El Desperado has been forced out of New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Super Junior Tag League after being diagnosed with spinal canal stenosis and a hernia, bringing a sudden change to one of the tournament’s highest-profile pairings.
NJPW confirmed that Desperado is not medically cleared to compete in the tournament, which begins Saturday. Young Lion Masatora Yasuda will take his place alongside Mistico. The change comes with Desperado holding one-half of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, making his absence a significant development for the junior heavyweight division and for a field that will feature 12 teams.
In a personal statement, Desperado detailed the severity of the condition and explained that he is presently unable to walk, stand, or remain seated upright for extended periods because of the trouble affecting his left leg. He said he had dealt with tingling and other unusual sensations beginning in March, before pain emerged in June and became increasingly worse over the past several months.
Desperado had hoped to continue wrestling through the remainder of the year, but said his “body has reached its limits.” He apologized to fans while making clear that the decision to step away from Super Junior Tag League was necessary.
For more background on this topic, read Tomoaki Honma Says Surgery Was Successful Ahead Of Planned 2027 Retirement.
Masatora Yasuda Steps Into A Major Opportunity
The replacement puts Yasuda in an unusually prominent position. As a Young Lion, he will now team with Mistico, one of lucha libre’s most internationally recognized stars, in a tournament that has often served as an important showcase for NJPW’s junior heavyweight roster.
Desperado framed Yasuda’s addition as more than a simple last-minute substitution. He encouraged fans to view the Young Lion’s inclusion as a “key step to the future of NJPW,” expressing a desire to give Yasuda the chance to work beside Mistico and demonstrate what he can do.
That endorsement places attention squarely on Yasuda as the league gets underway. A Young Lion being inserted into a major tournament is a substantial test on its own; doing so beside Mistico gives Yasuda the opportunity to compete in a setting that will demand quick adaptation and composure. The pairing also carries immediate intrigue because Mistico’s experience and international stature contrast sharply with Yasuda’s early stage of development.
Desperado made it clear that he trusts Mistico to continue delivering for the audience. Calling his scheduled partner a “global megastar,” Desperado said he has faith that Mistico will pull through and show up for the fans as he consistently has.
The new team will not be a continuation of the original Desperado-Mistico combination in the strictest sense, but it preserves Mistico’s place in the competition while creating an opening for Yasuda to gain experience on a major NJPW platform. It also ensures that the tournament can proceed with its planned 12-team field despite the late medical withdrawal.
A Difficult Setback For A Champion
Desperado’s withdrawal is particularly notable because of his championship status. As one-half of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, he remains closely tied to the division even while he is sidelined from a tournament designed to shape its tag-team landscape.
No timetable for Desperado’s return to action was included in the announcement. The immediate focus is therefore on his health and on the need to address the spinal canal stenosis and hernia that have left him unable to perform ordinary movements for long stretches. His statement indicates that this was not a sudden issue without warning. Rather, the symptoms developed over a lengthy period, beginning with sensations in March, progressing to pain in June, and becoming more difficult to manage in recent months.
That timeline underscores why a wrestler who intended to remain active through the end of the year ultimately had to withdraw. The rigors of a league-format tag tournament are considerable, and Desperado’s description of his current limitations leaves no doubt that he is not in a position to compete.
His apology to supporters reflects the disappointment surrounding the development, but his comments about Yasuda also offered a constructive perspective on the change. Instead of allowing the situation to be defined only by his absence, Desperado pointed to the potential value of a young wrestler receiving a rare chance to compete with Mistico in an important tournament.
Super Junior Tag League Begins Saturday
The Super Junior Tag League is scheduled to launch Saturday, with coverage available to New Japan World subscribers. The tournament will culminate at NJPW Power Struggle on November 3.
With 12 teams involved, the league will provide a concentrated look at the junior heavyweight tag division over the coming stretch. Desperado’s injury necessarily alters one team’s identity, but it also gives the tournament an unexpected developmental story through Yasuda’s entry.
For Mistico, the adjustment means moving forward with a new partner on short notice. For Yasuda, it means going from the Young Lion ranks into a tournament team with a globally known performer. And for Desperado, it means watching from the sidelines as a competitor he specifically endorsed takes on an opportunity he believes can matter for NJPW’s future.
The immediate concern remains Desperado’s condition. His own account made plain how much the injury has affected him, particularly in relation to his left leg and his ability to walk, stand, and sit upright. Until further information is provided, there is no indication of when he will be cleared to resume competition.
In the meantime, Super Junior Tag League will move ahead with Mistico and Yasuda representing the revised team. The tournament begins under difficult circumstances for Desperado, but his replacement decision has put a spotlight on a Young Lion whose next performances will be closely watched.
Desperado’s message leaves the situation with two clear realities: a reigning champion must step away to deal with a serious physical issue, and an emerging wrestler has been handed a chance to make an impression alongside one of the sport’s biggest international names. Both developments will be central to the story of this year’s Super Junior Tag League as it heads toward Power Struggle on November 3.
In pictures
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.