SANADA Wins The IWGP World Heavyweight Title At NJPW Sakura Genesis

Seven years after making his New Japan Pro-Wrestling debut, SANADA has finally reached the top of the mountain.

Following his win in the 2023 New Japan Cup, SANADA challenged Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis on Saturday, April 8. Who would win was ultimately a toss-up amongst fans but it was SANADA who scored the victory, blocking the Rainmaker in the final moments before he finally connected with his new Deadfall finisher for the 1-2-3.

After the match, SANADA celebrated with his Just Five Guys stablemates, having quit Los Ingobernables de Japon following his win over Tetsuya Naito in the New Japan Cup. A member of LIJ will be Cold Skull's first challenger as IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi made his way to the ring during SANADA's post-match promo and challenged his former stablemate to a match.

SANADA accepted the match, but Hiromu must first defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title against Yoshinobu Kanemaru.

SANADA's win today saw him secure New Japan's top prize at the fifth time of asking. He had previously unsuccessfully challenged Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Title on three occasions between February 2018 and October 2019. SANADA then failed to defeat Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight/Intercontinental Double Title in February 2021.