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NJPW Sakura Genesis 2023 Results 4.08.23: Mercedes Mone in Action, Title Changes

April 8, 2023 | Posted by Jeffrey Harris
NJPW Sakura Genesis 2023 - Sanada vs. Kazuchika Okada Image Credit: NJPW

– NJPW held a jam-packed Sakura Genesis event today at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan. The card featured multiple titles on the line, including IWGP Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone (formerly Sasha Banks) defending her title against AZM and Hazuki in a Triple Threat Match.

Also, we have a new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. SANADA beat reigning champion Kazuchika Okada to win his first-ever IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. SANADA won this year’s New Japan Cup tournament to earn a title shot.

Okada’s latest reign as champion ends at 94 days. He won the belt back from Jay White at Wrestle Kingdom 17 in January. Below are some results, per NJPW’s website:

* Minoru Suzuki, Great-O-Khan & Toru Yano beat Hiroshi Tanahashi, YOH & El Desperado at 13:10.
* The United Empire (Jeff Cobb, Francesco Akira & Aaron Henare) beat House of Torture (EVIL, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi) at 8:01.
* Just 5 Guys (Taichi, DOUKI & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) beat Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI & Shingo Takagi) at 9:20.
* THE BULLET CLUB (El Phantasmo, David Finlay & KENTA) beat Tama Tonga, Hikuleo & Master Wato at 8:46. After the match, Finlay and KENTA attacked El Phantasmo.
* IWGP Women’s Championship: Mercedes Moné (c) beat AZM and Hazuki at 13:53 to retain her title.
* NJPW World TV Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) beat Shota Umino at 13:35 to retain his title.
* IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) beat Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) (c) to capture the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Titles at 15:30.
* IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi (c) beat Robbie Eagles at 21:12.
* IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: SANADA beat Kazuchika Okada (c) at 26:58 to become the new champion.

Also, Yoshinobu Kanemaru will be the next challenger for Hiromu Takahashi’s IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title. If he wins, Takahashi wants to challenge SANADA for the World Title next. Meanwhile, after Mone defended her title today, she was challenged by STARDOM’s Mayu Iwatani for a title shot. The two will face each other for the IWGP Women’s Title at STARDOM All-STar Grand Queendom on April 23.

You can view some highlights and clips from tonight’s NJPW Sakura Genesis event below:




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Mercedes Mone, NJPW, NJPW Sakura Genesis, Sanada, Jeffrey Harris

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