At NJPW Hyper Battle, SANADA vacated the IWGP United States Championship due to injury.

SANADA suffered an orbital fracture during the New Japan Cup tournament in his match against Will Ospreay.

It's unknown when he will return.

SANADA suggested that Hiroshi Tanahashi, the man he defeated to win the championship in the first place, should reclaim the belt. Ospreay wasn't happy with that idea, feeling he should be the champion since he defeated SANADA in the tournament.

This led to Tanahashi coming out and challenging Ospreay to a match for the vacant championship at Wrestling Dontaku 2022 on May 1st, 2022.