| Sanada | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Sanada asIWGP World Heavyweight Champion in April 2023 | |
| Birth name | Seiya Sanada |
| Born | (1988-01-28)January 28, 1988 (age 37)[1][2][3] Niigata, Japan[1][2][3] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | The Great Sanada[4] Kiyonari Sanada Seiya Sanada Sanada |
| Billed height | 1.82 m (5 ft11+1⁄2 in)[1][2][3] |
| Billed weight | 100 kg (220 lb)[3] |
| Trained by | Taiyō Kea Kaz Hayashi[5] Keiji Muto[6] Osamu Nishimura[5] Satoshi Kojima[5] Kohei Suwama[5] |
| Debut | March 13, 2007[1][2][3] |
Seiya Sanada (真田 聖也,Sanada Seiya, born January 28, 1988),[1][2] better known by his mononymousring nameSanada (stylized inall caps), is aJapaneseprofessional wrestler. He is signed toNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member ofBullet Club and itsWar Dogs sub-group. He is a former and longest-reigningIWGP World Heavyweight Champion.
As part of NJPW, Sanada is mostly known for histag team withEvil as a part ofLos Ingobernables de Japón, with whom he is a two-timeIWGP Tag Team Champion, two-timeWorld Tag League winner, and a three-timeNEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion (alongsideBushi). He also had a short reign as IWGP Tag Team Champion withTetsuya Naito. He won his first NJPW singles title, theIWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, in early 2022, and won the2023New Japan Cup, which led to him winning the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. He is also known for his work inAll Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where he was the firstGaora TV Champion, a two-timeAll Asia Tag Team Champion, a one-timeWorld Tag Team Champion, and the winner of the2011 World's Strongest Tag Determination League tournament. Sanada is also known for his time in the JapaneseWrestle-1 (W-1) and AmericanTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) promotions. Through the W-1/TNA working relationship, Sanada became aone timeTNA X Division Champion, winning the title at the collaborativeKaisen: Outbreak.
In 2005, Sanada tried to earn a training spot in theNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) dojo, but failed to pass an introductory test. Sanada took the test alongside future NJPW wrestlersTetsuya Naito andYoshi-Hashi.[7] Afterwards, Sanada began looking to other promotions for a training school.[8]
Sanada was eventually trained byKeiji Muto'sAll Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) affiliated Mutohjuku school[6] and turned pro on March 13, 2007, in a losing effort teaming withRyuji Hijikata againstKatsuhiko Nakajima andT28. Within a few months into his career, Sanada won his first honor when he teamed withKensuke Sasaki and Nakajima to win the Samurai! TV Triple Arrow Tournament on May 29, 2007.[6] Following the tournament victory, Sanada spent the next two years in opening match wrestling other up-and-comers and began teaming withManabu Soya.[9] By 2009, Sanada began moving up the card as he took part in his firstChampion Carnival but finished last with no points.[10] Later in the year, Sanada broke up with Soya and briefly teamed up withOsamu Nishimura with the two entering the2009 World's Strongest Tag Determination League with Sanada even getting a pinfall victory over the tag team champions:Taiyō Kea andMinoru Suzuki but the team's run ended when Sanada suffered the flu and had to withdraw from the tournament.[9]
In 2010, Sanada once again entered the Champion Carnival but the results were the same as he finished last in his block with no points.[11] By the spring, Sanada helped form the New Generation Force stable withSuwama,Masayuki Kono,Ryota Hama, and Manabu Soya. On August 29, 2010 at Pro Wrestling Love in Ryogoku Vol. 10, Sanada and Soya defeatedTaru andBig Daddy Voodoo to win theAll Asia Tag Team Championship.[12] Sanada and Soya entered the 2010 World's Strongest Tag Determination League in the fall where they finished in 6th place with 7 points.