NJPW Sakura Genesis 2018 Results: Winners, Grades and Reaction

Zack Sabre Jr. sent a message to the wrestling world with his convincing win in the 2018 New Japan Cup. Sunday, he reaped his reward in the form of an IWGP Heavyweight Championship match against Kazuchika Okada.

That contest headlined a Sakura Genesis card that set the stage for some of New Japan Pro-Wrestling's most prominent rivalries and furthered others that will culminate at a later date.

A win for Okada would tie him with Hiroshi Tanahashi for the most consecutive successful title defenses. A loss would keep him firmly in The Ace's shadow.

The Bullet Club continued its descent into turmoil, Juice Robinson and David Finlay made their cases for midcard title opportunities and championships were up for grabs across the card.

Who emerged from Sunday's action victorious, and what might their wins mean for the performers, their rivalries and the promotion going forward?

Find out with this recap of the New Japan World presentation.

Yujiro Takahashi and Chase Owens vs. The Young Bucks

The dissension within Bullet Club took center stage Sunday as Yujiro Takahashi and Chase Owens battled The Young Bucks in the night's opening contest. Matt and Nick Jackson were still reeling following their loss to Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi a week earlier at Strong Style Evolved, and the former's back was once again the story before the bell.

A sign of respect was little more than a setup out of the gate, as Takahashi and Owens attacked the Bucks from behind. The immensely popular tag team fought back and were standing moments into the bout.

Owens and Takahashi slowed the pace and isolated Nick from his brother. Matt made the hot and exploded into the match, drawing a big reaction from the fans in Tokyo.

Matt's previously established back injury did not allow him to apply the Sharpshooter as he would have liked, and the heels survived the submission scare. The Bucks set Owens up for the Meltzer Driver, but Takahashi pulled Nick to the arena floor and left the weaker of the Bucks to endure a two-on-one attack.

Nick re-entered the match, Matt reapplied the Sharpshooter and the Bucks scored the first win of the night.

Result

The Young Bucks defeated Owens and Takahashi.

Grade

B

Analysis

This was the first official victory for the Bucks in the heavyweight tag team division, a move the duo made when it became clear they had nothing else to prove in the junior division.

A fast-paced and energetic opener, it went exactly as intended. The Bucks created excitement among fans, and the Bullet Club saga was highlighted right off the bat. Most of all, commentator Kevin Kelly questioned whose side the brothers would be on later in the night during the Golden Lovers-Cody and Hangman Page tag team bout.

In injecting the show with energy and setting the stage for one of the night's main events, this one accomplished what it set out to. For that, it earned a fairly impressive grade.

Toru Yano and Tomohiro Ishii vs. Taichi and Takashi Iizuka

Toru Yano and Tomohiro Ishii represented Chaos in a battle with Suzuki-gun's Taichi and Takashi Iizuka in the night's second bout.

Taichi and Iizuka attacked Yano and Ishii from the opening bell. As the action spilled to the arena floor, Iizuka used a chair on Yano while Taichi showed a viciousness few knew he possessed as he blasted Ishii with a ring-bell hammer to the face.

The heels took the fight to Ishii, cutting the ring off and targeting The Stone Pitbull's head, neck and throat. Ishii fought his way out of the onslaught and made the tag to Yano, whose entry into the match drew a big ovation.

The comedic worker immediately removed the turnbuckle pad, only to end up landing back-first into the turnbuckles. Iizuka choked Yano with tape. He tried to use an iron glove but was then rolled up by Yano. Taichi made the save but would not be so lucky moments later, when Yano rolled Iizuka up off a lariat from Ishii for the win.

Result

Yano and Ishii defeated Iizuka and Taichi.

Grade

C

Analysis

Anyone expecting a mat classic out of these four is probably not familiar with them or their styles.

Yano was highlighted, as he should be just one week after earning one of the largest ovations on the entire Strong Style Evolved card.

It was little more than an entertaining sprint from start to finish.

NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championships Match

The NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championships were up for grabs in the third match of the night, as Bullet Club's Bad Luck Fale, Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga defended against the team of Michael Elgin, Togi Makabe and Ryusuke Taguchi.

The heels earned an early advantage, cutting off an onslaught by the powerhouse Elgin when Fale sent him back-first into the guardrail on the arena floor.

Makabe exploded into the match, pounding away at the opposition with clotheslines and hard right hands. A lariat put down Fale as the fans came alive for the veteran competitor.

Taguchi tagged in for the babyfaces and took the fight to both Tonga and Loa, electrifying the audience and delivering his running hip attack to the brothers.

Loa and Fale pulled Elgin and Makabe to the floor, leaving Taguchi to endure all three heels' attack. He survived in time for his partners to re-enter the bout.

