SANADA

Real name: Seiya Sanada
Height: 5’11
Weight: 216 lbs.
Date of birth: January 28, 1988
From: Niigata, Japan
Pro debut: March 13, 2007
Trained by: AJPW Dojo
Finishing move: Skull End

Biography

– In his debut match, Sanada teamed with Ryuji Hijikata in a loss to Katsuhiko Nakajima & T28
– On May 29, 2007, Sanada entered the Samurai TV Triple Arrow Cup. He teamed with Katsuhiko Nakajima & Kensuke Sasaki to defeat Shuji Kondo, TARU & YASSHI in the final
– Sanada made his PPV debut on March 1, 2008, teaming with Hajime Suruga to defeat CJ Otis & Manabu Soya
– Sanada & Soya entered the 2008 Real World Tag League, but failed to make the final
– On March 1, 2009, Sanada defeated Soya to qualify for the AJPW Champion’s Carnival, however, he failed to win a match in the tournament proper
– Sanada entered the 2009 Real World Tag League with Osamu Nishimura, but again failed to make the final
– Sanada entered the 2010 AJPW Champion’s Carnival, but failed to win a match for the second year in succession
– On August 29, 2010, Sanada & Manabu Soya defeated Voodoo Murders (Big Daddy Voodoo & TARU) to win the AJPW All Asia Tag Team Titles
– On November 6, 2010, Sanada & Soya defeated KONO & Minoru to retain the AJPW All Asia Tag Team Titles
– Sanada & Soya entered the 2010 Real World Tag League, just missing out on a place in the final
– On January 3, 2011, Sanada & Soya defeated Tamon Honda & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi to retain the AJPW All Asia Tag Team Titles
– Sanada entered the 2011 Champion’s Carnival. Despite a much better performance than in previous years, he failed to make the finals
– On June 19, 2011, Sanada & Soya defeated Daisuke Sekimoto & Yuji Okabayashi to regain the AJPW All Asia Tag Team Titles
– On August 21, 2011, Soya & Sanada defeated Kaz Hayashi & Shuji Kondo to retain the AJPW All Asia Tag Team Titles
– At the NJPW/AJPW/NOAH ‘All Together’ benefit show, Sanada, Shuhei Taniguchi & Tetsuya Naito defeated Manabu Soya, Mohammed Yone & Yujiro Takahashi
– On December 4, 2011, Sanada & KAI defeated Masakatsu Funaki & Masayuki Kono to win the Real World Tag League
– On December 18, 2011, Sanada made his first appearance outside All Japan, defeating Shinya Ishikawa on a Big Japan show
– At the second ‘All Together’ benefit show, Sanada, Go Shiozaki & Tetsuya Naito were defeated by Hiroshi Tanahashi, Suwama & Takeshi Morishima
– On May 20, 2012, Sanada & Joe Doering defeated Manabu Soya & Takao Omori to win the AJPW Unified Tag Team Titles
– At the NJPW/AJPW 40th Anniversary show, Sanada & Doering defeated Tama Tonga & Tetsuya Naito
– On October 7, 2012, Sanada defeated Yasufumi Nakanoueno in the final of a tournament to become the first AJPW Gaora TV Champion
– On October 21, 2012, Sanada defeated Yasufumi Nakanoueno to retain the AJPW Gaora TV Title
– On December 11, 2012, Sanada defeated Kazushi Miyamoto to retain the AJPW Gaora TV Title
– On January 3, 2013, Sanada defeated Tomoaki Honma to retain the AJPW Gaora TV Title
– On March 10, 2013, Sanada defeated Masayuki Kono to retain the AJPW Gaora TV Title
– Sanada entered the 2013 AJPW Champion’s Carnival, but lost to Jun Akiyama in the semi-finals
– On July 1, 2013, Sanada was one of several wrestlers to announce his resignation from All Japan in protest at the new regime. He soon signed with Keiji Mutoh’s new Wrestle-1 promotion
– On February 15, 2014, Sanada won a 20-man Battle Royal to become the Number 1 Contender to earn a TNA X-Division Title shot
– At One Night Only: Outbreak, Sanada defeated Austin Aries to win the TNA X-Division Title
– At Lockdown ’14, Sanada, The Great Muta & Yasu defeated Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian & Chris Sabin
– On March 22, 2014, Sanada defeated Seiki Yoshioka to retain the TNA X-Division Title
– On April 11, Sanada defeated DJ Z to retain the TNA X-Division Title
– At One Night Only: X-Travaganza ’14, Sanada defeated Austin Aries in a Best of 3 Falls Match to retain the TNA X-Division Title
– On April 17, Sanada defeated Christopher Daniels to retain the TNA X-Division Title
– At Sacrifice ’14, Sanada defeated Tigre Uno in the final match of a Best of 3 Series to retain the TNA X-Division Title
– At Slammiversary XII, Sanada defeated Davey Richards, Eddie Edwards, Manik, Tigre Uno & Crazzy Steve in a Ladder Match to retain the TNA X-Division Title
