The 2022 Tokyo Sports awards have been revealed.
Tokyo Sports announced that Kazuchika Okada has won the 2022 MVP Award. He received 15 of the 17 votes. This marks the fifth time Okada has won the award, putting him second all-time behind Antonio Inoki, who won the award six times.
"I’m definitely delighted to win this award in this important year," Okada told NJPW. "I had wanted Mr. Inoki to come and watch a match this year, and it’s definitely a shame that he couldn’t do that. But taking this award is something that I’m sure he’ll be happy to see looking on, and I obviously plan to keep riding this wave, to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at his memorial event to do him proud again."
Okada also took home the Best Bout award for his G1 Climax Final bout against Will Ospreay. This marks the ninth time Okada has competed in the Best Bout. It is the first Best Bout award for Ospreay.
Full list of winners:
- MVP: Kazuchika Okada (New Japan Pro-Wrestling)
- Best Bout: New Japan Pro-Wrestling G1 Final (August 18, Nippon Budokan) Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay
- Best Tag Team: Great O Khan & Jeff Cobb (New Japan Pro-Wrestling)
- Outstanding Performance Award: Kento Miyahara (All Japan Pro-Wrestling)
- Fighting Spirit Award: Great O Khan (New Japan Pro-Wrestling)
- Technique Award: El Lindaman (GLEAT)
- Women's Wrestling Grand Prize: Syuri (Stardom)
- Newcomer Award: Yuma Anzai (All Japan Pro-Wrestling)
- Professional Wrestling Grand Prize Honor Award: The late Antonio Inoki
Okada is set to challenge Jay White for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17. Fans can check out the lineup for the show by clicking here.
