The Japanese and world wrestling community was saddened by the news that reigning and 4x All Japan Junior Heavyweight Champion Atsushi Aoki passed away on Monday following injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in Tokyo. Aoki was 41 years old.
https://twitter.com/alljapan_eng/status/1135715669159436288
Atsushi Aoki got his start in 2005 as a student of the Pro Wrestling NOAH Dojo, where he was trained by former 2x All Japan Triple Crown Champion Jun Akiyama. He would spend the first seven years of his career as a regular with Pro Wrestling NOAH, where he became a 2x GHC Tag Team Champion. In 2009, he represented NOAH in the NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 16, making it to the semi-finals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU3RwSU0HMY
He made his All Japan debut in 2011 and by 2012 had moved over to AJPW full time, where he truly blossomed as a singles competitor. He was a 3x AJPW All Asia Tag Team Champion and dominated the Junior Heavyweight division, where he became a 4x AJPW Junior Heavyweight Champion. He was just two weeks into his fourth reign, defeating Koji Iwamoto for the title at Super Power Series Night 2 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on May 20.
LWOPW sends our condolences to the wrestling community, Aoik’s family and friends during this time.
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.
Shocked. I’m reading that Atsushi Aoki has passed away in Japan after a motorcycle accident. I had the privilege to share the ring with Aoki many times. Phenomenally talented, good hearted. Damn. This is stunning. https://t.co/xBviFx5005
— Chris Hero (Is Back) (@ChrisHero) June 4, 2019
R.I.P… Atsushi Aoki
— Shinsuke Nakamura (@ShinsukeN) June 4, 2019
Very saddened to hear about the passing of Atsushi Aoki. I had the honor of teaming with Aoki in the NTV Jr. Tag League back in 2007. #RestInPower my friend.
— ROCKY ROMERO🇵🇷 🇲🇽 🇺🇸 🇯🇵“Chico El Luchador” (@azucarRoc) June 4, 2019
Really Saddened to hear of the tragic passing of Atsushi Aoki.
I had the chance to wrestle him and be around him training and at shows. a top pro who from watching him and training with him made me get the most out of everything.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/Q5QZMl3j8g
— Joe Coffey (@Joe_Coffey) June 4, 2019
2/2
I was hoping somewhere down the road we would have got to lock up and do it again
A pleasure to be around and in the ring with.
Rest In Peace
Atsushi Aoki.— Joe Coffey (@Joe_Coffey) June 4, 2019
In shock over Atsushi Aoki's sudden passing. Heartbreaking.
— Gran Akuma (@__AKUMA) June 4, 2019
R.I.P. Atsushi Aoki… i can't believe,
— kikutaro (@kikutarosan) June 4, 2019