– In July 2014, Sanada turned on The Great Muta and would take on his likeness as ‘The Great Sanada’
– At Turning Point ’14, Sanada defeated Austin Aries
– Following Bound For Glory ’15, Sanada was released by TNA. He would also announce his departure from Wrestle-1 in order to continue working the US indies
– In July 2015, Sanada began appearing for Jeff Jarrett’s GFW promotion
– In December 2015, Sanada returned to Japan with the Big Japan promotion
– In April 2016, Sanada (stylized in all-capitals) debuted for New Japan as a member of Los Ingobernables de Japon
– At Destruction ’16, LIJ (SANADA, EVIL and BUSHI) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson & KUSHIDA
– At Wrestle Kingdom 11, LIJ (SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI) won a 4-team Gauntlet Match to win the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Titles, but would lose them at the following day’s New Year Dash event
– At The New Beginning ’17, LIJ (SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Manabu Nakanishi & Ryusuke Taguchi to win the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Titles
– At Honor Rising ’17, LIJ (SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI) defeated Jushin Liger, Delirious & Tiger Mask to retain the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Titles
– At New Japan’s 45th Anniversary Show, LIJ (SANADA, EVIL, BUSHI & Tetsuya Naito) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson, KUSHIDA & Michael Elgin
– At Wrestling Toyonokuni ’17, LIJ (SANADA & BUSHI) defeated Ryusuke Taguchi & Yoshitatsu
– At Wrestling Dontaku ’17, LIJ (SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Ricochet to win the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Titles
– At Dominion ’17, LIJ (SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI) won a 5-team Gauntlet Match to retain the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Titles
– On June 20, 2017, LIJ (SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI) defeated Juice Robinson, Ryusuke Taguchi & KUSHIDA to retain the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Titles
– At Destruction ’17, LIJ (SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI) defeated CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano & Rocky Romero) to retain the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Titles
– LIJ (SANADA & EVIL) won the 2017 World Tag League, defeating The Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) in the final
– At Wrestle Kingdom 12, LIJ (SANADA & EVIL) defeated Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr & Lance Archer) to win the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– At NJPW’s 46th Anniversary Show, SANADA defeated YOSHI-HASHI
– At Wrestling Hinokuni ’18, LIJ (SANADA & EVIL) defeated Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr & Lance Archer) to retain the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– At Destruction ’18, LIJ (SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI) defeated Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr & TAKA Michinoku)
– At King of Pro Wrestling ’18, LIJ (SANADA, BUSHI, Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi) defeated CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano, SHO & YOH)
– At OTT’s 4th Anniversary Show in Dublin, Ireland, LIJ (SANADA, EVIL & Tetsuya Naito) defeated Shane Strickland, Bandido & Flamita
– LIJ (SANADA & EVIL) won the 2018 World Tag League, defeating The Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) in the final
– At Wrestle Kingdom 13, LIJ (SANADA & EVIL) defeated The Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) and The Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson) to win the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– At The New Beginning ’19, LIJ (SANADA & EVIL) defeated Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr) to retain the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– At Wrestling Hinokuni ’19, LIJ (SANADA, BUSHI, EVIL, Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi) defeated CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, Kota Ibushi, SHO & YOH)
