NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 21 takes place in January of next year, and highly likely that a number of AEW stars will head to Tokyo Dome.
This year’s event took place on January 4 and saw AEW stars Andrade El Idolo, Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita compete at Wrestle Kingdom 20.
With Wrestle Kingdom 21 announced for January 4, 2027, and a number of former NJPW stars now under AEW contract, let’s see who could be making an impact at Tokyo Dome next year:
The Dogs
Previously members of Bullet Club War Dogs, David Finlay, Gabe & Clark Connors all signed AEW contracts earlier this year.
Now known as The Dogs, they are former AEW World Trios Champions, while Kidd holds the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, along with being a member of Death Riders.
It’s not a stretch to envision Kidd defending the championship should he still hold it by the time Wrestle Kingdom 21 comes round, something that’s also not beyond the realm of possibility.
Jon Moxley & Death Riders
The leader of Death Riders, Moxley last competed at Wrestle Kingdom 18 in January 2024, attempting to capture the vacant IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. It would be David Finlay would claim the title in a three-way match that also featured Will Ospreay.
Later in 2024, Moxley would hold the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, holding the title from April of that year until AEW Forbidden Door in June.
Where Moxley goes, Death Riders are likely to follow, potentially offering an opportunity for a multi-man match at Tokyo Dome.
Will Ospreay
For Will Ospreay, Wrestle Kingdom has left fans with much to talk about when it comes to the Aerial Assassin.
The current AEW World Champion, Ospreay has set out a vision to build his own branch of the United Empire, something that has rubbed up Callum Newman, the leader of the faction in NJPW, very much the wrong way.
There’s been tension between Ospreay and Newman for quite some time now, despite the respect that they have shown for each other and their achievements. Wrestle Kingdom 21 would be a perfect opportunity to sort out the differences in a way that fits both these stars.
Andrade El Idolo & United Empire
Oh, what a conundrum this could be for Andrade El Idolo.
Returning to AEW in October 2025, Andrade was a member of the Don Callis Family while also maintaining his role in NJPW’s United Empire.
Now turning his back on the Don Callis Family, Andrade El Idolo is all in on the United Empire, teaming with them on two episodes of Dynamite.
If Ospreay forms his own United Empire in AEW and Callum Newman continues to be aggrieved at what’s happening, Andrade El Idolo could find himself torn between the AEW and NJPW iterations of the faction, leading to much drama should it come to a head at Wrestle Kingdom 21.
Kenny Omega
Another star who has seen a career marked by exemplary outings at Wrestle Kingdom, Kenny Omega last competed at the annual event back in 2023, defeating Will Ospreay to capture the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.
Ospreay and Omega recently crossed paths at All In: London, with The Aerial Assassin besting his long-term rival. Taking that rivalry back to Tokyo Dome would be a standout moment for NJPW, particularly if the AEW World Championship was on the line.
Jack Perry
A run in NJPW back in 2024 saw Jack Perry as a member of House of Torture, with last year seeing the star on the losing end of a challenge for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, held by Yota Tsuji, at Wrestle Dynasty at Tokyo Dome.
Perry is yet to compete at Wrestle Kingdom and is currently on a quest to face former AEW World Champions as he attempts to become one himself. That quest is unlikely to take him to Wrestle Kingdom, of course, but it would be another feather in the cap for an AEW original if he was to set his sights on the iconic event.
That Partnership That Keeps On Giving
Between CMLL and NJPW, AEW has two strong partnerships that have given so much to professional wrestling fans, with crossover shows such as Forbidden Door and Wrestle Dynasty alongside regular talent exchanges in both directions.
AEW continues to partner with promotions around the world, something that led to both Revolution Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling EVE benefiting from that arrangement in the run-up to All In: London.
Tony Khan has a love of professional wrestling that clearly stretches far beyond his own roster, with the executive no doubt looking at ways to bring more eyes to the industry itself.
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