Debuting in All Japan Pro Wrestling in 2007, and assisting Tetsuya Naito to the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in his first appearance in NJPW April 2016, SANADA proved from the outset that is a powerful asset to Los Ingobernables de Japon. 

His all round ability transferred well to team efforts in LIJ. With former partner EVIL, he won two back to back World Tag Leagues, and followed both wins up with IWGP Tag Team Championship reigns. Adding BUSHI, and then Shingo Takagi to the fold as a trio, he’s a former three time NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Champion.

With a brief IWGP Tag Team Championship run alongside Tetsuya Naito its highlight, 2021 was a difficult year for SANADA. Though Cold Skull would start 2022 strong, claiming the IWGP United States Championship that February, injury saw his reign cut short, and he struggled to gain momentum, except when joined in ring by a friend and rival in Taichi. 

In New Japan Cup 2023, Taichi would draw the fire SANADA needed to end his slump. After SANADA defeated LIJ teammate Tetsuya Naito in the cup, he announced his intention to leave LIJ, and join Taichi’s new faction of what was now Just Five Guys. On March 21 2023, SANADA beat David Finlay in the New Japan Cup 2023 final match and won the tournament. SANADA will challenge Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championships in Sakura Genesis 2023.