Gather ’round, wrestling fans! A monumental moment occurred at the NJPW Sakura Genesis event on Saturday when SANADA rose to the occasion and claimed his very first IWGP World Heavyweight Title. That’s right, the “Cold Skull” has ascended to the throne by defeating “The Rainmaker,” Kazuchika Okada, in an epic, action-packed match that had everyone on the edge of their seats.

SANADA came into this match after quite the roller coaster of a year. He’d been in a bit of a rut lately, facing a losing streak and even missing out on being the opponent for Keiji Muto’s retirement match (that honor went to his former stablemate Tetsuya Naito). But, as they say, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger! The storyline saw SANADA reflect on his life choices, and then decided it was time for a change. Spoiler alert: that change paid off big time.

It all culminated in this adrenaline-fueled title match at Sakura Genesis, where SANADA and Okada clashed for the gold. In the end, it was SANADA’s new finisher that brought him victory and made him the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Not too shabby for a guy who was facing a string of losses just a short while ago!

However, let’s not forget Okada in all this excitement. This marks the end of his second reign as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, which lasted a commendable 95 days. Okada is no stranger to championship gold, and we’re pretty sure it’s just a matter of time before “The Rainmaker” gets his groove back and starts chasing titles once more.

So, to sum it all up, hats off to SANADA for capturing the IWGP World Heavyweight Title! It’s a much-deserved achievement, and we can’t wait to see where this victory takes him. And to all you wrestling enthusiasts, make sure you catch a glimpse of the epic match that led to this crowning moment in SANADA’s career. Trust us, it’s a battle for the ages!