NJPW Sakura Genesis 2025 Results – April 5, 2025 – Hirooki Goto vs. David Finlay

Results
Apr 5, 2025

April 5, 2025
Tokyo, Japan – Ryogoku Sumo Hall
English Commentary: Walker Stewart and Chris Charlton
Results via Corey Michaels of F4WOnline.com

Quick Match Results

  1. Pre-show: Katsuya Murashima defeated Daiki Nagai via Boston Crab (submission 8:13)
  2. Yuya Uemura defeated SANADA via Cross Armbar (submission 10:26)
  3. NJPW World Television Championship – Great-O-Khan defeated El Phantasmo (c) via Countout (11:09)
  4. Hiroshi Tanahashi Final Road Connection match – Shota Umino defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi via Second Chapter (pinfall 12:47)
  5. NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship – HOUSE OF TORTURE (c) defeated BULLET CLUB War Dogs via Pinfall (7:30)
  6. NEVER Openweight Championship – Konosuke Takeshita (c) defeated Ryohei Oiwa via Ragging Fire (pinfall 12:53)
  7. IWGP Tag Team Championship – United Empire defeated Los Ingobernables De Japon (c) via Modified Brainbuster (pinfall 10:45)
  8. IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship – Yota Tsuji (c) defeated EVIL via Gene Blaster (pinfall 21:24)
  9. IWGP World Heavyweight Championship – Hirooki Goto (c) defeated David Finlay via GTR (pinfall 24:21)

Pre-Show
Katsuya Murashima vs. Daiki Nagai

Having felt each other out, Murashima soon gained command of the match. He extended this sway further with leglocks, each subsequent ones broken by rope breaks. Nagai soon found favor courtesy of a dropkick, followed by a Crossbody. Murashima trapped Nagai in his own Boston Crab, this time successful; Nagai tapped to the agony placed upon him.

Winner: Katsuya Murashima via Submission.

Yuya Uemura vs. SANADA

Competing for wrist control, both competitors teetered back and forth. Uemura damaged SANADA’s arm with a twist and then a dropkick. On the outside, SANADA flung Uemura into the barricade, further tossing him into members of the Japanese commentary table, disturbing a nearby Chris Charlton and Walker Stewart. SANADA capitalized on his carnage to Uemura with an elevated Magic Screw off the ring apron. He added another Magic Screw on the top rope for further hurt. Uemura’s blazing hot comeback halted starkly to SANADA’s Shining Wizard. However, he tapped resoundingly to a Daiyaru Gatame, leaving Uemura the victor.

Winner: Yuya Uemura via Submission.

NJPW World Television Championship
Great-O-Khan vs. El Phantasmo (c)

Phantasmo struck quick and first, sending Khan to the outside. Leaping from the top rope, he landed on his challenger as nearby fans scurried (including one nervous man holding a Daryl plushie cat). Khan planted Phantasmo on the ring apron, focusing more on using his weight and targeting the champion’s weak shoulder. Khan set up a structure of chairs to be used for later. Phantasmo found enough spirit to send Khan flying with a Hurricanrana from the top rope. Having dislocated his shoulder, Phantasmo miraculously toppled Khan in a struggle for power, capitalized with an Unidentified Flying Opponent. Khan once more took Phantasmo to the outside as the 15-minute time limit drew nearer, slamming him through his previously made chair structure. Hastily returning to the ring, Khan watched as Phantasmo lay down for the 20-count. For the first time, the NJPW World TV title changed hands via countout.

Winner: Great-O-Khan via Countout to become the new NJPW World Television Champion.

Hiroshi Tanahashi Final Road Connection Match
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shota Umino

Entering through the crowd in a huge Fatal Fury reference, Tanahashi proudly wore a brown leather jacket as Rock Howard, accompanied by Terry Bogard, portrayed by famed Japanese cosplayer Momo Momoto. Tanahashi began the match firing against Umino with Crossbodies, but dropped due to a Dragon Screw Leg Whip. Umino cruelly centered his focus on Tanahashi’s notoriously weak knees. Beyond the strain of his full force attacks, there was nothing behind Umino’s eyes as he held Tanahashi in a crossface.

