SANADA has claimed the IWGP World Heavyweight Title for the first time.
The star earned his shot at the gold at Sakura Genesis by winning the New Japan Cup in March 2023, defeating David Finlay in the final.
In recent months SANADA has reinvented himself by leaving Los Ingobernables de Japon to join the Just Five Guys faction.
Fired up after being passed over for his mentor Keiji Muto (The Great Muta) for his retirement match, SANADA pinned Okada following the Deadfall. The loss for Okada brought to an end his latest title reign that began back at Wrestle Kingdom 17.
SANADA has defeated Kazuchika Okada & is your new IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Congrats! pic.twitter.com/bJ6dSvoyvi
— Dark Puroresu Flowsion (@PuroresuFlow) April 8, 2023
SANADA Wins Big, Mercedes Mone
Elsewhere on the show, Mercedes Mone scored her second win of 2023 with victory over Hazuki and STARDOM’s High-Speed Champion AZM in a frenetic Three-Way Match to retain her IWGP Women’s Title.
However, there wasn’t much time to celebrate as she was quickly challenged by Mayu Iwatani. The match between the pair will take place at STARDOM’s All Star Grand Queendom on April 23rd.
Mone is only the second IWGP Women’s Champion having defeated inaugural champion KAIRI at Battle in the Valley to claim the gold. KAIRI was crowned champion at the Historic X-Over event after defeating Iwatani in the finals of a tournament to decide the first-ever champion.