Tokyo Sports Puroresu Awards

Professional wrestling awards

The Tokyo Sports Puroresu Awards (東京スポーツプロレス大賞, Tōkyō Supōtsu Puroresu Taishō) are Japanese professional wrestling, or puroresu, awards that have been handed out by the Tokyo Sports magazine annually since 1974. The most publicized awards in Japanese professional wrestling,[1] they are recognized by all the major promotions in the country, including All Japan Pro Wrestling,[2] New Japan Pro-Wrestling,[3] and Pro Wrestling Noah.[4]

The awards are voted for by a committee made up of people involved with Japanese professional wrestling, including reporters and photographers. After the winners are announced in the middle of December, an award ceremony is held in Tokyo in January.[5] Voting takes place in rounds.[6] In landslide cases, the winner can be determined in a single round of voting,[7] however, if no wrestler gets enough votes, the award can be left blank and not given out that year.[8] Most notably, the award for female wrestler of the year was not given out between 2004 and 2008 and again in 2014, when the committee felt that no wrestler had the necessary qualifications.[9]

The awards have been described as "legit to a degree", but also to spread them among different major promotions. For example, the award for the best technical wrestler may not be given to someone considered the best technical wrestler in puroresu, but to a top wrestler from a promotion that has not gotten any of the other awards.[10] There are currently ten active awards given out by Tokyo Sports, including one dedicated to sport wrestling.

## Active awards

[edit]

### MVP Award

[edit]

Rebranded in 2010. Originally known as Best Wrestler Award (最優秀選手賞, Saiyūshū senshu-shō), which has since become a secondary name.
Antonio Inoki is a record six-time winner of the category Year  | Winner  | Promotion

|
|

1974  | Antonio Inoki | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1975  | Giant Baba | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1976  | Antonio Inoki  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1977
1978
1979  | Giant Baba  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1980  | Antonio Inoki  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1981
1982  | Tiger Mask
1983  | Jumbo Tsuruta | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1984
1985  | Tatsumi Fujinami | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1986  | Genichiro Tenryu | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1987
1988
1989  | Akira Maeda | Universal Wrestling Federation
1990  | Atsushi Onita | Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
1991  | Jumbo Tsuruta  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1992  | Nobuhiko Takada | UWF International
1993  | Genichiro Tenryu  | Wrestle Association R
1994  | Shinya Hashimoto | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1995  | Keiji Mutoh
1996  | Kenta Kobashi | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1997  | Masahiro Chono | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1998  | Kenta Kobashi  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1999  | Keiji Mutoh  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2000  | Kazushi Sakuraba | Pride Fighting Championships
2001  | Keiji Mutoh  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2002  | Bob Sapp | K-1
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2003  | Yoshihiro Takayama | Pro Wrestling Noah
2004  | Kensuke Sasaki | All Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2005  | Satoshi Kojima | All Japan Pro Wrestling
2006  | Minoru Suzuki | Pancrase
2007  | Mitsuharu Misawa | Pro Wrestling Noah
2008  | Keiji Mutoh  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
2009  | Hiroshi Tanahashi | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2010  | Takashi Sugiura | Pro Wrestling Noah
2011  | Hiroshi Tanahashi  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2012  | Kazuchika Okada
2013
2014  | Hiroshi Tanahashi
2015  | Kazuchika Okada
2016  | Tetsuya Naito
2017
2018  | Hiroshi Tanahashi
2019  | Kazuchika Okada
2020  | Tetsuya Naito
2021  | Shingo Takagi
2022  | Kazuchika Okada
2023  | Tetsuya Naito
2024  | Zack Sabre Jr.

### Best Bout Award (ベストバウト, Besutobauto)

[edit]

Rebranded in 2010. Originally known as Match of the Year Award (年間最高試合賞, Nenkan saikō shiai-shō), which has since become a secondary name.
Genichiro Tenryu is a nine-time winner of the category Year  | Winner  | Promotion

