Chris Brookes to Challenge for the New Japan World TV Title at WRESTLE KINGDOM 20

By Noah Leatherland

After successfully defending the New Japan World TV Title against Ryusuke Taguchi, El Phantasmo offered up an open challenge for WRESTLE KINGDOM 20. The champion was swiftly attacked by DDT’s Chris Brookes, who accepted the challenge for the Tokyo Dome.

WRESTLE KINGDOM 20 will be Brookes’ first appearance in a New Japan ring since competing at the Despe Invitacional in the summer of 2024. Brookes met El Phantasmo in the ring during that event, in a four-way also featuring MAO and Masashi Takeda that ended in a time limit draw.

It was at WRESTLE KINGDOM 19 last year that El Phantasmo first claimed the New Japan World TV Title. He has had two previous singles encounters with Brookes. Both of these matches took place in the UK, and both were won by Brookes.