– At Wrestling Dontaku 2019, LIJ (SANADA & EVIL) defeated CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii)
– At Royal Quest 2019, LIJ (SANADA & Tetsuya Naito) defeated Bullet Club (Jay White & Chase Owens)
– At Destruction in Beppu 2019, LIJ (SANADA, BUSHI & Shingo Takagi) defeated CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto & Rocky Romero)
– At Destruction in Kobe 2019, LIJ (SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI) defeated Kazuchika Okada, Kota Ibushi & Robbie Eagles
– At Power Struggle 2019, LIJ (SANADA, EVIL & Shingo Takagi) defeated Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr & Lance Archer)
– At New Year Dash 2020, LIJ (SANADA & Tetsuya Naito) defeated Bullet Club (Jay White & KENTA)
– At Tiger Hattori’s Retirement Show, LIJ (SANADA, Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi) defeated CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto & Tomohiro Ishii)
– At Dominion 2020, LIJ (SANADA, BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi) defeated CHAOS (Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Yota Tsuji)
– At Wrestle Kingdom 15, SANADA defeated EVIL
– At New Year Dash 2021, LIJ (SANADA, Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) defeated Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Rocky Romero, Master Wato & SHO
– At The New Beginning in Hiroshima 2021, LIJ (SANADA & Tetsuya Naito) defeated Kota Ibushi & Tomoaki Honma
– At Dominion 2021, LIJ (SANADA, BUSHI & Tetsuya Naito) defeated Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr, Taichi & DOUKI)
– On July 11, LIJ (SANADA & Tetsuya Naito) defeated Dangerous Tekkers (Zack Sabre Jr & Taichi) to win the IWGP Tag Team Titles
– At Power Struggle 2021, LIJ (SANADA, BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi) defeated Ryusuke Taguchi, Yuji Nagata & Master Wato
– At Wrestle Kingdom 16, SANADA defeated Great O-Khan
– At the NJPW/NOAH Wrestle Kingdom 16 special, LIJ (SANADA, Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) defeated Kongo (Katsuhiko Nakajima, Manabu Soya, Kenoh, Aleja & Tadasuke)
– On February 19, 2022, SANADA defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the IWGP United States Title
– At The New Beginning in Osaka 2023, LIJ (SANADA, BUSHI, Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi) defeated Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma
– Following his 2023 New Japan Cup victory over Tetsuya Naito, SANADA left LIJ to join the Just 4 Guys (now Just 5 Guys) group
– SANADA went on to win the New Japan Cup, defeating David Finlay in the final
– At Sakura Genesis 2023, SANADA defeated Kazuchika Okada to win the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– At Capital Collision 2023, Just 5 Guys (SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) defeated Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi)
– At Collision in Philadelphia, Just 5 Guys (SANADA & Kanemaru) defeated Rocky Romero & Homicide
– At Wrestling Dontaku 2023, SANADA defeated Hiromu Takahashi to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– At Dominion 2023, SANADA defeated Yota Tsuji to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– At Forbidden Door 2023, SANADA defeated Jack Perry to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– At Impact Emergence 2023, SANADA defeated Jake Something
– At Destruction in Kobe 2023, Just 5 Guys (SANADA, DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku) defeated House Of Torture (Dick Togo, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL)
– At Destruction in Ryogoku 2023, SANADA defeated EVIL in a Lumberjack Death Match to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Title
– At NJPW STRONG Fighting Spirit Unleashed 2023, Just 5 Guys (SANADA & Yuya Uemura) fought Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi) to a time-limit draw
– At New Year Dash 2024, Just 5 Guys (SANADA, DOUKI, TAKA Michinoku, Taichi & Yuya Uemura) defeated Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
– At Sakura Genesis 2024, Just 5 Guys (SANADA, DOUKI & Yuya Uemura) defeated United Empire (Jeff Cobb, Callum Newman & Great O-Khan)
– At the 2024 All Together Sapporo event, Just 5 Guys (SANADA, Taichi & Yuya Uemura) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Naomichi Marufuji & Kento Miyahara