NJPW Announces Wrestle Kingdom 2027 & 2028 Dates, Airs AI Video Message From Antonio Inoki
Dates locked in for Wrestle Kingdom 2027 and 2028.
As the New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s G1 Climax 36 semifinal was ongoing, the date for Wrestle Kingdom 21 in January 2027 was announced. The show is taking place on January 4th at the Tokyo Dome. It will be a celebration of 55 years of NJPW.
Within that announcement, the promotion advertised the 2028 Wrestle Kingdom for January 4th at the Tokyo Dome.
That was followed by an A.I. video message from the late Antonio Inoki. Inoki is the founder of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He passed away in the fall of 2022.
なんと8.15両国大会のビジョンに「AIアントニオ猪木」が登場！
引退を迎えた天山選手にメッセージ！最後は新日本“55周年”に向けて「1、2、3ダーッ!!」締め!!https://t.co/pXTiND5AHl#AIアントニオ猪木 #天山引退 pic.twitter.com/PcNMvOLwcW— 新日本プロレスリング株式会社 (@njpw1972) August 15, 2026
Back in February 2026, it was revealed that a human-like robot is being created in Inoki’s likeness by way of AI. Inoki Genki Factory and AVITA Inc. are behind the project.
The CEO of AVITA Inc. is Hiroshi Ishiguro, and he was asked if the Inoki robot will be able to wrestle. Ishiguro said it could be a while before that happens.
