Karl Fredericks has revealed the knee injuries that kept him out of action for much of the period following his WWE release, explaining that tears to both of his posterior cruciate ligaments, or PCLs, disrupted what was meant to be a fresh start on the independent wrestling scene.
Fredericks, who performed in WWE as Eddy Thorpe, was released by the company in May 2025. He subsequently returned to wrestling outside WWE, but his initial run back in the ring was brief. He wrestled just six matches before stepping away in November 2025, and he did not return to in-ring competition until August 2026.
Speaking about his comeback, Fredericks said the extended absence came after he suffered PCL injuries in each knee at different points in his career. The first occurred during his time in NXT, while the second happened after he had resumed wrestling following his WWE departure.
“It’s my first real match back coming off of a PCL injury and a break, and yeah, it’s big for me. Coming back to work with something to prove.”
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For Fredericks, the return is not simply about getting cleared and taking matches again. It represents an opportunity to re-establish momentum after a sequence of setbacks that began before his WWE run had even ended. A wrestler’s first match back following a lengthy injury layoff is often a significant checkpoint, but Fredericks framed his situation as a chance to return with renewed motivation.
The First Injury Came During His NXT Tenure
Fredericks explained that the more serious of the two PCL injuries was suffered while he was still working for WWE. He tore the PCL in his left knee during his NXT tenure and said the situation was initially difficult for him to understand. He also indicated that he was not permitted to publicly discuss or share information about the injury at the time.
“So I tore my left PCL in NXT, and it was confusing for me… they kind of hid it, and they wouldn’t let me post about it — I don’t know — post about it or share information on it I guess, and then after my release in the fall, I started wrestling again and in my fifth or sixth match, in late November, I tore the other one.”
The comments provide context for a stretch of Fredericks’ career that had not been fully explained publicly. Knee injuries can be especially challenging for wrestlers because they affect virtually every element of in-ring performance, from running the ropes and striking to jumping, landing, lifting opponents, and maintaining balance through physical exchanges. A PCL injury can therefore be particularly disruptive even when a performer is able to remain active in some capacity.
Fredericks did not provide further details about how the left-knee injury occurred, how long he dealt with it while in WWE, or the specific treatment involved. What he did make clear is that the injury was the first of two major knee issues that would ultimately force him to reset after leaving the company.
His WWE run came after an established period in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where Fredericks developed as part of the promotion’s Young Lion system. That background gave him a strong foundation before he entered the WWE environment and later worked under the Eddy Thorpe name. His career path has included time in distinctly different wrestling systems, from New Japan’s developmental structure to WWE’s NXT brand and, following his release, the independent circuit.
A Second PCL Tear Ended the Early Independent Run
After leaving WWE, Fredericks began taking independent bookings again. However, the comeback did not last long enough to develop into a sustained run. He said he tore the PCL in his other knee during either his fifth or sixth match back, placing the injury in late November 2025.
While Fredericks described the second tear as less severe than the one in his left knee, it was still serious enough to require an extended break from competition. Rather than quickly attempting to push through the issue, he took time away and focused on getting himself back to a point where he felt ready to perform again.
“Luckily it wasn’t as bad as the left one by any means and I took an extended break and made sure I’m feeling good. Hopefully come back and ready to make another run here.”
The distinction Fredericks made between the two injuries is important. He did not minimize the impact of the second tear, as it still halted his post-WWE momentum and kept him out of the ring until August 2026. But he suggested that the right-knee injury was not as severe as the previous left-knee injury, giving him reason for optimism as he works to rebuild his schedule and his standing.
His absence also illustrates how quickly an independent wrestling return can be interrupted. Outside of a single major-company structure, performers often rely on consistent appearances to regain visibility, reconnect with audiences, and demonstrate that they can be counted on for regular work. Fredericks had only begun that process when the second injury forced him back to the sidelines.
A Career Built Through New Japan’s System
Before WWE, Fredericks spent several years associated with New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He emerged through the company’s Young Lion system, an environment known for emphasizing conditioning, fundamentals, discipline, and in-ring development. Graduating from that system placed Fredericks among the wrestlers shaped by New Japan’s traditional developmental approach.
That experience remains a meaningful part of his career story as he moves forward from the injuries. Fredericks has worked in multiple settings and under multiple identities, and his return arrives with the benefit of that varied background. He is not a newcomer attempting to establish himself for the first time; he is a wrestler looking to regain ground after a difficult stretch that interrupted different chapters of his career.
The recovery period was also longer than the initial timeline of his post-WWE return might have suggested. Fredericks was released in May 2025, returned to the independent scene, then had to step away after only six bouts by November. His eventual return in August 2026 meant that the second knee injury led to many months away from active competition.
That makes his description of his next run as something he has “to prove” especially understandable. The challenge now is not merely getting through a comeback match. It is maintaining consistency after a long layoff and showing that his knees can hold up to the demands of a full professional wrestling schedule.
Fredericks Returns With a Point to Prove
Fredericks’ August 2026 in-ring return marks the latest stage of that process. He has expressed confidence that the time away allowed him to make sure he was feeling good before returning, while also acknowledging the importance of the moment. The first real match back, as he put it, carried substantial personal weight.
There are still questions that can only be answered with time. Fredericks has not outlined a specific long-term destination, a detailed match schedule, or a broader set of career plans following his return. He also has not suggested that either injury is fully irrelevant to his future; rather, he has explained that he took an extended break in an effort to return prepared.
What is clear is that the injuries explain why his independent wrestling run stopped so abruptly after his WWE release. A left PCL tear sustained during his NXT stint was followed by a tear to the other PCL after he had begun working again. The combination forced Fredericks to take a far longer road back than he anticipated.
Now back in action, Fredericks enters the next phase of his career with experience in New Japan, WWE, and independent wrestling, as well as a clear appreciation for what was lost during his time away. His objective is straightforward: stay healthy, regain momentum, and turn an injury-interrupted return into the sustained run he was unable to have in late 2025.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.