|
|

1974  | Antonio Inoki vs. Strong Kobayashi (March 19)  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1975  | Antonio Inoki vs. Bill Robinson (December 11)
1976  | Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Rusher Kimura (March 28)  | International Wrestling Enterprise
All Japan Pro Wrestling
1977  | Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Mil Máscaras (August 25)  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1978  | Harley Race vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (January 20)
1979  | Antonio Inoki & Giant Baba vs. Abdullah the Butcher & Tiger Jeet Singh (August 26)  | Tokyo Sports
1980  | Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk vs. Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta (December 11)  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1981  | Giant Baba vs. Verne Gagne (January 18)
1982  | Giant Baba vs. Stan Hansen (February 4)
1983  | Riki Choshu vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (April 3)  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1984  | Antonio Inoki vs. Riki Choshu (August 2)
1985  | Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Riki Choshu (November 4)  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1986  | Akira Maeda vs. Tatsumi Fujinami (June 12)  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1987  | Genichiro Tenryu vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (August 31)  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1988  | Genichiro Tenryu vs. Stan Hansen (July 27)
1989  | Genichiro Tenryu vs. Jumbo Tsuruta (June 5)
1990  | Atsushi Onita vs. Tarzan Goto (August 4)  | Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
1991  | Genichiro Tenryu vs. Hulk Hogan (December 12)  | Super World of Sports
1992  | Stan Hansen vs. Toshiaki Kawada (June 5)  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1993  | Genichiro Tenryu vs. Riki Choshu (January 4)  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1994  | Ashura Hara & Genichiro Tenryu vs. Atsushi Onita & Tarzan Goto (March 2)  | Wrestle Association R
1995  | Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa (June 9)  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1996  | Genichiro Tenryu vs. Nobuhiko Takada (September 11)  | Wrestle Association R
1997  | Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (October 21)  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1998  | Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (October 31)
1999  | Genichiro Tenryu vs. Keiji Mutoh (May 3)  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2000  | Kensuke Sasaki vs. Toshiaki Kawada (October 9)
2001  | Kazuyuki Fujita vs. Yuji Nagata (June 6)
2002  | Yoshihiro Takayama vs. Yuji Nagata (May 2)
2003  | Kenta Kobashi vs. Mitsuharu Misawa (March 1)  | Pro Wrestling Noah
2004  | Jun Akiyama vs. Kenta Kobashi (July 10)
2005  | Kensuke Sasaki vs. Kenta Kobashi (July 18)
2006  | Kenta vs. Naomichi Marufuji (October 29)
2007  | Jun Akiyama & Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Kenta Kobashi & Yoshihiro Takayama (December 2)
2008  | Naomichi Marufuji vs. Shuji Kondo (November 3)  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
2009  | Jun Kasai vs. Ryuji Ito (November 20)  | Big Japan Pro Wrestling
2010  | Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi vs. Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi (October 11)  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2011  | Keiji Mutoh & Kenta Kobashi vs. Takashi Iizuka & Toru Yano (August 27)  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
Pro Wrestling Noah
2012  | Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada (June 16)  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2013  | Kota Ibushi vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (August 4)
2014  | Kazuchika Okada vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (August 10)
2015  | Genichiro Tenryu vs. Kazuchika Okada (November 15)  | Tenryu Project
2016  | Kazuchika Okada vs. Naomichi Marufuji (July 18)  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2017  | Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega (January 4)
2018  | Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega (June 9)
2019  | Kazuchika Okada vs. Sanada (October 14)
2020  | Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito (January 5)
2021  | Go Shiozaki vs. Keiji Mutoh (February 12)  | Pro Wrestling Noah
2022  | Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay (August 18)  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2023  | The Great Muta vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (January 1)  | Pro Wrestling Noah
2024  | Hirooki Goto vs. Yota Tsuji (March 20)  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling

### Outstanding Performance Award (殊勲賞, Shukun-shō)

[edit]

Tatsumi Fujinami is a four-time winner of the category Year  | Winner  | Promotion

