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Karl Fredericks (born July 15, 1990) is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure in the WWE, where he performed under the ring name Eddy Thorpe.
Fredericks is also known for his stint in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he performed under his real name and was the winner of the 2019 Young Lion Cup.
In August 2020, Fredericks competed in the inaugural New Japan Cup USA tournament, with the winner receiving a match for the IWGP United States Championship. He lost to Kenta Kobayashi in the first round. From this time on, he changed the colors of his shorts from black to red. At the main event of Ignition on June 25, 2021, Fredericks challenged Tom Lawlor for the Strong Openweight Championship and lost. On August 1, 2022, Fredericks' contract with NJPW expired and he announced he would not renew it, ending his seven-year tenure with the company.
Soon after, Thorpe would begin feuding with Dijak, who took offense to Thorpe being referred to as the toughest man in NXT and attacked him in a match with Oro Mensah. On the September 26 episode of NXT, Thorpe beat Dijak in a strap match but was attacked after the match by Dijak who struck him repeatedly with the leather strap. On the November 28 episode of NXT, Thorpe fought Bron Breakker for a spot in the Iron Survivor Challenge at NXT Deadline but was defeated and once again attacked post match by Dijak. At NXT Deadline on December 9, Thorpe attacked Dijak during the Iron Survivor Challenge and cost him the match. On the December 26 episode of NXT, Thorpe defeated Dijak in the second NXT Underground match to end the feud.
On the November 19, 2024 episode of NXT, Thorpe participated in the Iron Survivor Challenge qualifier where he lost to NXT Tag Team Champion Nathan Frazer after being distracted by the NXT tag team division brawling outside the ring. Two weeks later, he won a fatal four-way last chance match to qualify for the Iron Survivor Challenge at NXT Deadline. However, he was later found attacked backstage and was ruled out for NXT Deadline. Two days after NXT Deadline on the December 10 episode of NXT, Thorpe confronted NXT Championship Trick Williams and demanded a title shot, which Williams agreed. Upon signing the title match contract, Thorpe turned heel and revealed to NXT general manager Ava that he staged his own attack to ease his way into an NXT Championship match. The title match on the following week ended in a double pinfall and Williams retained his title. After failing to win the NXT Championship again on separate occasions, Thorpe continued his feud with Williams, who had since lost the NXT Championship. The feud culminated in a strap match at NXT Vengeance Day on February 15, 2025, where Thorpe won in his first NXT PLE appearance. On the March 18 episode of NXT, Williams defeated Thorpe in an NXT Underground match to end their feud. On May 2, Thorpe was released from WWE, ending his two-year tenure with the company.
Fredericks is currently in a relationship with New Zealand professional wrestler Cheree Crowley, who is best known under the ring name Dakota Kai.
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