With the action all over the ringside area, Taguchi attempted a springboard hip attack, but Tonga delivered the Gun Stun to score the win for Bullet Club.

Result

Bullet Club defeated Makabe, Elgin and Taguchi.

Grade

C+

Analysis

This was a fast-paced contest that allowed Taguchi to shine late and Bullet Club to score a big win.

The makeshift team of Elgin, Makabe and Taguchi was never going to win this, but the wrestlers worked well with Fale and The Guerrillas of Destiny to deliver a match that was entertaining, if nothing else. 

6-Man Tag Team Match

David Finlay, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Juice Robinson battled the NEVER openweight champion Hirooki Goto, IWGP United States champion Jay White and Yoshi-Hashi in the fourth match on Sunday's card.

On the heels of Finlay laying White out at Strong Style Evolved and expressing his desire to challenge Switchblade next, the second-generation star and the United States champion paired off early.

Late, the action broke down.

Robinson delivered his Pulp Friction finisher to Goto, foreshadowing a potential showdown between those two competitors. Finlay delivered a stunner to White, and Tanahashi delivered the High Fly Flow to Goto to score the win for the babyface team.

Result

Finlay, Tanahashi and Robinson defeated Goto, Yoshi-Hashi and White.

Grade

B

Analysis

Two ongoing midcard programs were featured prominently here, as Finlay and White intensified their rivalry and Robinson once again sent a message to Goto ahead of what appears to be an inevitable showdown over the NEVER Openweight Championship.

A red-hot match that put the emphasis on the aforementioned programs and allowed Tanahashi to score a big win, it set the stage for two more significant bouts at some point in the near future. Given its status in the midcard, that is all this one had to do.

6-Man Tag Team Match

Los Ingobernables de Japon's Tetsuya Naito and IWGP heavyweight tag team champions Sanada and Evil battled Suzuki-gun's Killer Elite Squad (Lance Archer and Davey Boy Smith Jr.) and IWGP intercontinental champion Minoru Suzuki.

The Killer Elite Squad desperately wants another shot at Sanada and Evil, while Suzuki has repeatedly challenged Naito to an intercontinental title match. And the heels' desires led them to attack prior to the opening bell.

Los Ingobernables ought back and isolated Suzuki, slowing the pace.

The fight spilled to the floor, where Suzuki blasted Naito with a chair. The heels gained control, working over the 2016 New Japan Cup winner. Suzuki applied a leg hook, tearing at his opponent's Achilles.

A tornado DDT by Naito to Smith and an enzuigiri to Suzuki allowed him to create separation and make the tag to Sanda.

The Killer Elite Squad earned a bit of momentum, delivering the Killer Bomb on the returning Evil and scoring the win, moving closer to a showdown with Evil and Sanada over the tag team titles.

After the match, Suzuki challenged Naito to a match for the Intercontinental Championship. Naito responded by posing, almost mocking New Japan's most feared veteran in the process.

Result

Suzuki and The Killer Elite Squad defeated Los Ingobernables de Japon.

Grade

A

Analysis

The show's midcard storytelling was superb, and it continued here, as Naito showed no fear in the face of an onslaught and Suzuki's challenge. There is a dynamic between the stars that makes their impending showdown so hotly anticipated.

Naito's mind games with the hardened veteran do not hurt.

Killer Elite Squad's message to tag champions Sanada and Evil by way of the victory was another strong addition to the match and added credibility to Archer's repetitive claims the heels are the true, uncrowned champions.

A fun sprint of a match that will only serve to further the ongoing programs of the six men involved.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships 3-Way

Credit: New Japan Pro-Wrestling

Suzuki-gun's El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships by defeating Roppongi 3K and Hiromu Takahashi and Bushi in a 3-Way match. Sunday, the three teams did battle once again for the same titles.

Takahashi rolled late, seemingly poised to win the titles for himself and Bushi. Before he could collect the straps, however, Kanemaru pulled the referee out of the ring, breaking up a near-fall.

Moments later, Desperado delivered shots to the faces of his opponents using the belts and scored the pinfall victory on Sho of Roppongi 3K to successfully retain.

Result

Desperado and Kanemaru defeated Roppongi 3K and Bushi and Takahashi.

Grade

B+

Analysis

This was an action-packed title match that was a worthy follow-up to the teams' first bout earlier this year.

Given Roppongi's youth and their recent wins over The Young Bucks, it was interesting NJPW management did not book them to go over here.

Who could out-cheat the other was a question answered late, as Desperado and Kanemaru continue their run atop the division.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Match: Will Ospreay vs. Marty Scurll

Credit: New Japan Pro-Wrestling

Will Ospreay defeated Marty Scurll to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in a 4-Way at Wrestle Kingdom 12 in January. The rivalry between the Brits continued on Sunday, when they brought their differences to a head in a singles bout for the gold.

