El Desperado made his return to New Japan Pro Wrestling as part of Monday’s NJPW Power Struggle 2024 event.

Following the match between DOUKI and Master Wato for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, Desperado issued a challenge to DOUKI for the NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 event on January 4th, 2025 noting that he wanted the version of DOUKI that has been the Champion since the Summer.

El Desperado, the winner of this year’s Best of the Super Juniors Tournament, held the title for just 19 days back in July when he dropped the title to DOUKI at the New Japan Soul tour event.