MJF Challenges Ryohei Oiwa for Wrestle Kingdom 21
MJF called out Ryohei Oiwa via video message after a NJPW Power Struggle match, and Oiwa accepted the challenge.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Wrestling
After T.M.D.K. defeated The Swirl at NJPW Power Struggle, MJF appeared via video message, belittled Ryohei Oiwa, and called him out for a match at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 21. Oiwa accepted the challenge, and the updated Wrestle Kingdom 21 card now lists MJF vs. Ryohei Oiwa.
Why it matters
The announced bout adds a high-profile matchup to New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Wrestle Kingdom 21 card, the promotion's flagship event. It also places Ryohei Oiwa against a widely known opponent on the international stage.
The bout is set for January 4, 2027, at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 21, with the updated card listing MJF against Ryohei Oiwa. The source does not provide performance statistics or match stipulations for the matchup.
The players
MJF
MJF is a professional wrestler known for his work in American promotions and his outspoken character persona.
Ryohei Oiwa
Ryohei Oiwa is a Japanese professional wrestler who competes for New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
New Japan Pro-Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion and the organizer of the Wrestle Kingdom and Power Struggle events.
The details
The callout was delivered by video message after the lights in the venue went out following T.M.D.K.'s win over The Swirl, which Ryohei Oiwa and Hartley Jackson secured against Lee Johnson and Blake Christian. MJF belittled Oiwa in the message before issuing the challenge, which Oiwa accepted once the video concluded.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: NJPW Power Struggle event, where T.M.D.K. defeated The Swirl and MJF issued the callout.
January 4, 2027: NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 21, where MJF and Ryohei Oiwa are scheduled to meet.
Season Trajectory
Wrestle Kingdom is New Japan Pro-Wrestling's annual flagship event, and adding MJF to its card signals the promotion's continued push to book internationally recognized talent. The matchup positions Ryohei Oiwa against a performer with a wider international profile on the sport's biggest annual stage.
The Wrestle Kingdom 21 card now includes MJF vs. Ryohei Oiwa, which fans can track on the event's updated listing. The bout adds a singles match to an already-announced card for the January 4, 2027 show.
The takeaway
The announced MJF vs. Ryohei Oiwa match gives Wrestle Kingdom 21 a fresh cross-promotional storyline heading into January 2027. Readers following the promotion can watch for further card updates as the event approaches.
What happens next
The MJF vs. Ryohei Oiwa match is scheduled for NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 21 on January 4, 2027.
Further reading
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