SANADA seizes IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship

The main event on February 19 in Sapporo saw Hiroshi Tanahashi defending the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship against SANADA. Fans expected a scientific affair, and that’s exactly what they got from the opening bell, both men fighting to get control and dictate the pace before a series of armdrags saw both men spill to the floor, where the reversals continued before SANADA sent Tanahashi crashing face first into the ring post. 

SANADA took control, putting the Ace in the Paradise Lock, and firing some heavy strikes at Tanahashi. A flying forearm would see the champion fire back though, and a flipping senton would get two, and then the gameplan would come into effect. Tanahashi would go down to the knee and then humiliate the Paradise Lock master with a version of his own.

With confidence growing, Tanahashi took flight, delivering a High Fly Attack all the way to the floor, and as SANADA pulled himself into the ring, champion met challenger with Dragon Screws over the ropes before locking in a Texas Cloverleaf. Though SANADA would escape once, a frankensteiner attempt by the challenger would be rebuffed with another Clover, the challenger only barely making the ropes with heavy damage done. 

SANADA tried for Skull End, countered into Sling Blade, but as Tanahashi went for High Fly Flow, he found the knees of his challenger instead. Cold Skull howled in pain at the damage done, but was still able to navigate Skull End, wrenching back at the champion. Believing victory was in his grasp, SANADA went for a moonsault but this time found Tanahashi’s raised knees, both men now significantly hobbled as the match entered a tense final phase. 

SANADA again went for Skull End, but after a series of reversals, Tanahashi landed a trio of Twist and Shouts before landing Slingblade for a nearfall. A High Fly Attack followed, but SANADA rolled through and powered Tanahashi into a TKO. A Moonsault followed for the challenger down across the back, but a finishing second attempt only saw empty canvas. 

Tanahashi would follow with a Dragon Screw and an almighty right hand; though SANADA responded with rolling elbows, a straightjacket German suplex gave Tanahashi two. The Ace took SANADA down again and launched himself for High Fly Flow, but missed, and a SANADA Japanese Leg Roll Clutch would see a new champion crowned.