A new champion was crowned due to injury at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19.
DOUKI defended the title against El Desperado at the show. They battled back and forth, but the match was stopped when DOUKI suffered an arm injury on a dive to the floor. The referee called the match off, and El Desperado was declared the winner and the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.
Desperado is now a five-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. DOUKI beat him to win the gold at the NJPW New Japan Soul event on July 5, 2024, and he held the title for 183 days. Desperado previously won the Best of the Super Juniors tournament in 2024.
WrestleZone will provide more information about DOUKI’s injury as it becomes available.
