Former AEW & WWE wrestler set for NJPW return at Wrestle Kingdom 20
Andrade El Idolo is returning to New Japan Pro Wrestling.
He appeared via video on Monday’s Road to Tokyo Dome show at Korakuen Hall, revealing himself as the “business backer” of the United Empire. Andrade will also be one of the mystery members on the United Empire side of a 10-man tag at Wrestle Kingdom 20 against David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, Drilla Moloney, Hiromu Takahashi, and Shingo Takagi.
“My name is Andrade El Idolo. La Sombra is back in Japan,” Andrade said in the video. “I have business all over the world, but in Japan I have a very good business with my friends.”
Andrade has not wrestled for NJPW since the promotion’s Fantasticamania tour with CMLL in January 2015. He previously held the IWGP Intercontinental Championship in the company, defeating Shinsuke Nakamura for the title at Arena Mexico in 2013 before losing it back to him at NJPW Kizuna Road 2013 less than two months later.
Andrade is believed to be under a 12-month no-compete clause with WWE stemming from his release from the company in September. He announced recently that WWE granted him permission to appear on a WWC show in Puerto Rico, and he also recently appeared at a House of Glory event earlier this month.
The updated Wrestle Kingdom 20 lineup is below:
NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20 (Sunday, January 4, 2026 on NJPW World) —
- Hiroshi Tanahash’s retirement match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada
- Winner-take-all match: IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita vs. IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji
- NEVER Openweight Champion EVIL defends against Aaron Wolf
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight title number one contender’s match: El Desperado vs. SHO vs. Kosei Fujita vs. Taiji Ishiimori
- David Finlay, Shingo Takagi, Gabe Kidd, Drilla Moloney & Hiromu Takahashi vs. Great-O-Khan, Callum Newman, Henare, Andrade El Idolo & A Mystery Partner
- Winner-take-all match: IWGP Women’s Champion Syuri vs. NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Saya Kamitani
- NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions YOH, Master Wato & Toru Yano defend in a multi-team ranbo
Ian Carey is a writer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, whose work has been featured in NOW Magazine, The Huffington Post, and more. A lifelong wrestling aficionado born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, he has covered the industry for a decade and a half. He joined the f4wonline.com team in 2019.