8 Ups & 6 Downs From NJPW King Of Pro-Wrestling 2019

6. Welcome Back

El Desperado
NJPW

King Of Pro-Wrestling 2019 brought El Desperado's return to a New Japan ring for the first time since May, having suffered a broken jaw while wrestling deathmatch worker Jun Kasai on a collaborative TAKA Michinoku/Taichi produce show and while far from the night's biggest story, it was great to see the masked lunatic back in action.

He's never the most strongly pushed wrestler, but Despy is the kind of guy who helps elevate NJPW's myriad multi-man undercard tags above skippable. A wild, do-or-die flier with little regard for his own wellbeing, he isn't always must-watch, though he brings much-needed energy to bouts like today's opener. On top of this, his junior heavyweight tag team with Yoshinobu Kanemaru is wonderfully scuzzy and adds depth to the division as well.

Welcome back, Despy. You were missed.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.