Sakura Genesis 2021

Sakura Genesis
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateApril 4, 2021
CityTokyo, Japan
VenueRyōgoku Kokugikan
Attendance4,484[1]
Event chronology
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NJPW 49th Anniversary Show		 Next →
Wrestling Dontaku
Sakura Genesis chronology
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2018		 Next →
2023

Sakura Genesis was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on April 4, 2021 in Tokyo at Ryōgoku Kokugikan. It was the third event to be held under the Sakura Genesis name, and the first since the 2018 event

Six matches were contested at the event. In the main event, Will Ospreay defeated Kota Ibushi to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. In another prominent match, Roppongi 3K (Sho and Yoh) defeated El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship for the fifth time.

Production

Other on-screen personnel
Role: Name:
English Commentators Kevin Kelly
Chris Charlton
Gino Gambino
Japanese Commentators Shinpei Nogami
Milano Collection A.T.
Katsuhiko Kanazawa
Kazuyoshi Sakai
Togi Makabe
Miki Motoi
Jushin Thunder Liger
Masahiro Chono
Ring announcers Makoto Abe
Kimihiko Ozaki
Referees Kenta Sato
Marty Asami
Red Shoes Unno

Background

Since 2020, NJPW was unable to run events with a full arena capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions.[2] On January 22, NJPW announced Sakura Genesis for April 4, 2021, making it the first time the event will held since 2018 due to the G1 Supercard taking place instead in 2019 and the 2020 event being cancelled due the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]

Storylines

Sakura Genesis will feature professional wrestling matches that involve different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portray villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches.[4]

On March 1, NJPW announced that the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Championships would be unified to create the new IWGP World Heavyweight Championship with the inaugural champion being decided at 49th Anniversary Show, following the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Champion Kota Ibushi defending the titles for the final time against El Desperado in the main event.[5][6] At the anniversary event Ibushi defeated El Desperado to become the inaugural champion.[7] Ibushi will make his first title defense of the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis against the New Japan Cup winner.[8] On March 21, Will Ospreay defeated Shingo Takagi in the New Japan Cup final to face Ibushi at Sakura Genesis.[9]

Results

No.Results[1]StipulationsTimes
1Suzuki-gun (Douki, Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi) defeated Bullet Club (Jado, Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa)Six-man tag team match10:10
2Chaos (Yoshi-Hashi, Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto, Toru Yano and Kazuchika Okada) defeated Bullet Club (Dick Togo, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori, Kenta and Evil)Ten-man tag team match11:37
3United Empire (Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb and Aaron Henare) defeated Los Ingobernables de Japón (Tetsuya Naito, Sanada and Shingo Takagi)Six-man tag team match9:51
4Satoshi Kojima and Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Bullet Club (Jay White and Bad Luck Fale)Tag team match10:05
5Roppongi 3K (Sho and Yoh) defeated Suzuki-gun (El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru) (c)Tag team match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship20:48
6Will Ospreay defeated Kota Ibushi (c)Singles match for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship30:13
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "2021.04.04 SAKURA GENESIS 2021". NJPW. April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  2. ↑ Satin, Ryan (June 8, 2020). "NJPW To Resume Operations This Month, First Show With Fans Again Announced". Pro Wrestling Sheet. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  3. ↑ Rose, Bryan (January 22, 2020). "NJPW Announces Sakura Genesis For April 4". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  4. ↑ Grabianowski, Ed (13 January 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Discovery Communications. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  5. ↑ Renner, Ethan (February 28, 2020). "NJPW To Unify IWGP Heavyweight & Intercontinental Titles". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  6. ↑ NJPW (March 1, 2021). "Final double IWGP defence to take place Thursday in Budokan Hall". NJPW. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  7. ↑ "411Mania".
  8. ↑ Rose, Bryan (February 28, 2021). "New Japan Cup Participates, First Round Matchups Revealed". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  9. ↑ Renner, Ethan (March 21, 2021). "New Japan Cup Finals Live Results: Will Ospreay vs. Shingo Takagi". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
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