Former WWE star Fred Rosser has addressed his NJPW run, revealing that an invite from a former champion inspired him to reach out to the company.
Formerly known as Darren Young, Fred Rosser officially signed with NJPW in August 2020, going on to win the NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship in 2022, and becoming a trainer at the company’s LA dojo.
Speaking on the Paltrocast with Darren Paltrowitz, Rosser revealed that he chose to contact NJPW after attending a show he was invited to by Lance Archer, stating:
“It was actually September of 2019, I ran into Lance Hoyt (Lance Archer) at an independent show and he was with New Japan Pro-Wrestling full-time.
“We had came up together in Florida Championship Wrestling, the developmental system. We ran into each other, he asked me how I was doing.
“I said ‘I’m doing well, but I always had dreams and aspirations of working for New Japan Pro-Wrestling.’ So he invited me to a New Japan Pro-Wrestling show at the Globe Theater here in Los Angeles, that was November of 2019.
“I got there early, the show started at 7pm, I got there at 5pm because I wanted to feel the ring, feel the ambiance of the Globe Theater. I was asking myself from start to finish watching the show live, ‘Do I fit in? Do I fit in?’
“After it was all said and done, after watching my first New Japan Pro-Wrestling show live, November 2019, I said, ‘I can hand with these guys. I can help elevate these guys.’
“That’s when I talked to Rocky Romero, I asked him ‘What do I have to do to be part of the New Japan Pro-Wrestling family?’
“Then the pandemic hit, and in the heart of the pandemic, that’s when New Japan Pro-Wrestling reached out to me about joining New Japan STRONG.”
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Believing that he has done his best singles work with NJPW, Rosser continued:
“Here, I’ve been doing some of my best work with New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
“With WWE, I had some great memories, but with New Japan Pro Wrestling, I’ve been doing my best singles work, and I’m truly grateful.”
The show Rosser attended appears to be NJPW Showdown, which took place across November 9 & 11, 2019 and saw Lance Archer defeat David Finlay to retain the IWGP US Heavyweight Title.
Fred Rosser has addressed his upcoming match against Finlay at The New Beginning USA, with rumors swirling about Finlay potentially joining WWE.
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