The pair traded forearms against the turnbuckle with a numb rage emanating from Umino, replaced at last by a look of emotional hurt as his strikes grew in aggression. Tanahashi’s ferocity and tenacity saw him eke out momentum, conducting the crowd like a maestro as he endured Umino’s ruthlessness; narrowly escaping a Bridged Suplex Pin. After three Twist’n’Shouts, a suplex, Sling Blade, and High-Fly Flow, he failed to gain the pin after a second H-FF. Umino collapsed Tanahashi with a Shining Wizard to the back of his skull. Seeking a Northern Lights Suplex, Umino nearly lost to an inside cradle. Umino finally concluded the match, pinning Tanahashi after using The Second Chapter.

NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship
BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Gabe Kidd, Drilla Moloney, & Taiji Ishimori) vs. HOUSE OF TORTURE (SHO, Yujiro Takahashi, & Ren Narita) (c)

Each opposing side of BULLET CLUB clashed before the bell could even ring. One by one, the War Dogs fell to the House of Torture’s forces. The trio of Narita, SHO, and Takahashi took turns pecking at Moloney, deterring Kidd and Ishimori, but not for long. Kidd chopped at Narita’s chest, who then introduced him to the mat with a Guillotine Clothesline. The Brit responded in kind with a lariat, setting Moloney up for a Drilla Killa, thwarted by House of Torture interference.

SANADA and Clark Connors entered the fray, with SANADA teasing a guitar shot to Narita before smashing it over Moloney’s head. Narita took advantage of this, covering the now bloody body of Moloney for the win.

Winner: HOUSE OF TORTURE via Pinfall to retain the NEVER Opeenweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship.

Post-match: SANADA ripped open his jacket, revealing a House of Torture T-shirt, thus defecting from the War Dogs. Kidd, Ishimori, and Connors chased the opposing faction away and tended to Moloney.

Video: Best of the Super Juniors 2025 Field Announcement

In a comic book-themed presentation, the competitors for the 2025 Best of the Super Juniors Tournament were revealed.

Participants: El Desperado, Ryusuke Taguchi, YOH, Master Wato, KUSHIDA, Kevin Knight, Ninja Mack, Kosei Fujita, Robbie Eagles, Hiroshi Takahashi, BUSHI, Francesco Akira, Taiji Ishimori, Clark Connors, SHO, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, an unnamed CMLL wrestler, Dragongate’s Dragon Dia, DDT Pro Wrestling‘s Mao, AEW‘s Nick Wayne.

NEVER Openweight Championship
Ryohei Oiwa vs. Konosuke Takeshita (c)

Evenly matched, Oiwa proceeded with trepidation, paying off as he sent Takeshita into the barricades. The champion returned the favor, kicking his challenger in the skull. In the ring, Oiwa controlled Takeshita’s left arm, concentrating his strength to soften and weaken it. Though this undoubtedly affected him, Takeshita’s use of height and power during a top rope suplex triumphed over Oiwa. Proceeding to a Blue Thunderbomb, Takeshita further bullied his opponent. After a back and forth, Oiwa twirled Takeshita to the mat with a lariat. Another back and forth, this time resulting in Takeshita landing a lariat.

Dropping Oiwa with a Brainbuster, Takeshita earned a 1-count pin to a huge ovation. Determined to keep his momentum, Takeshita reached for a Raging Fire. With that, Takeshita retains his NEVER Openweight Championship once again.

Winner: Konosuke Takeshita via Pinfall to retain the NEVER Openweight Championship.

IWGP Tag Team Championship
United Empire (Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman) vs. Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi) (c)

Takahashi had an early advantage over the younger Newman, bolstered with assistance by Naito to Cobb’s chagrin. However, Newman fought for his reprieve with a dropkick. Cobb crushed Takahashi with a Standing Moonsault. The pair teetered for control, but Takahashi reversed a powerbomb with a hurricanrana. Naito soon followed with an Esperanza and later a Tornado DDT. Newman nearly thwarted a Destino, but Takahashi added a dropkick needed to complete it.

