New Japan Pro Wrestling concluded its final 2025 tournament at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on December 22nd, with a headline moment featuring Andrade El Idro. Following victories by United Empire members Gedo, Shingo Takagi, and Hiromu Takahashi, faction leader Callum Newman surprised fans and Wrestle Kingdom 20 opponents by unveiling one of his two mystery partners for the January 4 Tokyo Dome event. A video announcement revealed that Andrade would return to NJPW as part of United Empire for Wrestle Kingdom 20. He will join forces with Callum Newman, Henare, The Great O. Khan, and another mystery partner to face off against Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi, David Finlay, Dorilla Moloney, and Gabe Kidd (Bullet Club War Dogs) in a 10-man tag match.
The January 4 Tokyo Dome event marks Andrade’s first NJPW in-ring appearance in 11 years, since his last stint as La Sombra in January 2015 when he was signed with CMLL. Andrade has a notable legacy in NJPW, having held the IWGP Intercontinental Championship and being the youngest competitor in the 2011 G1 Climax Tournament at 21—an age record he now shares with Callum Newman, his upcoming Wrestle Kingdom 20 teammate.
This return complicates Andrade’s contractual situation further. After surprising fans with an AEW Dynamite appearance in October, WWE reportedly imposed a non-compete clause restricting him from wrestling elsewhere for up to a year. Nonetheless, Andrade secured WWE’s permission to appear at the WWC show in Puerto Rico on December 13 and later performed at the House of Glory event in New York. Whether WWE approved his Wrestle Kingdom 20 appearance remains unclear, but given AEW’s partnership with NJPW since 2021, this move might hint at Andrade’s potential comeback to AEW.
Fan Take: For AEW fans, Andrade’s NJPW return is thrilling as it signals fluidity between wrestling promotions and could mean fresh, exciting cross-promotional matches ahead. This move not only shakes up Andrade’s career trajectory but also highlights how collaborations like AEW and NJPW’s partnership are reshaping the wrestling landscape for the better.