[13] Sanada and Soya would lose the All Asia Tag Team Championship toDaisuke Sekimoto andYuji Okabayashi on March 21, 2011. During the year 2011, Sanada reached his full potential by reaching the final against Yuji Nagata, but loss to him in the final. He also entered in 2011 World's Strongest Tag Determination League withKai and won the tournament by defeating Masayuki Kono and Masakatsu Funaki in the final. They then challenged the All Japan World Tag Team ChampionsDark Cuervo andDark Ozz for a title shot but came up short. They then faced each other in a singles match, which led to Sanada winning that match. After the match they both had an interview and Sanada decided that they should part ways and move on with their Tag Team which Kai also agreed on. In 2012 he then challenged All Japanace Suwama to a 60-minute match but also fell short in that match. He then challenged his former trainer Satoshi Kojima to match but also fell short after a Lariat by Kojima, during the Match he sustained a right knee injury but still wrestled and took a little time off to heal his knee. He then participated in 2012's Champion Carnival and lost to his former tag partner Manabu Soya. But he then won his first match against Soya's brother Takumi Soya and debuted a new finisher called "This Is It". On May 20, 2012, Sanada andJoe Doering defeated Soya andTakao Omori to win theWorld Tag Team Championship.[14] Sanada and Doering lost the title back to Soya and Ōmori on June 17.[15] On October 7, 2012, Sanada defeatedYasufumi Nakanoue in a tournament final to become the inauguralGaora TV Champion.[16] After reaching the semifinals of the 2013 Champion Carnival, All Japan announced on May 1, 2013, that Sanada would be leaving on a learning excursion toMoncton,Canada, where he would train underEmile Duprée.[17][18] During the excursion, Sanada lost the Gaora TV Championship toRené Duprée on May 27.[19]
On July 1, while still in Canada, Sanada announced his resignation from All Japan, taking part in a mass exodus caused by Nobuo Shiraishi becoming the promotion's new president.[20] Following his resignation, Sanada traveled toMexico on his own expense to continue his training.[21] Though Sanada was not announced as part ofKeiji Muto's splinter promotionWrestle-1, he did make a surprise appearance at the promotion'sinaugural event on September 8, losing to Kai in a singles match.[22] Sanada and Kai had a rematch in the main event of Wrestle-1's second show on September 15; this time Sanada was victorious.[23] On September 24, Wrestle-1 announced that Sanada had signed a contract with the promotion.[24][25] Sanada wrestled his first match under a Wrestle-1 contract on October 6, losing to Kai in the main event of the promotion's first event inKorakuen Hall. As a result, Kai won the series between him and Sanada 3–2.[26][27] On November 16, Sanada unsuccessfully challenged visiting American wrestlerA.J. Styles for theTNA World Heavyweight Championship.[28]
In early 2014, Sanada was offered an opportunity to earn another shot at the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, but he instead opted to go for theTNA X Division Championship. On February 15, Sanada defeated nineteen other men in abattle royal to become the number one contender to the title.[29] On March 2 atKaisen: Outbreak, Sanada defeatedAustin Aries to become the new TNA X Division Champion.[30] The following day, Wrestle-1 announced Sanada would be leaving Japan to work for TNA indefinitely.[31] Sanada continued making sporadic appearances for Wrestle-1, defending his X Division Championship againstSeiki Yoshioka on March 22 and againstChristopher Daniels on April 17,[32][33] while also losing to The Great Muta in the main event of Wrestle-1's secondRyōgoku Kokugikan event, Shōgeki: Impact, on July 6.[34][35] The following day, Wrestle-1 and Sanada held a press conference to announce that he had signed a contract with TNA, giving him a dual contract between Wrestle-1 and the American promotion.[36][37]
Sanada returned to working for Wrestle-1 full-time in October 2014, when TNA went inactive for the rest of the year.[38] The following month, Sanada teamed up withHiroshi Yamato for the First Tag League Greatest tournament, set to determine the inauguralWrestle-1 Tag Team Champions. The team finished their block with a record of one win, two draws and one loss, narrowly missing advancement to the semifinals.[39] On December 22, Sanada unsuccessfully challenged Muto for theWrestle-1 Championship.[40] On May 13, 2015, Sanada held a press conference in Japan, where he announced that he was leaving Wrestle-1 once his contract expired two days later, so he could continue working in the United States full-time as a freelancer.[41][42]
