Zack Sabre Jr. Wins IWGP World Heavyweight Title At NJPW King Of Pro-Wrestling

At the fourth attempt, Zack Sabre Jr. has finally won the big one in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. 

Sabre defeated Tetsuya Naito in the main event of King of Pro-Wrestling, picking up the win following three Zack Drivers. Naito initially kicked out at one following the first Zack Driver but ZSJ simply followed up with two more, making the final attempt a Cross-Legged Zack Driver to earn the victory.

It didn't take long for Sabre's first title defence to be revealed either. Zack Sabre Jr. vs. SANADA had already been set for NJPW Royal Quest IV on Sunday, October 20 in London, England. SANADA interrupted Zack's title celebrations and the match was changed to an IWGP World Heavyweight Title bout.

Sabre Jr. earned the title match against Naito by winning the G1 Climax earlier this year. Instead of waiting until Wrestle Kingdom 19 on January 4, 2025, though, ZSJ demanded to challenge Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title at King of Pro-Wrestling.

ZSJ first challenged for New Japan Pro-Wrestling's top prize in 2018 when he faced Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis, earning a title shot through his New Japan Cup win. Sabre Jr. then failed to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Title from Shingo Takagi at Power Struggle 2021 before he failed to convert a 2022 New Japan Cup win into gold, once again falling to Kazuchika Okada in an IWGP World Heavyweight Title match.