Right now in New Japan Pro Wrestling, we’re seeing another tightly contested New Japan Cup tournament. With the winner getting a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, this is a chance for anyone on the NJPW roster to boost their stock in the company
. It’s also a chance to really make a statement, which SANADA did following his victory over Los Ingobernables De Japon leader – Tetsuya Naito. He advanced to the semi-finals of the tournament, and has left L.I.J in his past.
Los Ingobernables De Japon Loses A Key Member
Never one to say more than is needed, SANADA simply gave the following reason for exiting the faction.
‘If I stay in LIJ, nothing new will come of it,’
It was not a violent exit from the faction like when EVIL left the group in 2020 – but it stings just as much for the remaining members of L.I.J. Future encounters between SANADA and Naito will have an extra layer of depth added to them, as SANADA now needs to prove he made the correct choice.
SANADA Joins Just 5 Guys
However, SANADA will not be walking alone in NJPW after this split – having joined the now renamed Just 5 Guys stable. Formed after the breakup of Suzuki-gun in 2022, SANADA has joined forces with a rival in Taichi, with the other members of the faction including TAKA Michinoku, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and DOUKI.
Adding a main event star like SANADA to the group has instantly helped this faction feel more legitimate, and it could be setting the stage for SANADA to finally win the big one in NJPW.
SANADA has had numerous matches with current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada, and a deep history.
It was SANADA making his NJPW debut that ended one of Okada’s early reigns as champion, something Okada never forgot. Okada holds an 8-1 record over SANADA, with SANADA’s sole win coming in the 2019 G1 Climax tournament.
At 35 years old and with all the good looks and talent of a top champion, this is finally feeling like the year of SANADA. He’s made a bold move in his career – and fans are anxious to see what he does next.
Will SANADA win the 2023 New Japan Cup? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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