Andrade El Idolo Set for NJPW Return at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20

Monday’s NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome show at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan featured Andrade El Idolo making a surprise video appearance.

During the show, a video aired on the big screen showing Andrade and him revealing himself to be the “business backer” of the United Empire. Andrade also stated he will be one of the mystery members on the United Empire’s side for the 10-Man Tag Team match 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. I have business all over the world, but in Japan I have a very good business with my friends.”

The new business backer for United Empire is none other than @andradeelidolo!

And he’ll be on the UE side at Wrestle Kingdom!!#njpw #njwk20 pic.twitter.com/PfJbo7bEQ2

— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) December 22, 2025

This will be Andrade’s first appearance for NJPW since January of 2015.

Andrade is currently believed to still be under a one-year non-compete clause with WWE following his firing from the company this past September.

Current card for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20:

• NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship Tornado Ranbo match – Kaisei Takechi & mystery partners vs. Tomohiro Ishii, Satoshi Kojima, & Taichi vs. mystery opponents vs. YOH, Master Wato, & Toru Yano (c)
• IWGP Women’s Championship and NJPW Strong Women’s Championship, Title vs. Title match – Syuri (IWGP Women) vs. Saya Kamitani (NJPW Strong Women)
• 10-Man Tag Team match – Shingo Takagi, David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, Drilla Moloney, & Hiromu Takahashi vs United Empire (Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan, HENARE, Andrade El Idolo, & mystery partner)
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championshop #1 Contender Four-way match – El Desperado vs. Kosei Fujita vs. Taiji Ishimori vs. SHO
• NEVER Openweight Championship – Aaron Wolf vs. EVIL (c)
• IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship and IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, Title vs. Title match – Yota Tsuji (IWGP Global) vs. Konosuke Takeshita (IWGP World)
• Hiroshi Tanahashi Retirement match – Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada