Sakura Genesis

Sakura Genesis is an annual professional wrestling event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) since 2013.

Sakura Genesis
PromotionsNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
Other namesInvasion Attack (2013-2016)
First eventInvasion Attack (2013)

Held annually at Tokyo's Ryōgoku Kokugikan, the event has been nicknamed "Spring Showdown at Ryōgoku" (春の両国決戦, Haru no Ryōgoku Kessen).[1][2] Originally known as Invasion Attack, the event was renamed in 2017 after the sakura, in English "cherry blossom", which blooms in early April.[3] The event follows the New Japan Cup, with the main event being the winner of the New Japan Cup against the champion of their choice, usually being the IWGP Heavyweight Champion. The event was not held in 2019, the NJPW-Ring of Honor co-produced G1 Supercard event was held instead. The event was originally scheduled to take place in 2020 on March 31, but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4][5] In 2022, the annual April event in Ryōgoku Kokugikan will not use the Sakura Genesis name, instead using the name Hyper Battle which was the name of series of events from 1993 until 2004, this due NJPW using names from old events for their 50th anniversary.

The event has aired domestically as a pay-per-view (PPV). From 2013 to 2014, the event aired internationally as an internet pay-per-view (iPPV) and since 2015, it has aired worldwide on NJPW's internet streaming site, NJPW World.

Events
# Event Date City Venue Attendance Main event Ref(s)
1 Invasion Attack (2013) April 7, 2013 Tokyo, Japan Ryōgoku Kokugikan 8,200 Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship [6][7][8]
2 Invasion Attack 2014 April 6, 2014 8,500 Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship [9][10][11]
3 Invasion Attack 2015 April 5, 2015 9,500 A.J. Styles (c) vs. Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship [12][13][14]
4 Invasion Attack 2016 April 10, 2016 9,078 Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship [15][16][17]
5 Sakura Genesis 2017 April 9, 2017 10,231 Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Katsuyori Shibata for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship [18][19]
6 Sakura Genesis 2018 April 1, 2018 9,882 Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Zack Sabre Jr. for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship [20]
7 Sakura Genesis 2021 April 4, 2021 4,484 Kota Ibushi (c) vs. Will Ospreay for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship [21]
8 Sakura Genesis (2023) April 8, 2023 6,510 Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Sanada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship [22]
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match

See also

References
  1. 【4.6両国全カード!!】棚橋vs中邑! 後藤＆柴田がタッグ挑戦! 石井vs内藤! デヴィvs田口! グレイシーvsクレイジー! 桜庭vs鈴木が初遭遇!. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). April 1, 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  2. 4月5日（日）両国でAJvs飯伏が決定! オカダvsファレ！ 棚橋＆柴田vs矢野＆桜庭! ケニーvsドラダなど4大IWGP選手権が実現!!. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). March 16, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  3. 【年間スケジュール発表！】6月11日大阪城ホール！『G1』両国3連戦！ 現地時間・7月1日、2日にロサンゼルスで初のビッグマッチ！『G1 Special in USA』決定!!. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). January 4, 2017. Archived from the original on January 5, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  4. "2020.03.31 SAKURA GENESIS 2020". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  5. "Sakura Genesis, April 11 Kanagawa events cancelled". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  6. "Invasion Attack". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  7. 新日本プロレス「Invasion Attack」. Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. April 7, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  8. Caldwell, James (April 7, 2013). "Caldwell's New Japan "Invasion Attack" iPPV report 4/7: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of new IWGP World champion, U.S. stars in title matches, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  9. "Invasion Attack 2014". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  10. 新日本プロレス「Invasion Attack 2014」. Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. April 6, 2014. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  11. Caldwell, James (April 6, 2014). "Caldwell's NJPW PPV results 4/6: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of "Invasion Attack 2014" - Nakamura regains IC Title, A.J. Styles big angle, new NWA tag champions, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  12. "Invasion Attack 2015". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  13. 新日本プロレス「Invasion Attack 2015」. Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. April 5, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  14. "Show results - 4/5 NJPW "Invasion Attack" in Tokyo, Japan: A.J. Styles defends IWGP World Title in main event, ROH tag teams win both Tag Titles, Bullet Club in action, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. April 5, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  15. "Invasion Attack 2016". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  16. Meltzer, Dave (April 9, 2016). "NJPW Invasion Attack live results: Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Championship". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  17. Caldwell, James (April 10, 2016). "4/10 NJPW "Invasion Attack 2016" PPV Report – Okada vs. Naito, Ospreay's debut, more big title matches". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  18. 戦国炎舞-Kizna- Presents Sakura Genesis 2017. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  19. Rose, Bryan (April 8, 2017). "NJPW Sakura Genesis live results: Okada vs. Shibata". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
  20. 【電撃決定!!】なんと15年ぶり！今年の『G1』優勝決定戦の舞台は、8月10日（金）11日（土）12日（日）日本武道館“3連戦”!!【WK12】. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). January 4, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  21. Rose, Bryan (January 22, 2021). "NJPW Announces Sakura Genesis For April 4". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  22. 4月8日(土)両国国技館『SAKURA GENESIS 2023』開催！ 『Road to SAKURA GENESIS 2023』4月1日(土)平塚大会のチケット販売スケジュールも決定！. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). January 16, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.