First IWGP World title match to headline NJPW Sakura Genesis
Kota Ibushi will defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship for the first time at Sakura Genesis on Sunday, April 4, taking on 2021 New Japan Cup winner Will Ospreay in the main event. NJPW made the match official at a press conference this morning.
The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships will also be on the line at Sakura Genesis, as El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru defend against SHO and the returning YOH. YOH made the challenge in a surprise return to kick off Sunday’s New Japan Cup final show, and the match has been made official.
The United Empire looks to be adding a new member to their faction at the event, as The Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb and a mystery partner will take on Tetsuya Naito, SANADA and Shingo Takagi.
Sakura Genesis takes place Sunday, April 4 in Ryogoku and will be aired live on NJPW World.
Here is the full lineup:
NJPW Sakura Genesis, Sunday, April 4, 4 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kota Ibushi (c) vs. Will Ospreay
- IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru (c) vs. SHO & YOH
- Hiroshi Tanahashi & Satoshi Kojima vs. Jay White & Bad Luck Fale
- Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & Shingo Takagi vs. The Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & a mystery partner
- Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. EVIL, KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & Dick Togo
- Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado