Hi Kasey ,
That rod of yours is a JDM model , in the past such rods are exported under the label RD-X but no longer on offer now .
I have seen another WV80XH broke in the same fashion as yours , it happened in New Caledonia sometimes last year .
If I were you , I would pursue getting replacement but this must go thru the party you bought the rod from . I agree with you , definitely not due to high sticking .
I once had the same happened to me but not on a Carpenter rod , it broke at the same area as your broken WV80XH .
Jon .