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NJPW Sakura Genesis 2025 Live Online Preview: A Night of Blossoming Chaos
April 5, 2025 – The sakura trees are in full bloom, and so is the intensity of New Japan Pro-Wrestling as the company presents Sakura Genesis 2025, one of the most anticipated events of the spring season. For years, this annual spectacle has delivered unforgettable moments—from shocking title changes to brutal battles that redefine the landscape of NJPW. And this year promises to be no different.
With a stacked card featuring championship clashes, grudge matches, and the potential for seismic shifts in faction warfare, Sakura Genesis 2025 is must-see pro wrestling. Whether you’re watching live from the legendary Ryogoku Kokugikan or streaming online, this is an event you won’t want to miss.
In this in-depth preview, we’ll break down every match, analyze the stakes, and predict the outcomes that could shape NJPW’s future.
Main Event: IWGP World Heavyweight Championship – Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Shota Umino
The Story So Far:
The Rainmaker, Kazuchika Okada, stands once again at the pinnacle of NJPW, holding the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. But his reign is under siege by the fiery Shota Umino, the young ace who has been groomed for greatness. Umino, once a young boy under Jon Moxley’s wing, has evolved into a legitimate main-event threat, and after a grueling New Japan Cup run, he has earned this shot.
Why It Matters:
This isn’t just about the title—it’s about legacy. Okada has been the standard-bearer of NJPW for over a decade, but Umino represents the new generation. A win here would signify a changing of the guard, proving that the future of New Japan is in capable hands.
Prediction:
Umino’s hunger is undeniable, but Okada’s big-match experience is unmatched. Expect a 45-minute classic, with Okada narrowly escaping with the title—only for Umino to prove he belongs in the main event scene permanently.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship – Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs. El Desperado
The Story So Far:
The rivalry between Hiromu Takahashi and El Desperado is one of the most intense in junior heavyweight history. Their battles are always violent, always unpredictable, and always show-stealing. After Desperado scored a decisive victory in the New Japan Cup, he demanded one more shot at Hiromu’s title—and the Ticking Time Bomb accepted.
Why It Matters:
This could be the final chapter in their storied feud. Both men have traded wins, but with Hiromu’s dominance in recent years, Desperado is desperate (pun intended) to reclaim the gold. The chemistry between these two guarantees a match filled with high-speed counters, brutal strikes, and maybe even a few weapons.
Prediction:
Hiromu retains, but not without Desperado pushing him to his absolute limit. Post-match, a new challenger (possibly a returning SHO or a debuting outsider) could emerge to set up the next chapter.
NEVER Openweight Championship – Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. Taichi
The Story So Far:
Tetsuya Naito has embraced his Tranquilo persona even more in his NEVER Openweight Championship reign, but Taichi is anything but calm. The Holy Emperor has been on a warpath, dismantling opponents with his vicious strikes and underrated technical prowess. After a hard-fought victory over Shingo Takagi, Taichi has his sights set on Naito’s gold.
Why It Matters:
The NEVER title is about fighting spirit, and both men embody that in different ways. Naito’s cool demeanor clashes with Taichi’s unrelenting aggression. This could be a sleeper match of the night, blending strong style with psychological warfare.
Prediction:
Taichi finally captures the NEVER title, giving him a defining singles moment. Naito, ever the opportunist, might pivot toward a G1 Climax run or even a surprise jump back into the IWGP title scene.
Special Singles Match – Will Ospreay vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
The Story So Far:
Two of the best technical and high-flying wrestlers in the world collide once again. Will Ospreay, now a global megastar, returns to NJPW for a dream match against Zack Sabre Jr., the submission master who has been on a tear in 2025. Their past encounters have been technical masterclasses, and this one could top them all.
Why It Matters:
Pure wrestling excellence. Ospreay’s aerial assault vs. ZSJ’s mat-based brutality is a clash of styles that always delivers. With both men possibly heading toward title opportunities later in the year, a win here is crucial.
Prediction:
ZSJ traps Ospreay in a vicious submission, forcing the Aerial Assassin to tap out. This could set up a future IWGP UK Championship program if Ospreay sticks around.
Tag Team Turmoil – Chaos vs. United Empire vs. House of Torture
The Story So Far:
The trios division in NJPW is as chaotic as ever, and this three-way war between Chaos (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI), United Empire (Great O-Khan & Jeff Cobb), and House of Torture (EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi) will be pure anarchy.
Why It Matters:
Tag team wrestling in NJPW often gets overlooked, but these teams bring hard-hitting action and faction warfare at its finest. The winners could be next in line for the IWGP Tag Team Championships.
