April 09, 2023 / By mobanmarket
New champions were crowned on Saturday at NJPW Sakura Genesis at Sumo Hall.
In a massive upset, SANADA defeated Kazuchika Okada in the show's main event to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
The 2023 New Japan Cup winner, SANADA hit Okada with his new Deadfall finisher for the pin to win the title.
Following his win, SANADA was challenged by his former Los Ingobernables de Japon stablemate Hiromu Takahashi to a future World Heavyweight title bout. SANADA's new Just Five Guys stablemate Yoshinobu Kanemaru interrupted on SANADA's behalf, demanding an IWGP Junior title shot against Hiromu before any SANADA vs. Hiromu bout takes place.
The victory was just the second for SANADA versus Okada in their tenth career singles bout. In addition, the title win is just SANADA's second singles title held in an NJPW run that began in 2016.
Okada's second reign with the IWGP World title ends at 94 days and two successful defenses.
Click Here: FC Barcelona Jersey Sale
Earlier on the Sakura Genesis card, Aussie Open's Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis defeated Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI to capture the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship for the first time.
Fletcher pinned Goto after hitting Coriolis, securing Aussie Open's highest-profile title victory to date.
Goto and YOSHI-HASHI's second reign with the IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles also ends at 94 days and two defenses.
In the evening's other title bouts, Mercedes Mone retained the IWGP Women's Championship, Zack Sabre Jr. retained the NJPW World Television Championship, and Hiromu Takahashi retained the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.
Our full report on the show can be found here.
Categories: