Vertical Bison | MP
By: Lewis Carlan
Ever since El Desperado made his pro-wrestling debut for New Japan Pro-Wrestling back in March 2010, he has carved out an immensely successful career for himself.
Widely considered as one of the best Jr. Heavyweights in the world, El Desperado has held the IWGP Jr Heavyweight Title five times and the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Titles five times as well. Currently he holds the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team belts with CMLL superstar Mistico.
During his career, Desperado has had countless memorable bouts against other top competitors including Hiromu Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori, Kosei Fujita, El Phantasmo and DOUKI. In addition, Desperado has competed in numerous extremely violent Death Matches with one of his top rivals Jun Kasai of Pro Wrestling FREEDOMS.
El Desperado is a true champion who has taken his talents all over the world to compete. In addition to Japan, Desperado has wrestled matches in Mexico, USA, Canada and the UK.
Photo Credit: NJPW
While NJPW is in the midst of its Road to G1 Climax tour, Monthly Puroresu had the pleasure of catching up with El Desperado as we discussed a variety of topics.
Monthly Puroresu:
YOH won his first IWGP Jr Heavyweight Championship at Dominion. What type of champion do you expect YOH to be?
El Desperado:
COVID got in the way of his first title challenge, and then when things got going in 2020 again he got hurt. For years he really seemed to have the worst luck, but the fans that had been on that whole ride with him really wanted to see him win as a result. The timing was right at last, he finally got it, so I’m glad for him. If I’m honest, I’m not a fan of guys who use other people’s moves, but at the same time, he’s been able to get the support of the fans in his own unique way, and in a way nobody else can imitate.
Monthly Puroresu:
With Tiger Mask set to retire, what impact has he had on your career?
El Desperado:
He really has been an icon for NJPW, and it’s been a hell of a career. Trained by the original Tiger Mask, going back to back in BOSJ, all the great matches he’s had with the Mexican legends as well. Time waits for no man, so this day was going to come sometime. But after he retires, I’ll be the only masked man in NJPW, so I’d like someone new to come in, lol.
Monthly Puroresu:
As you have accomplished so much as a Jr. Heavyweight, are you interested in a sixth reign as IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion and will there be a time when you decide to move up to Heavyweight and possibly even compete in the G1?
El Desperado:
I’m a junior heavyweight, so of course I want to challenge for that title any time the opportunity comes my way. As for the heavyweights, I get the fact I don’t make my weight public, but try putting guys under 100kilos against OSKAR, or Wolf, or, Lance Archer say on the regular. They’d be killed. But if it was a case of once a tour say, a special singles match with a super heavyweight, that would be a pretty cool idea. If my body could keep up.
Photo Credit: NJPW
Monthly Puroresu:
You held the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship four times with Yoshinobu Kanemaru and now with Mistico. How does Mistico compare to Kanemaru as a tag team partner?
El Desperado:
When I was wrestling regularly in Arena Mexico, he wasn’t around, but he was already at that time a legend. He just has this incredible charisma. The first time I met him was actually in the gym one time; I’d lost a ton of weight and collapsed. He came over and helped out, just a proper gentleman. Years on to be able to team with him is a massive honor and winning the titles was such a happy moment. And I’ll be able to brag until the day I die that I was able to wrestle Mistico one on one, and I beat him as well. Huge respect and gratitude to him.
Monthly Puroresu:
What is it about a Death Match that appeals to you?
El Desperado:
For anyone who turns up their nose and says ‘oh those guys don’t really hurt each other’ when they watch wrestling, deathmatch is the genre that shuts anybody up. At the same time, it isn’t a stunt or a freak show. There’s an emotional hook that’s unique to deathmatch wrestling, and I have immense respect for anyone who does it. I’m not a deathmatch guy- I’m someone who always looked up to Jun Kasai, wanted to wrestle him to the fullest of my ability and got put into that world as a result. So I don’t do anything different particularly. Except I think I’m the first person to add roses to barbed wire boards maybe.
Photo Credit: NJPW
Monthly Puroresu:
Do you have an opinion of the current AEW/NJPW relationship and of Tony Khan?
El Desperado:
NJPW and AEW both have incredible wrestlers, so I hope fans on both sides can experience that with some good talent exchanges- though I know the economics, especially the weak Yen makes that challenging. Tony is amazing. Starting up a new pro-wrestling organization on that scale is such a difficult thing to do, so I have huge respect for him. I’ve been to America a lot, but we’ve barely met for more than a second. He’s like a rare Pokemon to me.
Monthly Puroresu:
What is your assessment of the current group of NJPW Jr Heavyweights such as Kosei Fujita, Master Wato, Francesco Akira & Daiki Nagai?
El Desperado:
If I went one by one- Fujita is a new case, someone who went into a faction in TMDK while he was still a Young Lion and grew from there. He has a real hold on who he is, he has great mental balance, and very athletic with it. Wato is a great physical athlete. Akira is small, but he makes that his strength. He has a real sense of pride to him and his strikes and speed are great as well. He’s been someone to watch ever since he was in All Japan. Nagai, I think if he gets more experience he’s going to be a sensation. His facial expressions, the way he expresses himself to the fans is sensational for someone of his experience level and that’s a vital strength to have. They all have their own strengths and weaknesses, so I can’t say any one of them over the others. From here it’s up to fate, a bit of luck and their own ability.
Photo Credit: NJPW
Monthly Puroresu:
Back in 2024, you produced the NJPW Despe Invitacional, what was your inspiration for the event and will we see another Despe Invitacional in the future?
El Desperado:
Well, I should point out I wasn’t the lead on Death Pain. But there’s a lot of things I want to do, and if the timing is right I’d like to produce again.
Monthly Puroresu:
You have been competing for 16 years, what keeps you motivated as a pro-wrestler?
El Desperado:
Motivation isn’t an up and down thing for me, I keep on a consistent high level. I always want to be as good as I can, so what I want is for people to be saying not to miss my match no matter who the opponent might be.
Monthly Puroresu:
What is a typical day like for when you are not competing inside the ring? What are some of your favorite things to do on your off days?
El Desperado: I don’t have any! If I’m not working I’m training and if I can’t train I’ll work.
Monthly Puroresu:
What would you call the greatest moment of your career and who you would consider your greatest rival?
El Desperado:
There’s so many I can’t really pick a moment or an opponent. Every time I’ve been able to wrestle Kasai, or Hiromu, or Ishimori or ELP has been special to me, and I’ll forever treasure that I got to wrestle Okada, Ibushi, Tanahashi and Mistico.
Date:
July 5, 2026
