SHO Challenges YOH For IWGP Junior Title At Wrestle Kingdom 21

MJF issued a challenge to Ryohei Oiwa for a match at Wrestle Kingdom 21 during a video that aired at the New Japan Pro-Wrestling Power Struggle event on November 3, 2026. MJF named the Tokyo Dome show on January 4, 2027 as the location for their bout and said he would defeat Oiwa with a headlock takeover.

Oiwa accepted the challenge after the video message concluded, making the match official. MJF stated that he would let Oiwa wrestle him on the show that everyone in New Japan wants to be on and called the Tokyo Dome a crappy little venue.

MJF also referred to Japan as a third-world country, declared that the United States is the only country that matters, claimed AEW is where the best wrestlers compete, and said NJPW is where the best wrestlers leave. Both MJF and Oiwa are known for using headlocks, with the move helping Oiwa defeat Yuya Uemura in the G1 Climax finals this summer.

Oiwa went on to challenge Yota Tsuji for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship but was unsuccessful, though the 27-year-old remains one of NJPW's brightest young stars.