Tokyo’s Ryōgoku Sumo Hall played host to a history-making edition of Sakura Genesis. Callum Newman defeated Yota Tsuji to become the youngest IWGP Heavyweight Champion in history. The British star has reached the peak of the NJPW mountain at just 23.
Elsewhere, Will Ospreay’s first NJPW match in two years resulted in victory. The former United Empire scored a win in six-man tag action alongside long-time allies Great-O-Khan and HENARE. Ospreay was also in attendance for Newman’s world title victory.
Konosuke Takeshita retained the NJPW World TV title, but he failed to get the win over his challenger. Rising star Shota Umino proved his worth yet again, battling to a 15-minute time limit draw against the AEW stalwart. However, following their encounter, the two opponents might now view each other as allies rather than rivals. A masked assailant and Chase Owens ambushed Takeshita after the match. But thankfully, Umino was willing to save his foe from the attack.
#andSTILL
15 minutes wasn’t enough!
Takeshita survives a tough challenge to keep the TV Title!#njSG report:https://t.co/D9ntrCi3DKWatch the replay:https://t.co/CJ1CzUHcm7 pic.twitter.com/HcMzdMltqS
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) April 4, 2026
Callum Newman makes history
The United Empire leader’s commitment to NJPW amidst extensive departures has paid off. Newman was in good company, flanked by every member of United Empire in his bid to defeat Yota Tsuji.
Whether Newman appreciated it or not, Will Ospreay helped to make the challenger’s victory all the more sweeter with his intervention. The former United Empire leader stopped Newman from cheating his way to the title, preventing the challenger from using a steel chair. Newman reacted by utilizing Ospreay’s Hidden Blade finisher on the way to a historic championship triumph.
Despite recent tensions, Ospreay and Newman embraced in the ring after the dust had settled. The mentor was undoubtedly proud of Newman scaling the highest heights in NJPW and happily put the belt around his mentee’s waist.
Ospreay returns. Newman makes history.
And the challengers are already lining up!#njSG report:https://t.co/jdaUMI08vxWatch the replay:https://t.co/CJ1CzUHcm7 pic.twitter.com/6jHSrstTfY
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) April 4, 2026
A familiar face ambushes both Yota Tsuji and Shingo Takagi
But that wasn’t the end of the drama. Gabe Kidd added insult to injury, attacking the dethroned champion Tsuji after the match. Kidd then removed his jacket to reveal an AEW shirt. Kidd recently departed NJPW alongside fellow War Dogs David Finlay and Clark Connors, joining its sister company AEW.
Newman then discovered the identity of his first challenger: Shingo Takagi. The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion had already made it clear that he was coming for the champion after Sakura Genesis, and he delivered on that promise. But with the chaotic Gabe Kidd around, it was never going to be that straightforward for Takagi.
The former War Dog floored Takagi, leaving himself and Newman as the last men standing. Kidd then picked up Tsuji’s remaining title, the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. It suggested that a four-way encounter between Newman, Kidd, Takagi, and Tsuji, with possibly two belts on the line, may lie ahead.
Sakura Genesis 2026 – Full results
- Pre-Show: Masatora Yasuda & KUSHIDA def. Taisei Nakahara & Tatsuya Matsumoto
- T.M.D.K. (Kosei Fujita & Hartley Jackson) def. Master Wato & Togi Makabe
- Unbound Company (Robbie X, Taiji Ishimori & Shingo Takagi) def. United Empire (Jakob Austin Young, Francesco Akira & Jake Lee)
- Toru Yano, YOH, Tiger Mask & Aaron Wolf def. HOUSE OF TORTURE (Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SHO, DOUKI & Don Fale)
- United Empire (Great-O-Khan, HENARE & Will Ospreay) def. El Desperado, Taichi & Yuya Uemura
- NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship: YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto & Oleg Boltin (c) def. HOUSE OF TORTURE (Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi & Ren Narita)
- NJPW World Television Championship: Konosuke Takeshita (c) vs. Shota Umino (15-minute Time Limit Draw)
- IWGP Tag Team Championship: Knock Out Brothers (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) (c) def. T.M.D.K. (Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr.)
- IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Callum Newman def. Yota Tsuji (c)
Next!
APRIL 19, we get on the Road to Wrestling Dontaku LIVE in English from Korakuen Hall on @njpwworld!#njpw #njdontaku pic.twitter.com/CNnqKcaXCA
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) April 4, 2026
