NJPW has confirmed that the returning El Phantasmo has been added to the NJPW World TV Title match at Wrestle Kingdom.
The 38-year-old made his return to a New Japan ring on Sunday after taking medical leave to have treatment for a tumor.
In an angle on Sunday’s show, he challenged the already-announced three competitors for the match: champion Ren Narita, Jeff Cobb and Ryohei Oiwa.
The promotion confirmed his addition to the card on Monday.
Additionally, the New Japan Ranbo, which will kick off Wrestle Kingdom, will offer the winner a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight title.
Updated card for Wrestle Kingdom 19, January 4th, 2025
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Shota Umino
- Tetsuya Naito vs. Hiromu Takahashi
- IWGP Global Championship: David Finlay (c) vs. Yota Tsuji
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: DOUKI vs. El Desperado
- Double Title Match – NEVER Openweight Championship & AEW International Championship: Shingo Takagi vs. Konosuke Takeshita
- Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. EVIL
- NJPW World TV Championship – Four-way Match: Ren Narita (c) vs. Jeff Cobb, Ryohei Oiwa & El Phantasmo
- IWGP Women’s Championship: Mayu Iwatani (c) vs. AZM
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships – Four-way Match: KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight (c) vs. Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita, TJP & Francesco Akira, and Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney
- Pre-show:Â NJPW Ranbo battle royal for an IWGP World Heavyweight Title shot