Tag: el desperado

New champions crowned at NJPW Wrestling Dontaku

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Two titles changed hands at Wrestling Dontaku.

The IWGP Junior Tag Team titles were the first to change when Mistico and El Desperado defeated the Ichiban Sweet Boys (Kosei Fujita and Robbie Eagles) to win the titles for the first time as a team. The duo scored a double submission win, with Mistco applying the la mistica while Desperado applied a stretch muffler.

Originally, the match was set to be non-title. But Eagles ended up accepting a title match after Mistico made the challenge following their multi-man tag match a day prior.

In the co-main event, the NEVER Six-Man Tag Team Championship changed hands when Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, and HENARE defeated Bishimon and Oleg Boltin to win the titles for the first time as a trio. Ospreay scored the win for his team, connecting with an assisted hidden blade on YOSHI-HASHI for the victory.

Callum Newman retains IWGP Heavyweight title

The main event saw Callum Newman retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship over Shingo Takagi, defeating him with the make way. After the match, all of United Empire circled around Takagi and Yota Tsuji, who tried to help his Unbound Co. stablemate. Newman laid out Tsuji and went to strike Takagi but Ospreay attempted to stop him. Newman instead goaded Ospreay into doing the deed, with the AEW star reluctantly obliging.

Konosuke Takeshita retained his NJPW World Television title, defeating Chase Owens. After the match, however, a returning SANADA laid him out, establishing himself as the next challenger.

NJPW adds four names to New Beginning USA

Posted on by Joseph Currier

NJPW has announced a few more names who will be making the trip over for New Beginning USA 2026.

On February 27, NJPW comes to CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, New Jersey for the New Beginning event. It was announced today that Syuri, Tomohiro Ishii, Oleg Boltin, and El Desperado will be among the talent competing. Their matches have not been announced yet.

Syuri enters the show as a double champion following her victory over Saya Kamitani at Wrestle Kingdom 20. She retained the IWGP Women’s Championship in the match and now also holds the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship.

Ishii is the men’s NJPW Strong Openweight Champion, having won the title from Gabe Kidd in April 2025. His only defense so far has been a victory over Drilla Moloney.

This appearance will be Boltin’s first time wrestling in the United States. An amateur wrestler from Kazakhstan, he made his in-ring debut for NJPW in 2023.

So far, the New Beginning card has one confirmed match: El Phantasmo vs. Konosuke Takeshita for the NJPW World Television Championship. It’s also been announced that Yota Tsuji — the IWGP Heavyweight Champion and Global Heavyweight Champion — will be in action.

Number one contender for IWGP Junior Heavyweight title crowned at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

In the fourth official match of the night at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20, fans witnessed El Desperado, Kosei Fujita, Taiji Ishimori, and Sho in a four-way match to determine the number one contender for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. Following a closely contested fight and several near falls, El Desperado stood on top and earned the title shot.

On Sunday, January 4th, 2026, at the prestigious Tokyo Dome, Desperado overcame Taiji Ishimori, Kosei Fujita, and Sho in a brief seven-minute match after landing a Tiger Driver and Pinche Loco, to take home the victory.

Midway through the match, fans saw DOUKI and Yoshinbou Kanemaru trying to interfere and help Sho win, to keep his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship safe from any legitimate contenders. However, Robbie Eagles, Robbie X, and Kuukai showed up in time to help Desperado secure the win against the heels.

Tonight’s victory means Desperado will have his eighth singles match against DOUKI. The duo has faced off several times since 2020, including in a trio of title matchups since 2024. DOUKI’s current run with the title began when he defeated Desperado back in October 2025 at the Korakuen Hall.

It is currently unknown when El Desperado will challenge DOUKI for the championship.

New junior heavyweight match announced for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20

Posted on by Ian Carey

Five matches are now official for Wrestle Kingdom 20.

A four-way match featuring El Desperado, SHO, Kosei Fujita, and Taiji Ishiimori has been added to the lineup. The winner will earn a future shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, currently held by DOUKI.

