NJPW releases card for Sakura Genesis on 4/8

Originally published at https://www.postwrestling.com/2023/03/22/njpw-releases-card-for-sakura-genesis-on-4-8/

New Japan Pro Wrestling has released the full card for Sakura Genesis when the promotion returns to Ryogoku Kokugikan.

SANADA will challenge Kazuchika Okada in the main event for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship after winning this year’s New Japan Cup on Tuesday.

It will be the ninth singles match of their career with Okada holding a decisive 7-1 record against SANADA – the lone blemish coming in the 2019 G1 Climax. Their last match occurred during the G1 in 2021.

Sakura Genesis will include four championship matches as Hiromu Takahashi defends the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight title against Robbie Eagles, Aussie Open challenges Bishmon for the IWGP tag titles, and Zack Sabre Jr. will defend the NJPW Television title against Shota Umino.

Sakura Genesis takes place on Saturday, April 8 at 4 a.m. ET with the following matches:
*IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada © vs. SANADA
*IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi © vs. Robbie Eagles
*IWGP Tag Team Championship: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI © vs. Aussie Open
*NJPW World TV Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. © vs. Shota Umino
*Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI vs. Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI
*Tama Tonga, Hikuleo & Master Wato vs. David Finlay, KENTA & El Phantasmo
*Jeff Cobb, Aaron Henare & Francesco Akira vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & SHO

Hm, interesting that the Mercedes Mone/AZM match (which Mercedes herself said was happening at Genesis) wasn’t included in the press conference.