As has been the case between these two in their previous encounters, the action was back-and-forth, with a pace so fast it was nearly impossible to follow everything that was going on.

Late in the bout, Ospreay attempted a Shooting Star Press, but The Villain rolled out of the way and delivered a nasty superkick to the back of the champion's head that should have put Ospreay away. It did not.

Ospreay blocked another superkick and nailed a kick of his own, and then he managed to evade the chicken wing attempt by his longtime rival. Moments later, he escaped a tombstone piledriver and delivered the second OsCutter of the match to retain his title.

After the match, Ospreay challenged Kushida to a title match, and the Time Splitter accepted.

Result

Ospreay defeated Scurll.

Grade

A

Analysis

These two know each other so well they could probably sleepwalk their way through a damn fine match. There was no sleepwalking Sunday. The result was a dramatic match full of near-falls that culminated with the right competitor winning and retaining his title.

Ospreay continued to prove himself a fighting champion, issuing a challenge to Kushida that should result in another phenomenal wrestling match.

Whether you like the style or not, both Ospreay and Scurll's efforts should be enough to win over fans of all tastes.

The Golden Lovers vs. Hangman Page and Cody

Credit: New Japan Pro-Wrestling

Cody and Hangman Page sought to stick it to former Bullet Club leader Kenny Omega and derail The Golden Lovers' momentum Sunday in a blockbuster tag team match.

Cody and Page seized control of the match, isolating Ibushi and working him over. A hot tag to Omega led to a spirited comeback by the babyfaces and an intense showdown with the second-generation star.

The Young Bucks made their presence felt during the bout, pleading with Omega and Cody to settle their differences.

In the ring, a big kick from Ibushi bloodied Cody and allowed The Golden Lovers to mount their comeback.

Chants of "Golden Lovers" rained down on the performers as Omega and Ibushi caught their opponents with stereo dives to the arena floor. The popular duo teased their Golden Shower finisher, which is a double 450 splash from the top rope, but Cody escaped.

The action steadily deteriorated from there, with the official losing control of the match.

Cody scaled the ropes, but Omega caught him with a kick to his lacerated eye. Omega teased a One-Winged Angel from the apron to through a table at ringside, but Cody was lucky enough to escape. That came into play moments later when Hangman Page blasted Omega with a big boot, sending him off the apron and through the table.

Ibushi survived a two-on-one attack, blasting Page and Cody with a double back kick. A well-timed distraction from Page allowed Cody to score the rollup, hold the tights and earn the victory for his team.

Result

Page and Cody defeated Omega and Ibushi.

Grade

B+

Analysis

Cody continued to build heat for himself ahead of his match with Omega, scoring a tainted win over Ibushi here.

The action was fast-paced and never gave fans the opportunity to rest. The psychology and storytelling, like everything else on this card, was exceptional and did a great job of putting over the differences that exist between Omega and Cody.

The post-match antics, which saw Cody try to brutalize Ibushi while Omega watched, only for The Cleaner to make the last-minute save, was a solid addition and only further proved the depths to which Cody will sink to torment Omega.

IWGP Heavyweight Championship Match: Kazuchika Okada vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Credit: New Japan Pro-Wrestling

Master submission technician and 2018 New Japan Cup winner Zack Sabre Jr. challenged Kazuchika Okada in Sunday's main event. Okada's quest for an eleventh successful defense of his title would prove much more difficult than he could have imagined.

As Sabre did throughout the New Japan Cup, he expertly slithered out of everything Okada tried and trapped the champion in a painful submission hold. He was elusive, frustrating Okada throughout the duration of the bout.

Even late, as both men were clearly exhausted, Sabre had the nous to escape and further punish Okada.

That is until the champion blasted him with a Rainmaker. He withstood one final submission before obliterating Sabre with a tombstone piledriver, followed by a stiffer Rainmaker clothesline to retain his title and become only the second man in New Japan history to net 11 consecutive successful title defenses.

After the match, Okada's hype man, Gedo, cut a promo until Tanahashi interrupted. The only other competitor with as many successful title defenses as Okada showed respect to the conquering champion as the crowd chanted "Tanahashi."

Result

Okada defeated Sabre.

Grade

A

Analysis

Sabre made himself a star during the New Japan Cup. Sunday, Okada made him an even bigger star, selling everything Sabre threw at him to make him look like a wrestler capable of unseating him as the top dog in New Japan.

The storytelling was brilliant, as Sabre came seconds away from winning gold, only to have Okada escape a hold and end his night in disappointing fashion.

The post-match confrontation between Okada and Tanahashi essentially sets up another match in their epic rivalry. Given the crowd's reaction to the tease, the match will be hotly anticipated. And with good reason.