The match was announced during a press conference in Tokyo on Sunday, which also confirmed Kazuchika Okada as Hiroshi Tanahashi’s opponent for Tanahashi’s retirement match.

Ishimori pinned SHO in a tag match on Saturday’s show and called out DOUKI after, upset at how DOUKI and SHO had defeated him and Robbie X in the finals of the Super Junior Tag League. DOUKI was later confronted backstage by El Desperado, who was upset that DOUKI cheated to win the title from him last month. Best of the Super Juniors winner Kosei Fujita had also confronted DOUKI backstage last week in Gifu.

DOUKI set up the challengers four-way during his backstage comments on Saturday, making sure his tag team partner SHO was part of the match as well.

“I’m done dealing with this,” DOUKI said. “You guys can run your own contenders match.“

“Desperado, Ishimori, and there was another loud punk, Fujita. Go ahead and have your contenders match, but there’s one condition from the champion, include this guy in the match (putting his hand on SHO). Don’t you think he’s the one who truly deserves to be a challenger?”

The updated lineup for the show is below:

NJPW WrestleKingdom 20 (January 4)

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita vs. IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji in a winner takes all match
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi retirement match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada
  • EVIL vs. Aaron Wolf for NEVER Openweight title
  • NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Saya Kamitani vs. IWGP Women’s Champion Syuri in a winner takes all match
  • El Desperado vs. SHO vs. Kosei Fujita vs. Taiji Ishiimori in an IWGP Junior Heavyweight number one contender match

New champion crowned at NJPW Road to King of Pro Wrestling event

Posted on by Ian Carey

DOUKI has recaptured the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.

He defeated El Desperado in the main event of Monday’s Road to King of Pro Wrestling show at Korakuen Hall.

The match was not without controversy due to repeated interference from DOUKI’s House of Torture teammate, SHO. Despite SHO having been banished from ringside before the bout officially began, he returned later and struck Desperado with a wrench and sheet pan, allowing DOUKI to lock in the DOUKI-chokey for the win.

“I guess the only logical reason to end such a great Junior Heavyweight Championship reign would be to end it in the most controversial and displeasing way possible,” wrote our own Cory Michaels in today’s recap of the show.

It was the 99th title change in the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship’s lineage. Desperado’s fifth reign with the belt ends after 275 days and eight successful title defenses.

For DOUKI, he regains the title he lost due to match stoppage at Wrestle Kingdom after he suffered what was at first thought to be a broken arm, and later revealed to be a dislocated left elbow. He missed over five months before returning that June at Dominion. DOUKI’s first reign with the title lasted 183 days with four successful defenses.

New title matches added to New Japan Soul tour

Posted on by Joseph Currier

NJPW has confirmed a few new title matches for the final two stops on its New Japan Soul 2025 tour.

– Kosei Fujita — this year’s Best of the Super Juniors winner — is getting his title shot against El Desperado at Korakuen Hall on Sunday, July 6. That match is now official after Desperado successfully defended his title against Jun Kasai in a death match this week.

It was originally expected that Fujita would challenge Desperado earlier this month at Dominion. But with the Desperado vs. Kasai match already scheduled, Fujita decided to delay his title shot so that Desperado would be fully focused on their match when they face each other.

The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles will also be on the line at the July 6 event with new champions House of Torture (SHO & DOUKI) defending in a rematch against former champs YOH & Master Wato.

– On July 4, the second-to-last show of the New Japan Soul tour will take place at Budokan Hall. A NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team title match has now been booked for that event with SHO, Yujiro Takahashi & Ren Narita defending against YOH, Wato & Toru Yano.

