MJF to Face Ryohei Oiwa 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.
Story timeline · 10 reports
- MJF challenges Ryohei Oiwa for a match at Wrestle Kingdom 21 - Wrestling-Online.comPer Wrestling-Online.com: the former AEW champion once again appeared via video during the NJPW Power Struggle 2026 event and challenged Oiwa at NJPW’s biggest…
- MJF Set for NJPW Debut at Wrestle KingdomMJF will make his New Japan Pro Wrestling debut at the January 4, 2027 Wrestle Kingdom event inside the Tokyo Dome.
- AEW’s MJF Set for NJPW Debut at Wrestle Kingdom 21The latest: MJF challenged 2026 G1 Climax Tournament winner Ryohei Oiwa to a match last month.
- NJPW Announces Wrestle Kingdom 21 MatchesNJPW has set several high-profile bouts for Wrestle Kingdom 21 on January 4 in the Tokyo Dome following the November 3 Power Struggle event.
- MJF Challenges Ryohei Oiwa for NJPW Wrestle KingdomAEW's MJF issued a second video message demanding a singles match against Ryohei Oiwa at the Tokyo Dome during NJPW Wrestle Kingdom.
- MJF Set To Make NJPW Debut At Wrestle Kingdom 21 Against G1 Climax WinnerThe AEW star is likely to make his New Japan Pro-Wrestling debut at Wrestle Kingdom 21, where he is slated to meet 2026 G1 Climax winner Ryohei Oiwa at the…
- Ryohei Oiwa Accepts MJF Challenge for Wrestle Kingdom 21Following his tag team victory with Hartley Jackson over The Swirl at Power Struggle, Ryohei Oiwa was confronted by MJF via video package.
- SHO Challenges YOH For IWGP Junior Title At Wrestle Kingdom 21At NJPW Power Struggle a masked man challenged YOH for his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 21 with the stipulation that a loss would…
- MJF Challenges Ryohei Oiwa For Wrestle Kingdom 21Following T.M.D.K.'s victory over The Swirl at the NJPW Power Struggle event on November 3, 2026, MJF appeared via video message to insult Ryohei Oiwa and…
Sources: Wrestling Observer · Wrestling-Online.com · PWInsider · AOL.com · Wrestling Inc · Monthly Puroresu