2026 G1 Climax winner Ryohei Oiwa has officially responded to Maxwell Jacob Friedman following MJF’s surprise video appearance during New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Road to King of Pro Wrestling event at Korakuen Hall.
During the broadcast, MJF called out “The Grip,” offering to put his “Triple B” belt on the line to prove he is the “real” AEW World Champion and demonstrate his superiority over NJPW talent.
Oiwa took to social media to address the video challenge, making it clear that while he acknowledges the exchange, his immediate priority remains his upcoming IWGP Heavyweight Championship match against Yota Tsuji on October 12 at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
“Read the room! You spent forever shitting on New Japan, but that ain’t the case now, right? All I’m watching now is Yota Tsuji! I’ll think about it after I win the IWGP,” Oiwa wrote.
Never one to let a rival have the last word, MJF quickly fired back on X, dismissing Oiwa’s delay with his signature heel heat.
“Be grateful, I’m letting you live until then. I’m coming to you because you and everyone in your country are too pusy to come to me,”* MJF replied, later adding that he hopes the eventual match is hosted in the United States.
In an additional statement released regarding his crossover ambitions, MJF summed up his motivations for targeting NJPW’s top rising star:
“I want to prove New Japan isn’t a real company. I want to prove I’m the master of the headlock. But MOST of all. I want to upset puro twitter.”
While no date or venue has been formally set by AEW or NJPW management, the back-and-forth sets up a major cross-promotional match once King of Pro-Wrestling concludes.
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