Today, a major NJPW championship title changed hands during this year’s highly anticipated Sakura Genesis event.
Last month, the new IWGP World Heavyweight Championship was unveiled after Kota Ibushi unified the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles. Ultimately, Ibushi’s reign with this new championship was short-lived, with a second champion already being crowned.
During today’s Sakura Genesis show, Will Ospreay pinned Ibushi to defeat the historic inaugural titleholder. The challenger survived Ibushi’s deadly Kamigoye knee, before unleashing his Hidden Blade elbow and Stormbreaker to claim the gold.
Italo Santana captured the historic climax of today’s main-event in a series of tweets:
STORMBREAKER!!!!!! HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE!!! @WillOspreay is the new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion!!! #njSG #NJPW https://t.co/d63mH2znnl pic.twitter.com/b55G5lLiFa
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubIta) April 4, 2021
The Empire stands tall over a falling star. #njSG #NJPW https://t.co/d63mH2znnl pic.twitter.com/pDupqep8ev
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubIta) April 4, 2021
Ibushi won the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles at Wrestle Kingdom 15 from Tetsuya Naito. He always intended to officially unify the championships, alas, he was not the competitor destined to hold the new IWGP gold.
After the match, Kazuchika Okada confronted his former protégé in the ring. They were interrupted by Shingo Takagi, who challenged Ospreay for his new title.
The Champion vowed to defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Takagi first, and if he retains, him and Okada will have their Wrestle Kingdom rematch.
Things are looking up for The United Empire, who also gained a new member at Sakura Genesis. You can read about those events here.
What are your thoughts on the above story? Let us know in the comments on Twitter or Facebook.
