Subhojeet Mukherjee on January 4, 2026
New Japan Pro Wrestling is officially coming back to the United States this spring, and El Desperado is once again in the spotlight.
During Wrestle Kingdom 20, following El Desperado’s victory in a four-way #1 Contender’s Match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, NJPW paused the in-ring action to drop multiple major event announcements—including the return of a U.S.-based showcase.
Set for April 16, 2026, NJPW will return to the United States for ‘Death Vegas Invitacional’ in Las Vegas, Nevada. This continues a tradition of Desperado-themed U.S. events that began with the Despe Invitacional in 2024 and was followed by Death Pain Invitacional in 2025.
El Desperado has remained closely tied to these special shows, either co-presenting or co-headlining them, and NJPW appears eager to maintain that connection as they grow their U.S. presence.
In addition to their Las Vegas stop, NJPW revealed its major event calendar for the first half of 2026, including several fan-favorite shows:
Confirmed NJPW 2026 Event Schedule:
- February 11 – The New Beginning in Osaka
- March 6 – NJPW 54th Anniversary Show
- April 4 – Sakura Genesis
- April 16 – Death Vegas Invitacional in Las Vegas, Nevada
- April 25 – Wrestling Redzone in Hiroshima
- May 3 – Wrestling Dontaku
- June 7 – Best of the Super Juniors 33 Final
- June 14 – Dominion
With the Death Vegas Invitacional marking a return to the U.S. market, it’s clear NJPW is intent on keeping international momentum strong throughout 2026. And with Desperado back in IWGP title contention, fans can expect his fingerprints all over the road to Vegas.
Are you excited for NJPW’s return to the United States? What matches would you want to see at Death Vegas Invitacional? Let us know in the comments below.
January 4, 2026 4:15 am
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