SANADA Quits LIJ, Joins Just Five Guys Following New Japan Cup Win Over Tetsuya Naito

SANADA's time in Los Ingobernables de Japon is over after seven years in the stable.

SANADA faced his faction-mate Tetsuya Naito in the quarter-finals of the New Japan Cup today and after scoring a victory over the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion, SANADA embraced Taichi, TAKA Michinoku, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, and DOUKI of Just Four Guys.

SANADA - while Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi, and BUSHI ensured Tetsuya Naito was okay - then announced that he was leaving LIJ to become a guy, making the stable Just Five Guys.

The faction move from the 35-year-old comes after SANADA displayed a more aggressive side during the New Japan Cup. The seeds were planted for SANADA to leave after his New Japan Cup first-round win over Taichi, with the Holy Emperor encouraging SANADA to quit LIJ following the match.

Just Five Guys is a new NJPW faction, having formed in January 2023 after the dissolution of Suzuki-gun.

During his time in LIJ, SANADA became a three-time IWGP Tag Team Champion, twice with EVIL and once with Tetsuya Naito. He is also a former IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion and three-time NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champion.