Both the July 4 and July 6 shows will air live on New Japan World. Here are the updated cards:

New Japan Soul 2025 —

Friday, July 4:

  • IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Gabe Kidd defends against Hiroshi Tanahashi
  • G1 Climax A Block play-in match: Ryohei Oiwa vs. Satoshi Kojima
  • G1 Climax B Block play-in match: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Chase Owens
  • NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions SHO, Yujiro Takahashi & Ren Narita defend against YOH, Master Wato & Toru Yano

Sunday, July 6:

  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado defends against Kosei Fujita
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions SHO & DOUKI defend against YOH & Master Wato
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tiger Mask

El Desperado to defend IWGP Jr. title against Jun Kasai at Death Pain Invitational

Posted on by Ian Carey

El Desperado will defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Jun Kasai later this month.

Their match at NJPW’s Death Pain Invitational on June 24 at Korakuen Hall is being billed as the final bout between the two. While the match was scheduled last month, NJPW announced on Tuesday that Desperado’s title will be on the line.

Kosei Fujita and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship

It was originally expected that the winner of Best of the Super Juniors 32 would challenge for the title at Dominion on June 15. However, following his tournament win, Kosei Fujita said backstage that he wants to wait to challenge Desperado until after the Death Pain Invitational. Fujita said he doesn’t want to face a Desperado who is still thinking about his match with Kasai.

El Desperado vs. Jun Kasai

Kasai has pinned Desperado twice this year, once in a triple threat in March and again in a tag match last month. Desperado had previously said that if he won BOSJ32, he would nominate Kasai as his next challenger.

Kasai appeared following Desperado’s tag match at the BOSJ finals and handed him a red envelope, formally inviting him to the Death Pain Invitational, even though the match had already been confirmed.

Desperado and Kasai have had three singles matches. Desperado won their 2022 bout, while their two meetings in 2019 ended in a no-contest and a double countout.

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 Junior title match stopped due to injury

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 came to an early end after an injury to one of the competitors.

*The following contains spoilers from NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19*

IWGP Junior Champion DOUKI suffered a left arm injury that forced a stop to his title defense against El Desperado, with the title changing hands due to the injury.

After a brawl on the outside, DOUKI climbed to the top rope to attempt his bombs away senton to the floor. He connected on the move, but his left arm smacked the padded floor. DOUKI immediately grabbed at the arm, and the match was stopped after a short consultation with referee Marty Asami.

Desperado’s music played and he was declared the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. The new title holder cut a short promo celebrating his win, noting that he will not apologize for how he won the title.

The reign is the fifth Junior Heavyweight title reign for Desperado. A reign longer than one day will push him past Will Ospreay into tenth place for most total days as IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.

Our full report from Wrestle Kingdom 19 is here.

A video of DOUKI’s injury is embedded below for as long as it’s up before a copyright takedown.

NJPW Power Struggle notes: El Desperado returns, SANADA, new champions crowned

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Notes from Monday morning’s Power Struggle.

Most of NJPW’s show in Osaka was built towards Wrestle Kingdom 19. After taking a leave of absence earlier in the year, El Desperado returned to NJPW and issued a challenge to DOUKI for January 4 at the Tokyo Dome for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title. Desperado told DOUKI that he wanted this version of DOUKI that has been champion since the summer. DOUKI accepted Desperado’s challenge.

Desperado had won this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament and defeated SHO to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title. However, he only held the title for 19 days, losing to DOUKI during the New Japan Soul tour in July. 

SANADA, meanwhile, turned his back on Just Five Guys and revealed he was the newest member of Bullet Club War Dogs. Taichi had the match won against David Finlay for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship when SANADA emerged, wearing a Just Five Guys tracksuit. However, he took off his jacket to reveal he was wearing a Bullet Club t-shirt. That allowed Finlay to lay out Taichi to retain the title.

After the match, SANADA took out Taka Michinoku and Taichi and fended off DOUKI who attempted to enter the ring. After boasting about Yuya Uemura being out of action, Finlay issued a challenge to Yota Tsuji for Wrestle Kingdom. Tsuji entered the ring and accepted the challenge.