Sanada made his TNA debut on March 9 atLockdown, where he, working under just his family name, teamed with The Great Muta and Yasu to defeatChris Sabin andBad Influence (Christopher Daniels andKazarian) in a six-man tag teamsteel cage match.[43] Four days later, Sanada made hisImpact Wrestling debut, teaming withTigre Uno to defeatTNA World Tag Team ChampionsThe BroMans (Jessie Godderz andRobbie E), in a non-title match.[44] As a result, the two received a shot at the TNA World Tag Team Championship the following week, but were defeated in a three-way match, which also includedThe Wolves (Davey Richards andEddie Edwards).[45] Sanada and Tigre Uno were then put against each other in a "best of three" match series for the TNA X Division Championship.[46] On April 27 atSacrifice, Sanada defeated Uno to win the series 2–1 and retain the X Division Championship.[47] On June 15 atSlammiversary XII, Sanada defeatedCrazzy Steve, Davey Richards, Eddie Edwards,Manik and Tigre Uno in a six-wayladder match to retain the X Division Championship.[48] On the July 10 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Sanada lost the X Division Championship back to Austin Aries.[49]
On the July 24Impact Wrestling, Sanada took part in an angle, where he turned on his mentor The Great Muta, hitting him with a steel chair and a moonsault, after initially saving him fromJames Storm.[50] The following week atDestination X, Storm introduced Sanada as his new protégé, before he defeatedBrian Cage and Crazzy Steve to advance to the final of a tournament for thevacant X Division Championship.[51] On the August 7Impact Wrestling, Sanada was defeated bySamoa Joe in the final of the tournament, which also includedLow Ki.[52] After signing a one-year contract with TNA,[53] Sanada debuted the new ring name "The Great Sanada" and a look inspired by The Great Muta on the August 27Impact Wrestling, defeating Austin Aries with help from Storm.[4] Sanada and Storm were eventually joined byAbyss and Manik to form a stable namedThe Revolution.[54] On October 12, Sanada main evented TNA'sBound for Glory event in Tokyo, teaming with Storm in a tag team match, where they were defeated by The Great Muta andTajiri.[55] On the April 10, 2015Impact Wrestling, Storm dismissed Sanada from The Revolution, stating that Sanada had let him down one too many times.[56] Sanada's departure from TNA was officially confirmed by the promotion on April 16.[57]
On September 20, 2014, Sanada, using hisvillainous Great Sanada persona, made his debut for Americanindependent promotionChikara, entering the annual Rey de Voladores tournament. After defeatingAmasis,A. R. Fox and Orlando Christopher in his opening four-way elimination match,[58] Sanada was defeated in the final of the tournament the following day by Shynron.[59] After leaving TNA in April 2015, Sanada began working more regularly on the American independent circuit.[60] On May 6,Global Force Wrestling (GFW) announced Sanada as part of their roster.[61] He made his debut for the promotion on July 11, teaming withTakaaki Watanabe in a tag team match, where they were defeated byBullet Club (Doc Gallows andKarl Anderson).[62] Though now living in the United States, in July Sanada flew back to Japan to take part in aWWE tryout held byWilliam Regal.[63] In August 2016, Sanada teamed withMinoru Fujita andMazada to defeat the team ofHarashima,Kotaro Suzuki andMasato Tanaka at aTokyo Gurentai event.[64]
On April 10, 2016, Sanada, sporting a new look including amohawk, made a surprise debut for NJPW atInvasion Attack 2016 by interfering in the main event and helpingTetsuya Naito defeatKazuchika Okada for theIWGP Heavyweight Championship, joining Naito'sLos Ingobernables de Japón (L.I.J.) stable in the process.[65] The following day, NJPW announced Sanada's new ring name; SANADA, his family name stylized in all capital letters.[66] Though he started working for NJPW full-time, Sanada remained a freelancer.[67] Sanada wrestled his first NJPW match on April 17, when he and his L.I.J. stablemates Naito,Bushi andEvil defeatedGedo,Hirooki Goto, Okada andTomohiro Ishii, with him submitting Gedo for the win.[68] Sanada's first big match in NJPW took place on May 3 atWrestling Dontaku 2016, where he was defeated by Okada.[69] On July 18, Sanada entered the2016 G1 Climax, opening his tournament by scoring a major win overHiroshi Tanahashi.[70] He finished the tournament on August 12 with a record of four wins and five losses.[71] At the end of the year, Sanada took part in the2016 World Tag League, teaming with stablemate Evil. The two finished second in their block with a record of five wins and two losses, tied with block winnersTogi Makabe andTomoaki Honma, but failed to advance to the final due to losing the head-to-head match against Makabe and Honma.[72]
