NJPW Sakura Genesis 2023 was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on April 8, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. It was broadcast on NJPW World and TV Asahi.
Production[]
Storylines[]
On March 15, NJPW WORLD Television Champion Zack Sabre Jr. was eliminated from the New Japan Cup after he was defeated by Shota Umino. As a result, it was announced that Sabre Jr. would defend his title against Umino at Sakura Genesis.
On March 21, Hiromu Takahashi successfully retained his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Lio Rush. After, a video played, in which Robbie Eagles announced he had joined TMDK. Eagles would then challenge Takahashi to a match at Sakura Genesis. The challenge was accepted by Takahashi and the match was made official.
In March, the 2023 New Japan Cup would take place. On March 21, the final saw SANADA defeat David Finlay to win the tournament. Thanks to his win, SANADA earned a match against IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada at Sakura Genesis.
Results[]
- Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.
- (c) refers to the champion(s) heading into the match.
- Great-O-Khan, Minoru Suzuki & Toru Yano defeated El Desperado, Hiroshi Tanahashi & YOH in a Shinnichi Champion Grand Prix Celebration Six Man Tag Team Match (13:10)
- United Empire (Aaron Henare, Francesco Akira & Jeff Cobb) defeated House Of Torture (EVIL, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi) (w/Dick Togo) in a Six Man Tag Team Match (8:01)
- Just Five Guys (DOUKI, Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) (w/TAKA Michinoku) defeated Los Ingobernables de Japón (BUSHI, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito) in a Six Man Tag Team Match (9:20)
- BULLET CLUB (David Finlay, El Phantasmo & KENTA) (w/Gedo) defeated Master Wato & Guerrillas Of Destiny (Hikuleo & Tama Tonga) (w/Jado) in a Six Man Tag Team Match (8:46)
- Mercedes Mone (c) defeated AZM and Hazuki in a Three Way Match to retain the IWGP Women's Championship (13:53)
- Zack Sabre Jr. (c) (w/Kosei Fujita) defeated Shota Umino to retain the NJPW WORLD Television Championship (13:35)
- Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) (w/Aaron Henare, Francesco Akira, Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb) defeated Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) (c) to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship (15:30)
- Hiromu Takahashi (c) defeated Robbie Eagles (w/Kosei Fujita) to retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship (21:12)
- SANADA (w/DOUKI, Taichi, TAKA Michinoku & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) defeated Kazuchika Okada (c) to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (26:58)