One title change took place at Power Struggle, with Henare & Great-O-Khan defeating TMDK (Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls) to win the IWGP Tag Team titles together for the first time. TMDK had held the titles for 119 days, defeating Chase Owens and KENTA at Dominion back in June. The upcoming World Tag League tournament starting later this month will likely determine the next challengers.

El Desperado taking leave of absence from NJPW to undergo meniscus surgery

Posted on by Bryan Rose

El Desperado is taking time off.

NJPW announced on Monday that Desperado would be taking a leave of absence to undergo surgery to repair a medial meniscus injury that has affected him for the past six months.

According to NJPW’s website, Desperado made the announcement on his YouTube channel. He felt that between his match with Chris Brookes in DDT on Sunday and the G1 Climax tournament starting, now was the best time to take time off and focus on regaining the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title. 

The website wrote:

Desperado stated that with the G1 Climax seeing heavyweights take center stage, everything aligned for him to take time off after wrestling Chris Brookes. Desperado stated that he still gave it all he had in the first half of the year and was satisfied with his performance, but with a view to continuing to operate at ‘over 100%’ the time had come to take surgery and take an indefinite leave before returning ‘to take the title back, win next year’s Best of the Super Jr. and do more things to inspire’.

Desperado had won this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament and defeated SHO to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title at NJPW Soul on June 16. However, he lost the title in his first defense against DOUKI in a match that took place on July 5.

IWGP Junior title match set for NJPW Soul tour finale

Posted on by Bryan Rose

A match for the Junior Heavyweight title is set for the finale of NJPW’s Soul tour.

After El Desperado defeated SHO in a steel cage match to win the title on Saturday, DOUKI came out to issue the first title challenge. Desperado accepted, with NJPW making the title match official for July 5 at Tokyo Budokan.

Also announced is a six-man tag team match only featuring members of Los Ingobernables de Japon. Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, and BUSHI will face Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi, and Titan. In NJPW’s preview, it was mentioned that BUSHI and Naito are from the Adachi area of Tokyo where the card is being held.

Ryusuke Taguchi will return to action after suffering injuries from a road accident that took him out of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament. The G1 Climax A and B block qualifier finals will also take place.

Here is the updated card for the NJPW Soul tour finale:

  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight title: El Desperado defends against DOUKI
  • Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, and BUSHI vs. Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi, and Titan
  • G1 Climax A block qualifier finals
  • G1 Climax B block qualifier finals
  • Ryusuke Taguchi return match

NJPW crowns Best of the Super Juniors 31 winner

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The Best of the Super Juniors 31 tournament has concluded.

El Desperado defeated Taiji Ishimori in the main event of Sunday’s Dominion event in Osaka-jo Hall. The finish of the match, which went over twenty minutes, saw Desperado pin Ishimori with the pinche loco to win the BOSJ tournament for the first time.

After the match, he was handed the tournament trophy and posed with the ceremonial flag. In his post-match promo, he put over Ishimori’s performance as Ishimori stormed backstage.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion SHO then came out and taunted Desperado. The two had a back and forth until Desperado challenged SHO to a steel cage match for SHO’s title, saying it would be the best way to make sure that no one can interfere. SHO left angrily as Desperado called himself the strongest.

Desperado defeated Douki to advance to the finals, while Ishimori defeated TJP.

A vote held before Dominion asked fans if they wanted the Best of the Super Junior finals or the lumberjack match between EVIL and Jon Moxley to headline the show. The finals ended up winning the vote, putting it in the main event slot.

