For the fourth time in his illustrious career, New Japan Pro-Wrestling ace Hiroshi Tanahashi has won the Tokyo Sports Award MVP.
Tanahashi, who is the current number one contender to the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, has had one of the most spectacular years of his career. He would win the 2018 G1 Climax tournament after returning from injury, defeating Kota Ibushi in the Final and will challenge Kenny Omega at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 12 in the Tokyo Dome. This is also the seventh straight year (since 2011) that a New Japan wrestler has won the award, with Tetsuya Naito winner the previous two years.
New Japan would also claim the Best Bout Award with Kenny Omega v. Kazuchika Okada from Dominion 2018 for the IWGP Heavyweight Title. It would be the second year in a row where both men would win the award with Okada winning it three years straight. Tetsuya Naito would win the Best Technique Award, his first year winning.
Other winners would include All Japan’s Shuji Ishikawa and Suwuma winning Tag Team of the Year, Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Naomichi Marufji winning Most Outstanding Performer Award and Kaito Kiyomiya winning the Fighting Spirit Award.
Joshi Wrestler of the Year Award was given to Ice Ribbon’s Tsukasa Fujimoto while the Rookie of the Year was given to STARDOM’s Utami Hayashishita.
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