On January 4, 2017, atWrestle Kingdom 11, Sanada, Bushi and Evil won a four-teamgauntlet match to become the newNEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions.[73] They lost the title to Tanahashi,Manabu Nakanishi andRyusuke Taguchi the next day,[74] before regaining it on February 11 atThe New Beginning in Osaka.[75] They lost the title to Tanahashi, Taguchi andRicochet in their second defense on April 4,[76] before regaining it on May 3 atWrestling Dontaku 2017.[77] During the summer, Sanada took part in the2017 G1 Climax, where he finished with a record of four wins and five losses.[78] In December, Sanada and Evil won their block in the2017 World Tag League with a record of five wins and two losses, advancing to the final of the tournament.[79] On December 11, they defeatedGuerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga andTanga Loa) in the final to win the tournament.[80] Six days later, Sanada, Bushi and Evil lost the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship to Guerrillas of Destiny andBad Luck Fale in their fourth defense.[81]
On January 4, 2018, atWrestle Kingdom 12, Evil and Sanada defeated theKiller Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr. andLance Archer) to win theIWGP Tag Team Championship for the first time.[82] The following day at New Year Dash!! in a post-show interview, Sanada challengedKazuchika Okada to anIWGP Heavyweight Championship match atThe New Beginning in Osaka. At the event, he lost to Okada.[83] In April atWrestling Hinokuni 2018, Evil and Sanada defeated Killer Elite Squad for their second successful defense. AtDominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall, Evil and Sanada lost the IWGP Tag Team Championship tothe Young Bucks. The rematch was set on July 7, atG1 Special in San Francisco, but they were unsuccessful in regaining the title. During the summer, Sanada took part in the2018 G1 Climax, where he finished with a record of four wins and five losses, failing to advance from his block.[84] He also got a huge win againstKota Ibushi in the tournament. In December, Evil and Sanada took part in2018 World Tag League. Team first qualified to the final and then defeated Guerrillas of Destiny to win the tournament.[85] On January 4, 2019, atWrestle Kingdom 13, Evil and Sanada defeated both Guerrillas of Destiny and Young Bucks to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship for the second time.[86] The following day at New Year Dash!!,Suzuki-gun attackedLos Ingobernables de Japón.Minoru Suzuki andZack Sabre Jr. challenged Evil and Sanada for the IWGP Tag Team Championship. AtThe New Beginning in Sapporo, they retained their titles.[87] AtHonor Rising: Japan 2019, Evil and Sanada lost the titles in their second defense against Guerillas of Destiny.
Sanada was announced to take part in2019 New Japan Cup and facedHirooki Goto in the first round. After defeating Goto, Sanada went on to defeatMinoru Suzuki,Colt Cabana and thenHiroshi Tanahashi to make it to the final. Sanada lost in the final againstKazuchika Okada. On March 28,Dave Meltzer rated this match 5 stars, which was the first match that Sanada got this rating.[88] On May 4, the second night ofWrestling Dontaku 2019, Sanada unsuccessfully challenged Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Sanada entered theG1 Climax, where he finished with a record of 4 wins and 5 losses, ending the tournament with 8 points. One of Sanada's wins in the tournament came against Okada, who was still IWGP Heavyweight Champion at the time. It was afterRoyal Quest, where Okada successfully defended the championship against Suzuki, when Sanada once again challenged Okada for the Championship. However, atKing of Pro-Wrestling, Sanada lost to Okada. On the second night ofWrestle Kingdom 14, Sanada challengedZack Sabre Jr. for theBritish Heavyweight Championship, but was unsuccessful. The following night at New Years Dash!!! Sanada teamed with stablemate, and newIWGP Intercontinental Champion and IWGP Heavyweight Champion,Tetsuya Naito to defeatBullet Club'sJay White andKenta. White would then go on to challenge Sanada to a special singles match atThe New Beginning in Osaka, where White would defeat Sanada. Sanada was then announced to be participating in the New Japan Cup, facingMikey Nicholls in the first round. However, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, all New Japan Cup and further events were cancelled. Following NJPW's return to producing shows, Sanada entered the rescheduled 2020 New Japan Cup. He defeatedRyusuke Taguchi,Sho, andTaichi before losing to Evil in the semi-finals. Following Evil's betrayal and departure from L.I.J. after winning the 2020 New Japan Cup, it was announced that the NEVER 6-Man titles would be vacated and that new champions would be crowned in a tournament. Sanada would occupy Evil's previous spot and team withBushi andShingo Takagi in the tournament, defeating Suzuki-gun in the first round but then losing to Chaos in the semi-finals.