Hoping for a Tour of the Islands, Cobb’s flight for Naito had been canceled due to turbulence by way of a Takahashi dropkick. Once more countering Cobb’s Tour of the Island with a DDT, Naito was met by an Oscutter 2.0 from Newman. Cobb sent Naito into Newman’s knee, followed up by a Vertical Suplex for a surprise win.

Winner: United Empire via Pinfall to become the new IWGP Tag Team Champions.

IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship
EVIL vs. Yota Tsuji (c)

No sooner had Tsuji walked to the ring when EVIL and the House of Torture ambushed him. Dragging him to the ring, the faction were attacked by none other than the real Yota Tsuji—the decoy was his twin brother Shota Tsuji. Nevertheless, EVIL capitalized on the days of fixated attacks on the champion’s knee to great effect. Employing the Nagata Lock, EVIL laughed as Tsuji writhed in agony, or torture if you will. In the background, Dick Togo continued his assault from earlier on Shota.

In defiance of his hurt knee, Tsuji spilled EVIL with a hurricanrana and sent him to the barricade. Togo attempted to halt a hobbling Tsuji, but he remained undettered. Aiming for a high-flying maneuver, Tsuji’s knee gave out. EVIL exploited this by slamming it into the mat. Strength depleting, Tsuji made a weak crawl to the ropes to break out of EVIL’s Cloverleaf. Tsuji unleashed a Backbreaker + Stomp combination to falter EVIL, but at the cost of more knee pain. Nearly maximizing on the moment of a prone EVIL, Tsuji was distracted by Yoshinobu Kanemaru dragging Shota to the ring. EVIL abused this opportunity as the House of Torture struck hard on him. Shingo Takagi sprinted to the ring, emptying the House. Low-blowing Takagi, EVIL met the same fate courtesy Tsuji. Tossing referee Marty Asami, EVIL countered Tsuji’s Gene Blaster with a Magic Killer. Kanemaru spat whiskey in Tsuji’s direction, who ducked in time, leading Takagi to down him with a Pumping Bomber. EVIL, reeling from the whiskey spit, lost the match to a successful Gene Blaster.

Winner: Yota Tsuji via Pinfall to retain the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship.

Post-match: Tsuji called out Yuya Uemura, who already made his way to the ring. The pair agreed to set up a match for Tsuji’s gold at a later date.

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
David Finlay vs. Hirooki Goto (c)

Locking up, Goto quickly gained an advantage, putting Finlay in a hold broken by the bottom rope. Once Finlay could lay Goto to the mat, he struck with a series of punches and forearms. Finlay’s dominance reigned for a few minutes until Goto pulled out a lariat at the last minute. A Cactus Clothesline by Finlay tumbled him and Goto to the outside; Goto’s foot unwittingly struck Finlay in the groin during the process. Finlay grabbed a table from beyond the barricade and under the ring for later use.

Seeking a powerbomb through the tables, Finlay instead stumbled backwards as a result of a frantic Goto punching his skull. Goto sent his challenger headfirst into a ringpost by way of a hurricanrana. Finlay deployed a grim Backbreaker to crunch Goto’s spine. Denying Finlay the opportunity to send him through a table, Goto instead slammed him through a Fireman’s Carry. A Kaiten nearly put Finlay away, as did Finlay’s Overkill. Stealing a Gun Stun from Karl Anderson, Finlay then transitioned into Oblivion before falling flat from a Shouten Kai. A series of of three GTRs dedicated to his children and the world saw Goto ultimately victorious over Finlay as he gained the pinfall.

Winner: Hirooki Goto via Pinfall to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

Post-match: Goto celebrated his win, thanking his children and the world for fighting alongside him. Announcing that he knew who he wanted his next challenger to be, he called out Shota Umino. A fully dressed yet emotionless Umino obliged an appearance, nearly entering the ring but leaving after hearing boos. Re-entering at Goto’s request, he accepted the champion’s challenge at Windy City Riot on April 11.

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