NJPW Announces Wrestle Kingdom 2027 & 2028 Dates, Airs…
New Japan Pro-Wrestling utilized an AI-generated video message featuring the late founder Antonio Inoki during their G1 Climax 36 event
- Incident date
- Aug 2026
- Target
- Antonio Inoki
During the G1 Climax 36 semifinals on August 15, 2026, New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) surprised fans by airing a video message featuring the late Antonio Inoki. The presentation occurred alongside the announcement of the dates for Wrestle Kingdom 21 in 2027 and the subsequent 2028 event.
What happened
The promotion utilized AI technology to recreate the likeness and voice of Antonio Inoki, the founder of NJPW who passed away in the fall of 2022. The digital message was broadcast on the arena vision screens at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, where it delivered a message to wrestler Hiroyoshi Tenzan, who was celebrating his retirement. The video concluded with the iconic "1, 2, 3, Dar!" catchphrase.
This presentation follows a project announced in February 2026 involving the creation of a human-like robot modeled after Inoki. The initiative, led by Inoki Genki Factory and AVITA Inc., aims to bring the founder's persona back to the public sphere through advanced technology. Hiroshi Ishiguro, CEO of AVITA Inc., noted that while the project is underway, it may be some time before a robotic version of the wrestler is capable of performing in the ring.