WWE: Johnny Gargano Injury Update, Karl Fredericks Signing, More on WWE Board Changes

Johnny Gargano Injury Status Update

As noted before, WWE recently announced that Johnny Gargano suffered an AC sprain injury in his shoulder and will be out of action for the foreseeable future.

A recent episode of the WWE The Bump show featured Gargano as a guest. One of the topics discussed included Gargano providing an injury update stating that his injury took place following a spot involving him being sent hard into steel steps.

“I tweeted out that I injured my shoulder at a live event in Toronto, which is ironic because I came back in Toronto. That’s where I injured my shoulder. I got rammed into the steel steps, and I sprained my AC joint. Doctors say originally about five-to-six weeks. I’m going to do everything in my power to cut that time down, and that’s the most transparent I can be there. We’re gonna see what can happen, and I’m gonna work very, very hard to come back as soon as possible. [There’s] a lot of things I still want to accomplish, a lot of things I still want to do. I am far from happy with how things have gone for me recently, and I want to right those wrongs and show everyone out there; that believe in me, what Johnny Wrestling is truly capable of doing.”

Gargano also gave his thoughts about working in WWE’s RAW brand and revealed that his doctors had told him that they currently expected him to be out of action for the next five to six weeks but he is hopeful of being able to return sooner.

“It feels that way. A lot of big guys as well. Baron Corbin, big dude. Otis, big dude. Omos, the biggest dude. But I’ve also had matches against Chad Gable, matches against Austin Theory, so I’ve had kind of a cornucopia of different sizes and shapes and whatnot. But I am very excited to be able to get back in that ring and really show everyone what I’m capable of. I know there’s a lot of people out there that still believe in Johnny Wrestling, still believe in what I’m capable of, and I’m gonna prove all of them right, I promise you that. It’s Rumble season, and I know a guy like me, I pride myself on my tenacity [and] my heart. If I can get cleared for that Rumble, I’ll be super pumped. I don’t know. My doctor said five or six weeks, so I don’t know what that means. But I am very lucky that we do have a medical team that’s gonna protect me from myself. If it was up to me, I’d be out there right now, and I’d be in a whole bunch of pain [laughs]. I think that things have gone pretty well, but I’m excited to take things to the next level.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

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WWE Reportedly Signed Karl Fredericks to an Official Contract

Former New Japan Pro Wrestling talent Karl Fredericks reportedly recently signed an official contract with WWE, according to PWInsider.

Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that Fredericks had signed a NXT developmental type deal and reported to WWE’s Performance Center this week to start his training for a career in the company.

Prior to his departure and signing with WWE, Fredericks had worked for NJPW from 2018 to August of 2022.

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More on Recent Changes to WWE’s Board of Directors

As noted before, WWE announced this past Friday that Vince McMahon has officially returned to the company and will be resuming his role as the Executive Chairman of their Board of Directors. As part of the fallout of McMahon’s recent return, six members of WWE’s Board of Directors have either been replaced or resigned with the latest being now former WWE co-CEO Stephanie McMahon.

In a recent 8-K filing with the SEC, WWE stated that the recent resignations of Man Jit Singh And Ignace Lahoud from their Board of Directors was directly related to McMahon’s return. It was stated that Singh and Lahoud had both disagreed with the company’s decision to bring back McMahon to his former executive role as the official reason for their departures.

Portion of WWE’s SEC filing:

On January 6, 2023, the Company announced that Ignace Lahoud and Man Jit Singh resigned from the Board, effective January 6, 2023. Prior to their resignations, Mr. Lahoud served as a member of the Company’s Audit Committee (the “Audit Committee”) and Mr. Singh served as the lead independent director, Chair of the Company’s Compensation & Human Capital Committee (the “Compensation & Human Capital Committee”) and a member of the Company’s Governance & Nominating Committee (the “Governance & Nominating Committee”). While Messrs. Lahoud and Singh agreed with the Board’s decision to explore the Company’s strategic alternatives, they did not agree with Mr. McMahon’s return at this time.”