Sakura Genesis 2023

Promotional poster for the event

**Sakura Genesis 2023** was a professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), which took place on April 8, 2023, in Tokyo at Ryōgoku Kokugikan. The event was main evented by 2023 New Japan Cup winner SANADA challenging Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. This marks the third show under the Sakura Genesis name. Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the tour had some restrictions in the attendance, after the Japanese Government lifted the State of Emergency.

## Production

### Storylines

Sakura Genesis 2023 featured 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.

Sakura Genesis 2023 was the first major NJPW show following the 2023 New Japan Cup. The New Japan Cup is an annual single-elimination tournament, where the winner gets to choose whether to challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Traditionally, the title match has taken place at the April Ryōgoku Kokugikan show, previously known as Invasion Attack and now as Sakura Genesis. In March, SANADA made it to the finals of the 2023 New Japan Cup, which he eventually won, defeating David Finlay in the finals on March 21, and afterwards challenged Kazuchika Okada to a title match for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, admitting that the real work would begin there, a view backed up by Okada himself. Despite Okada naming SANADA as his rival in 2019, SANADA has not achieved a measure of the success Okada has at the same age, despite claiming a victory over him 2019 G1 Climax.

On March 23, Hiromu Takahashi successfully defended the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Lio Rush. After the match, Zack Sabre Jr. came out to ringside and introduced the newest member of TMDK who was revealed to be Robbie Eagles, who issued a title challenge for Sakura Genesis which Takahashi accepted.

In March 2023, Mark Davis and Kyle Fletcher took part in the 2023 New Japan Cup. Fletcher was eliminated in the second round by Hirooki Goto. Meanwhile, Davis reached the semifinals being eliminated by eventual winner SANADA in the semifinals. Following the tournament, after Davis and Fletcher scored a victory over Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi on seperate occasions, Aussie Open were awarded a title match for the IWGP Tag Team Championship, with Fletcher challenging Bishamon to a title match on March 21.

Also at 2023 New Japan Cup, Zack Sabre Jr. took part in the tournament, being eliminated in the second round to Shota Umino. Following a tag team match, on March 21, between Sabre and Umino, Umino held the NJPW World Television Championship and challenged Sabre to a title match, leading NJPW to set the title match at Sakura Genesis.

On March 3, during a Stardom press conference, AZM revealed that Mercedes Moné had mentioned her name as a prospective opponent. Later, Hazuki challenged Moné to a title match for the IWGP Women's Championship. However, AZM revealed that Moné had promised a singles match against her, leading Hazuki to propose a three-way match for the title. On March 24, Moné answered the proposal and accepted their challenge, saying that ‘double the challenge means double the Moné’.

## External links

* The official New Japan Pro Wrestling website