Prediction:
United Empire picks up the win, solidifying their dominance and setting up a future title match against Bishamon.
Opening Match – Young Lion Showcase: Oleg Boltin vs. Yuto Nakashima
The Story So Far:
The future of NJPW begins here. Oleg Boltin, the towering Russian prospect, takes on Yuto Nakashima, the fiery Japanese rookie. Both men have been impressive in dojo matches, and this is their chance to shine on a major stage.
Why It Matters:
Young Lion matches are the purest form of pro wrestling—no gimmicks, just heart, grit, and fundamentals. The winner could earn an excursion soon.
Prediction:
Nakashima wins with a Boston Crab, proving his resilience against Boltin’s power.
Final Thoughts & Predictions
Sakura Genesis 2025 is shaping up to be one of the best events of the year. With a mix of generational clashes, technical brilliance, and hard-hitting tag team chaos, this show has something for every wrestling fan.
Key Takeaways:
- Okada vs. Umino could be a star-making performance for Shota.
- Hiromu vs. Desperado will steal the show with their insane chemistry.
- Taichi dethroning Naito would be a massive moment for his career.
- Ospreay vs. ZSJ is a potential Match of the Year candidate.
How to Watch NJPW Sakura Genesis 2025 Live Online
Don’t miss a second of the action! Sakura Genesis 2025 will be streaming live on NJPW World with English commentary. The event starts at 5:00 PM JST (4:00 AM EST / 1:00 AM PST).
🔗 Stream Here: NJPW World
Final Question: What Will Be the Biggest Shock of the Night?
Will we see a title change? A surprise return? A betrayal? Let us know your predictions in the comments!
Stay tuned for our live coverage and post-event analysis!
Very good show
I think his Ic run being so long hurt him as a credible world champion. It’s like he fought all the same guys and crushed them for a mid card belt now we are supposed to believe they are an actual challenge to him as a world champion? Lol when they took the intercontinental title off of him they should have moved him to SmackDown and put a new list of challengers in front of him. And moved Cody and the WWE championship to raw
Very good episode,
imagine being deluded enough to think a multi billion dollar company with guys who literally have wrestling in their blood hot shoted a heel turn storyline because they booked themselves into a corner. are you serious dude? that is the most ridiculous thing i have read in a minute lol. good luck bro.
Great episode.
Punk/Cody was there for the taking and Cena could’ve gone up against Gunther.
They knee jerked a heel turn because they booked themselves into a nepotism corner
Very good show
honestly don’t get the hate. like sure, there’s no major story here YET. But Punk/Rollins/Reigns has a lot of potential to be a high quality match. I’m legit looking forward to it and love that these three have wound up in a match together.
Great episode.
The triple threat match between them at Wrestlemania is gonna be awesome. Super stoked for this match
Great show
Let’s mention the women’s match in every live/hate challenge. Easiest task for this group of “journalists” ever. Each one of these love/hates are more embarrassing than the last. We get it, women’s wrestling is amazing and should main event every show and if a women’s match is bad it’s because where it is on the card or the booking it’s never the talent, all the women are top tier wrestlers.
Very good show
You wanna find out who the real simps and shills are? Mark down anybody who defends that main event match! Even the diehard AEW fans are crapping on that main event. It was terrible.
This Moxley stuff is stinking out the entire show and the dude seems to think he is Brock Lesnar.
The sad part is that this wasn’t a terrible show overall and with all things taken into an account. But at the end of the day, a bad ending can ruin a whole show for a lot of people. “Game of Thrones season 8” style.
Great show
So the crux of it all is that the PLE started strong…then ended with a sour belch.
The fans most remember how you left them and the fans are going to remember this show with a resounding “bleh”!
And any casual fan who watched with their buddies who are more diehard fans, may have left the viewing saying aloud, “That guy was pretty good. He should go to WWE”.
Great show.
I’ve said before but I think one of the issues here is that Tony is a massive fan of NJPW and often looks to emulate their PPV card structure. NJPW cards typically build to a climax with the big matches back to back and tend not to feature cool down matches or spots. Problem is western audiences haven’t been conditioned for that over the last 40 years, so often results in burnout. Personally I would have laid out the card like below giving breathing spaces, opening with the Steel Cage match and building to the Hollywood Ending as the main event.
Storm vs. May
Mox vs. Cope
Hangman vs. MJF
Hurt Syndicate vs. Outrunners
Takeshita vs. Omega
Swerve vs. Ricochet
Okada vs. King
Mone vs. Watanabe
Ospreay vs. Fletcher
Great episode.
