Yuma Aoyagi Celebrates His Tokyo Sports ”Technical Award”

While other wrestlers are mad with their Tokyo Sports awards, Yuma Aoyagi sets the record straight and celebrates his “Technical Award” by reflecting on his year.

By: R. Faliani

We’re on the last days of 2023, and Tokyo Sports has released their yearly awards, crowning the best Puroresu had to offer, and giving those wrestlers a deserving category of their own. The Tokyo Sports Awards are defined by not only the people’s vote but also the determination and the spirit of those wrestlers chosen. In All Japan Pro Wrestling this year there was no one as gifted and fine to be chosen as the best technical wrestler in Japan today, as former Triple Crown Champion, Yuma Aoyagi.

【全日本】プロレス大賞技能賞･青柳が会見 ｢技能賞にふさわしい試合を心掛けたい｣https://t.co/leBKLFAxeQ#ajpw pic.twitter.com/9mrXVTRRl3

— プロレス/格闘技DX編集部 (@PKDX) December 13, 2023

But what’s interesting about all of this is that Aoyagi participated in All Japan’s press conference today and reflected on his year, and how he believed he couldn’t win such an award. Based on the report from PKDX, Aoyagi never thought “technique” meant everything he was doing in the ring: “When I looked back on my matches, I realized I never understood the meaning of “technique”, as I was supposedly only doing facial expressions and such. I always thought they meant wrestling technique exclusively.”

Aoyagi started talking about the meaning of this award, and the fire it has set inside him going into 2024, and looking to win the Triple Crown once again, after losing to Katsuhiko Nakajima in a fantastic showing. Aoyagi also won Rookie of the Year in 2018, and he’s now focused on doing something that, if achievable, would turn him into a living legend instantly. “I will continue to aim for the Grand Slam in the Tokyo Sports Pro-Wrestling Awards, but for now, I look forward to your continued support.”