Sanada would then enter the inaugural KOPW 2020 tournament, defeating Sho once again in a submission match, but failed to capture the trophy in a fatal four way againstEl Desperado,Toru Yano and Okada at Jingu Stadium. Sanada then participated in the G1 Climax 30 where he would lose his first three matches, but then go on to win six in a row (including matches against stablemate and IWGP double champion Naito, and former partner Evil) to win his first ever G1 Climax block, before losing toKota Ibushi in the longest G1 Climax final match in history. AtWrestle Kingdom 15, Sanada defeated Evil. On February 11 atThe New Beginning in Hiroshima, he unsuccessfully challenged Ibushi for theIWGP Heavyweight andIntercontinental Championships. He then went on to compete in the 2021 New Japan Cup where defeatedTomohiro Ishii In the first round and defeatedYuji Nagata in the second round before being eliminated byWill Ospreay in the quarter final.[89][90][91][92] On July 11 atSummer Struggle in Sapporo night 2, Sanada and Naito defeated Dangerous Tekkers (Taichi andZack Sabre Jr.) to win theIWGP Tag Team Championship for the first time as a team. They would lose the championship atWrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, ending their reign at just 14 days.
At New Years Golden Series on February 19, Sanada would beat Tanahashi for theIWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, marking his first singles championship victory in New Japan Pro-Wrestling since his debut in April 2016.[93] Sanada would compete in that yearsNew Japan Cup, where he received a bye to the second round. He defeatedAaron Henare in the second round, but lost to Ospreay in the third round. The match ended in areferee stoppage. Later, it was revealed Sanada had suffered afractured orbital bone. Sanada vacated the championship atHyper Battle, ending his reign at 49 days.[94] Sanada returned from injury on June 12 atDominion 6.12 in Osaka-jo Hall, where he faced Ospreay for thevacant US title, as former championJuice Robinson was forced to vacate due to suffering fromappendicitis. At the event, Ospreay once again defeated Sanada.[95] Also at the event, Sanada was announced to be a part of theG1 Climax 32 tournament in July, where he would compete in the B Block.[96] He finished with 6 points, failing to advance to the semi-finals.[97] In October, Sanada competed in a tournament to crown the firstNJPW World Television Champion, defeating Taichi in the opening round.[98] Sanada then defeated Kenta in the following round.[99] In the semi-final round, Sanada lost toRen Narita, ending his tournament campaign.[100] The following month, Sanada teamed with Naito in theWorld Tag League, however, the group failed to reach the finals, after ending the tournament with 12 points.[101] AtWrestle Kingdom 17, Sanada teamed with Naito and Bushi, losing to Tanahashi,Shota Umino andKeiji Muto, in a six-man tag team match, which was Muto's NJPW retirement match.[102] On Night 2 on January 21, Sanada lost to former tag team partnerManabu Soya, in a series of matches betweenLos Ingobernables de Japón and theKongo stable.[103]
In March, Sanada entered theNew Japan Cup, defeating Taichi andKenta in the first two rounds.[104][105] In the quarterfinal round, Sanada defeatedLos Ingobernables de Japón stablemate and leader,Tetsuya Naito. After the match, Sanada was joined in the ring byTaichi,Yoshinobu Kanemaru,Taka Michinoku andDouki, where they all shook hands. This led to L.I.J. members,Hiromu Takahashi,Bushi andShingo Takagi coming to ringside. Sanada then stated that he could not achieve further success in L.I.J., Michinoku and Taichi, then confirmed Sanada was the newest member of the Just 4 Guys stable, thus making itJust 5 Guys. Sanada then told the LIJ members to leave, confirming his departure from the stable.[104][106] In the semi-final round, Sanada, now sporting jet-black, shorter hair and a clean shave, defeatedMark Davis.[107] In the tournament final, Sanada defeatedDavid Finlay, winning the New Japan Cup, his first singles tournament, and setting himself up to faceKazuchika Okada for theIWGP World Heavyweight Championship atSakura Genesis.[108][109] On April 8 at the event, Sanada defeated Okada for the title, winning his first World Championship in his career.[110]