Very good show, but the ending is what people remember. WWE ended Elimination Chamber with a huge heel turn. AEW ended Revolution with that abominable ending.
it doesn’t totally undo a great show, but it might have done more harm than good.
Very good show
I can already see Trips the mark statues, Trips the mark with a 20 minutes speech, the camera focusing onTrips the mark every 30 seconds when he is on the crowd.
Great show.
I’m glad they are bringing it back to a nice venue. The idea of hosting it immediately after Smackdown is insane. Why not put a highlight show or broadcast the Hall of Fame instead of airing Smackdown that week.
best of the best
Very good show tonight
clickbait
clickbait
It’s good
Yes
Loving it
Fantastic Article
Raw vs SD
The only switches from Raw vs SD were Breakker, and Jax?
Super excited about Kiana James to Raw.
Super excited about Kiana James to Raw. She’s been great on NXT so hopefully they don’t ruin her momentum.
I dunno what the Final
I dunno what the Final Testament want, but at this point I am afraid to ask.
Save yourself time and money a
Save yourself time and money and just say everyone on smackdown will stay on smackdown, everyone on raw will stay on raw. What clown wrote this episode?!
Willow should NOT lose
Willow should NOT lose to Moñe at Double or Nothing.
I love the work Mariah’s done with Toni,
I love the work Mariah’s done with Toni, but Ngl I would also love her just gal-palling around with Mina for a spell
I’m all in on joshi invasion of AEW.
I’m all in on joshi invasion of AEW. I’m kinda down for joshi invasion of all promotions honestly
Danielson is also a 21st century
That line makes me laugh like Danielson is also a 21st century wrestler
I’ve never heard of.
Uhg, some other random wrestler from a promotion I’ve never heard of.
This is going to be a squash match right?
Wait, Anna Jay isn’t in Dark Order?
not even the security guard
not even the security guard with the hogan beard is dragging me out of daily’s rn
Kurt V Bret V Perfect
Three other Ospreay dream matches
V Kurt V Bret V Perfect
I have never seen mina before.
I have never seen mina before…. But from the entrance alone i am a fan
I’ve ever seen. Good lord
Anna Jay one of the finest women I’ve ever seen. Good lord
May gets all the ladies.
May gets all the ladies.
Daily’s Place just feels right
Anna Jay match in Daily’s Place just feels right
Is Mina’s theme
Is Mina’s theme a rip of Danza Kaduro? 🕺🏻
I enjoy Fallon’s work in ring,
I enjoy Fallon’s work in ring, and her character work. I just wish she didn’t scream so much- every single move.
Was late tuning in tonight,
Was late tuning in tonight, went and watched the women’s title match, Tatum showed up and showed tf out. Sad she didn’t win but the sky’s the limit
Jensen getting back together
first step to Briggs and Jensen getting back together
I wonder if Fallon Henley gets called up,
I wonder if Fallon Henley gets called up, she’s not really in any important angles in NXT.
John Cena style
Jasmyn has that chiseled chin. John Cena style
“Thank you, Trish Jacey”
Jacey Jayne wants Thea to say “Thank you, Trish Jacey”
What a woman
Her weave fallen off and her not skipping a beat. What a woman. I’m all in on jaida parker
Jaida to get her feet
This OTM side quest was good for Jaida to get her feet wet but her ceiling is sooo much higher than Lucien, Bronco & SCRYPTS
Really don’t like that it’s the Women’s NXT North American Championship.
Really don’t like that it’s the Women’s NXT North American Championship. Besides being an awkward mouthful, it’s too derivative of Men’s midcard title.
Gratitude is not an option
“Gratitude is not an option but a debt that you will repay to me” lmao damn Jacy sounds so badass and ominous 😭
She’s got a really bright future.
Jaida’s only been doing this for a year and a half. She’s got a really bright future.
I love the implied narrative that
I love the implied narrative that it’s Nattie who is singlehandedly selling out a WWE tour of Europe
All these talks about call-ups,
All these talks about call-ups, I feel Jacy Jayne is more overdue than most. One of the best character workers around.
I feel like Jaida has been winning every week
I feel like Jaida has been winning every week for a while now but it hasn’t really gotten her anywhere lol
Booker’s about to faint during
Booker’s about to faint during the sexiest contract signing of all time.
SOMEONE CLIP THAT LEXIS KING
SOMEONE CLIP THAT LEXIS KING PART IN THE NXT SHOP COMMERCIAL AND MAKE IT A MEME
So.. Natalya had a ton of work done
So.. Natalya had a ton of work done on her face right? She had some weird angles to it when the camera followed her walking
Any recognise the photographer
Any recognise the photographer in the Baron/Lexis segment?