told Tonga he would see him at Wrestle Kingdom 17.
Anderson and Luke Gallows returned to the WWE in October despite Anderson holding the NEVER Openweight Title since June. A match between Hikuleo and Anderson was delayed from a November 5 show because Anderson was in Saudi Arabia for WWE to work a match at Crown Jewel.
I just had one of the greatest matches in @njpw1972 history.
I’m the greatest Never Open-weight Champion of all time.
What an incredible run I’m on….@Tama_Tonga , I’ll see you at –#WrestleKingdom in the Tokyo Dome, chump.. pic.twitter.com/VPh4Oy9wrR— Karl Anderson (@MachineGunKA) December 14, 2022
AND STILL!!@MachineGunKA has defeated Hikuleo to retain the NEVER Openweight Championship! pic.twitter.com/BWgsIfEGuk
— Ciarán (@CiaranRH93) December 14, 2022
.@MachineGunKA "Gun Stun"
Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CcdQ1XrpWA#njsjtl #njwtl #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/vVI2Dnco2W
— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) December 14, 2022
Here is the updated card for NJW Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4:
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jay White (champion) vs. Kazuchika Okada
IWGP Women’s Championship: KAIRI (champion) vs. Tam Nakano
NJPW World Television Championship Tournament Final: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Ren Narita
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship — Four Way: Taiji Ishimori (champion) vs. Master Wato vs. Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Desperado
IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay (champion) vs. Kenny Omega
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Francesco Akira & TJP (champion) vs. Lio Rush & YOH
IWGP Tag Team Championships: FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) (champion) vs. Bishamon (YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto)
NEVER Openweight Championship: Karl Anderson (champion) vs. Tama Tonga