Following his title win, Sanada was confronted by his former L.I.J. stablemateHiromu Takahashi, who challenged him for the World Championship. Sanada accepted on the basis that Kanemaru would be able to challenge for Takahashi'sIWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, which Takahashi similarly accepted. Following Takahashi retaining the title against Kanemaru, he faced Sanada atWrestling Dontaku, where Sanada retained the World title.[111] Following the match, Sanada and the remainder of Just 5 Guys were attacked by the returningYota Tsuji, who challenged Sanada for his title.[112] The title match was made official forDominion. On June 3 at the press conference the day before the event, Tsuji officially joined L.I.J.[113] The day after at the event, Sanada retained his title against Tsuji.[114] On June 25, Sanada made his third title defence on June 25 atForbidden Door, defeating"Jungle Boy" Jack Perry.[115][116] The following month, Sanada entered the annualG1 Climax tournament, participating in the A Block.[117] Sanada finished the tournament with a perfect record, defeating all A Block participants to finish with 14 points, being the only man in the tournament to do so and thus finishing top of the block and advancing to the quarterfinal round.[118] In the quarterfinal round, Sanada was defeated by former tag-team partner Evil, thus eliminating him from the tournament.[119]
The loss to Evil caused Sanada to defend the World Championship against the latter, with the title match being scheduled as aLumberjack match forDestruction in Ryōgoku on October 9.[120] On September 24 atDestruction in Kobe, Kanemaru betrayed Just 5 Guys, joining Evil'sHouse of Torture stable, reverting Just 5 Guys back to Just 4 Guys.[121] On October 9, Just 4 Guys reverted to Just 5 Guys, whenYuya Uemura returned from excursion and joined the stable.[122] In the show's main event, Sanada defeated Evil to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, in his fourth successful defence. Following the victory, Naito, the G1 Climax winner and former stablemate, confronted Sanada about their upcoming title match atWrestle Kingdom 18.[123] On January 4, 2024 at Wrestle Kingdom 18, Sanada was defeated in the main event by Naito, ending his record reign at 271 days.[124] On February 24 atThe New Beginning in Sapporo: Night 2, Sanada unsuccessfully attempted to regain the championship from Naito.
On November 4 atPower Struggle, Sanada betrayed Taichi and assistedBullet Club leaderDavid Finlay retain hisIWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, joining Bullet Club and its War Dogs sub-group in the process.[125] For the2024 World Tag League, Sanada teamed with fellow War Dogs memberGabe Kidd, where they were placed in A-Block. The duo finished at the top of their block and advanced to the grand finals, where they lost to Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi. On February 11, 2025 atThe New Beginning in Osaka, Sanada defeated Taichi.[126] On the third day of theNew Japan Cup 2025,Sanada came out during Finlay and Evil's match and, seemingly inadvertently, hitting Finlay and Gedo, leading to tension throughout the tour and leaving his status with the War Dogs in question[127]
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The reason Regal was in Japan . . . was due to doing the tryout session. They had six men and two women at the session, which included . . . Seiya Sanada, who still lives in the U.S. but flew to Japan to get a tryout. . . .
