Kazuchika Okada Gives His Thoughts On Saya Kamitani Winning the MVP Award

By: Lewis Carlan

Saya Kamitani made pro-wrestling history in 2025 as she broke barriers by being named the first woman ever to win the Tokyo Sports MVP Award. The prestigious honour has been handed out for the past 52 years by Tokyo Sports and for the first 51 years, they have all gone to male competitors. Kamitani changed that by having a stellar 2025 and proving that she was the most deserving of the coveted award.

Photo Credit: STARDOM

Kazuchika Okada, formerly with New Japan Pro-Wrestling now with AEW, was speaking with Tokyo Sports, recently and was asked about Kamitani winning the Pro-Wrestling MVP Award for 2025.

Okada, who is a five time winner of the Tokyo Sports MVP Award, weighed in and stated he thought it was wonderful that Kamitani had won. He also commented that he felt a women’s era in pro-wrestling may be coming.

From Kazuchika Okada:

“Isn’t that wonderful, if she has that much influence? In the flow continuing from (Antonio) Inoki, (Giant) Baba, (Riki) Choshu, (Tatsumi) Fujinami and various others, I think a women’s era might be coming, so I want them to do their best there. If they can elevate women’s wrestling to the point where people say, ‘Back in the day, the men were amazing,’ I think it could elevate pro wrestling as a whole.”

Okada won the MVP Award back in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019 & 2022. Antonio Inoki holds the record for most MVP Awards wins with six including winning it three years in a row from 1976-1978. Inoki was the first ever winner of the award back in 1974.

Kamitani is in the midst of a much needed break from in-ring action due to health issues. Saya Kamitani will return on Feb. 7th as she is scheduled to defend her World of STARDOM Title against Starlight Kid in a highly anticipated match.

(H/T goes to meraWRESTLING for the English quote translations)