SANADA Taking Indefinite Leave Of Absence From NJPW

SANADA's long-term future with New Japan Pro-Wrestling was thrown into doubt on Monday after the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion appeared at New Year Dash with a guitar that displayed the message "Goodbye NJPW."

SANADA then stated in backstage comments after his New Year Dash match that he would be "leaving this ring for good today" as he was "going on a journey."

New Japan have since announced that SANADA will be taking an indefinite leave of absence, and there is no current return date scheduled for the 37-year-old.

SANADA has been a part of New Japan Pro-Wrestling since his debut in 2016, having previously wrestled in All Japan, Wrestle-1, and TNA. In addition to his IWGP World Heavyweight Title reign, SANADA is a former IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion, three-time IWGP Tag Team Champion, and three-time NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champion. He is also a one-time New Japan Cup winner and two-time World Tag League winner.

SANADA has fallen down the card in NJPW since he dropped the IWGP World Heavyweight Title to Tetsuya Naito at Wrestle Kingdom 18 in January 2024.