Daily Update: WWE WrestleMania 40, Damian Priest, El Desperado

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

F4W/WON Convention

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the highlights in this issue:

  • WrestleMania weekend preview, the matches, the plans for the matches, favorites in every match, where things can go next and how we got there
  • How plans changed throughout the period
  • Dwayne Johnson’s preparation to get into ring shape
  • How Johnson’s return came about
  • Stand & Deliver preview
  • Business notes on all the shows including the insane scalper market setting a new all-time pro wrestling record
  • The lawyers grapple in Janel Grant lawsuit against Vince McMahon.
  • What we’ve learned new and the strategy McMahon’s side is taking
  • AEW cuts and the current realities of AEW business
  • CM Punk’s interview on the Ariel Helwani show in detail and each subject covered
  • The most heated pro wrestling show in decades from last week at Arena Mexico featuring top AAA talent, and how the crowd makeup was different, and exactly what happened at WrestleMania 30 that led to this show taking place
  • The most detailed look at the the ratings from the past week, weekly rankings, competition, segment-by-segment, analysis, how it compares with one year ago
  • Notes from three Stardom PPV shows this past week
  • Preview of two major New Japan events
  • Lots of Mania week shows talked about
  • Main event for RevPro’s biggest show of the year
  • Bloodsport coverage
  • How Kingston vs. Briscoe came about
  • Ticket sales for upcoming WWE & AEW shows
  • Streaming numbers and international TV ratings
  • AEW PPV updates
  • McGregor sets record
  • Dana White talks about blowing off a sponsor
  • PFL signs boxing champion
  • Nick Khan talks Vince McMahon, Netflix deal and bringing in Dwayne Johnson
  • Details behind Vince McMahon’s most recent stock sale
  • WWE numbers in quarter one
  • Martha Hart talks Vince McMahon
  • Ronda Rousey and Drew Gulak controversy
  • WWE star likely returning
  • Merchandise sale updates
  • Update on amateur wrestlers in WWE system
  • Notes from all the house shows

This Week’s Retro Observer Newsletter

Tuesday Update

WWE

AEW & Other Wrestling

Seven-way scramble set for Impact x NJPW Multiverse United 2

Posted on by Josh Nason

In a showcase match for both Impact Wrestling’s X-Division and NJPW’s junior heavyweights, a seven-way scramble will take place at next Sunday’s Impact x NJPW Multiverse United 2.

The pay-per-view is set for Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena on August 20th.

The participants include former Impact X-Division Champions Chris Sabin, Frankie Kazarian and Rich Swann in addition to Kevin Knight, BUSHI, Mao, and El Desperado.

That was the only new addition to the card announced Thursday. Deonna Purrazzo is expected to wrestle on the show against a Stardom talent as she recently called out the company to send their best to Philadelphia.

This is the second such co-promoted Impact/NJPW event.

Here’s the current card:

  • X-Division Champion Lio Rush & Trey Miguel vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Mike Bailey
  • Impact World Champion Alex Shelley defends against Hiroshi Tanahashi
  • DOUKI vs. Sami Callihan
  • NJPW TV Champion Zack Sabre Jr. & Shane Haste vs. Moose & Eddie Edwards
  • Chris Sabin vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Rich Swann vs. Kevin Knight vs. BUSHI vs. Mao vs. El Desperado in a seven-way scramble

Nick Wayne’s NJPW debut set for All Star Junior Festival USA

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Nick Wayne is set to make his NJPW debut next month at the All Star Junior Festival USA. 

As announced by NJPW and confirmed by Wayne on social media, the 18-year-old phenom will wrestle his first match for the promotion in Philadelphia at the 2300 Arena at the All Star Jr. Festival USA pay-per-view on Saturday, August 19, teaming with Jordan Oliver against Mao, and NJPW stalwart El Desperado. 

Wayne called the debut “a dream come true,” and noted that teaming with Oliver was special, tweeting: 

New Japan Pro Wrestling debut. A dream come true. And i’m doing it with my brother, @TheJordanOIiver

Wayne & Oliver vs. Desperado & Mao is the first match officially announced for the All Star Jr. Festival USA. The event will air on NJPW World pay-per-view. An NJPW card with the All Star Jr. Festival branding was also run in Japan in March of this year.

Wayne made his AEW debut on the July 12 Dynamite, just days after his 18th birthday. His AEW signing was announced back in February 2022, contingent on his finishing high school and turning 18. 

All Star Jr. Festival USA is set for Saturday, August 19 at 7 p.m. Eastern time, with tickets on sale for the event now.