NJPW stars to face MJF: Three wrestlers who could be set for crossover matches against the AEW star

AEW

With MJF issuing a challenge to a top name in NJPW, there has been some discourse about other potential opponents for the AEW star.

Talent has crossed over in both directions since AEW and NJPW established their partnership in 2021, with Claudio Castagnoli most recently appearing for the company in Japan.

MJF appears to be the next AEW-contracted star who’s set to compete in NJPW, with the company sharing a video of the self-proclaimed real AEW World Champion calling for a match against a star who he called “the best New Japan has to offer.”

With rumors swirling, here are three NJPW stars who MJF could stand across the ring from soon.

Ryohei Oiwa

MJF has officially challenged Ryohei Oiwa to a match, ahead of Oiwa competing for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at King of Pro-Wrestling next Monday.

Ahead of the October 12 title match, NJPW shared a video of MJF calling out Oiwa, during which the AEW star stated:

“I firmly believe you’re the best New Japan has to offer, so if I end you, I’m one step closer to locking the forbidden door.”

This comes after Oiwa challenging MJF to face him in Japan, following MJF claiming to be the “superior headlock wrestler”.

While MJF believes that this year’s G1 Climax tournament winner is NJPW’s premier athlete, there are several other names who it’d make sense to see him square off with.

Yota Tsuji

Yota Tsuji currently holds the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, which he won back from Callum Newman at Dominion in June.

With Tsuji publicly criticizing the NJPW/AEW partnership on a number of occasions, there was recently a rumor that “The Gene Blast” had boycotted Forbidden Door, which aired from San Jose, California.

Tsuji recently stated that this was not the case, and that he’s open to facing AEW stars, as long as NJPW’s top title isn’t on the line.

Regardless of whether Yota Tsuji is dethroned at King of Pro-Wrestling, we could see MJF lock horns with the current champion after he faces Oiwa.

Shota Umino

Also at King of Pro-Wrestling, Shota Umino will challenge for Gabe Kidd’s IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship.

Amid speculation about Umino potentially dethroning Kidd for the gold, we could see MJF emerge as one of Unimo’s next challengers if he is victorious on October 12.

Umino has defeated a number of AEW-affiliated names in recent years, including Rocky Romero on the June 14, 2024 Rampage episode, Claudio Castagnoli at Wrestle Dynasty in January 2025, Andrade El Idolo in three-way action at Dominion in June, and PAC at Forbidden Door later that month.

Ahead of potentially meeting Jon Moxley in the ring, we could see Umino first share the ring with MJF, one final test ahead of possibly facing his former mentor.

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• AEW
• NJPW
• mjf
• Ryohei Oiwa

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