|
|

1975  | Rusher Kimura | International Wrestling Enterprise
1976  | Seiji Sakaguchi | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1977  | Animal Hamaguchi
Mighty Inoue | International Wrestling Enterprise
1978  | Rusher Kimura
1979  | Ashura Hara
1980  | Tatsumi Fujinami | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1981  | Genichiro Tenryu | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1982  | Tatsumi Fujinami  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1983  | The Great Kabuki | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1984  | Genichiro Tenryu
1985  | Kengo Kimura | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1986  | Yoshiaki Yatsu | Japan Pro-Wrestling
1987  | Kengo Kimura
Tatsumi Fujinami  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1988  | Tatsumi Fujinami
1989  | Shinya Hashimoto
1990  | Mitsuharu Misawa | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1991  | Atsushi Onita | Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
1992  | Masahiro Chono | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1993  | Kenta Kobashi | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1994  | Jushin Thunder Liger | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1995  | Akira Taue | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1996  | Genichiro Tenryu  | Wrestle Association R
1997  | Mitsuharu Misawa  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1998  | Keiji Mutoh
Kodo Fuyuki | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
1999  | Kazushi Sakuraba | Pride Fighting Championships
2000  | Jun Akiyama | All Japan Pro Wrestling
Pro Wrestling Noah
2001  | Pro Wrestling Noah
2002  | Yoshihiro Takayama
2003  | Kenta Kobashi
2004  | Toshiaki Kawada | All Japan Pro Wrestling
2005  | Takeshi Rikio | Pro Wrestling Noah
2006  | Naomichi Marufuji
2007  | Hiroshi Tanahashi | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2008  | Kensuke Sasaki | Kensuke Office
2009  | Takashi Sugiura | Pro Wrestling Noah
2010  | Suwama | All Japan Pro Wrestling
2011  | Jun Akiyama  | Pro Wrestling Noah
2012  | Takeshi Morishima
2013  | Kenta
2014  | Tomohiro Ishii | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2015  | Minoru Suzuki | Pancrase
2016  | Kento Miyahara | All Japan Pro Wrestling
2017  | Yamato | Dragon Gate
2018  | Naomichi Marufuji  | Pro Wrestling Noah
2019  | Kento Miyahara  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
2020  | Go Shiozaki | Pro Wrestling Noah
2021  | Jake Lee | All Japan Pro Wrestling
2022  | Kento Miyahara
2023  | Hiromu Takahashi  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2024  | Yuma Anzai | All Japan Pro Wrestling

### Fighting Spirit Award (敢闘賞, Kantō-shō)

[edit]

Riki Choshu is a record four-time winner of the category Year  | Winner  | Promotion

|
|

1974  | Strong Kobayashi | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1975  | Kintarō Ōki | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1976  | Rusher Kimura | International Wrestling Enterprise
1977  | Seiji Sakaguchi | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1978  | Kim Duk | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1979  | Riki Choshu | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1980  | Animal Hamaguchi | International Wrestling Enterprise
1981  | Rusher Kimura  | International Wrestling Enterprise
1982
1983  | Genichiro Tenryu | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1984  | Tatsumi Fujinami | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1985  | Tiger Mask (II) | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1986  | Riki Choshu  | Japan Pro-Wrestling
1987  | Yoshiaki Fujiwara | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1988  | Riki Choshu
1989
1990  | Masakatsu Funaki | Universal Wrestling Federation
1991  | Masahiro Chono | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1992  | Akira Taue | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1993  | Shinya Hashimoto | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1994  | Toshiaki Kawada | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1995  | Kodo Fuyuki | Wrestle Association R
1996  | Akira Taue  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1997  | Hayabusa | Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
1998  | Jun Akiyama | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1999  | Manabu Nakanishi
Naoya Ogawa | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
Universal Fighting Arts Organization
2000  | Toshiaki Kawada | All Japan Pro Wrestling
2001  | Yuji Nagata | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2002  | Masahiro Chono
2003  | Hiroshi Tanahashi
2004  | Hiroyoshi Tenzan
2005  | Katsuhiko Nakajima | All Japan Pro Wrestling
2006  | Hiroshi Tanahashi  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2007  | Takeshi Morishima | Pro Wrestling Noah
2008  | Masato Tanaka | Pro Wrestling Zero1
2009  | Togi Makabe | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2010  | Satoshi Kojima
2011  | Masaaki Mochizuki
Yuji Nagata | Dragon Gate
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2012  | Abdullah Kobayashi | Big Japan Pro Wrestling
2013  | Daisuke Sekimoto
2014  | Atsushi Onita | Chō Hanabi Puroresu
2015  | Yuji Okabayashi | Big Japan Pro Wrestling
2016  | Katsuhiko Nakajima | Pro Wrestling Noah
2017  | Katsuyori Shibata | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2018  | Kaito Kiyomiya | Pro Wrestling Noah
2019
2020  | Hiromu Takahashi | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2021  | Konosuke Takeshita | DDT Pro-Wrestling
2022  | Great-O-Khan | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2023  | Kenoh | Pro Wrestling Noah
2024  | Kaito Kiyomiya

### Technique Award (技能賞, Ginō-shō)

[edit]

Yuji Nagata is a two-time winner of the category Year  | Winner  | Promotion

|
|

1974  | Jumbo Tsuruta | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1975  | Mighty Inoue | International Wrestling Enterprise
1976  | Isamu Teranishi
1977  | Kantaro Hoshino | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1979  | Tatsumi Fujinami
1980  | Kengo Kimura
1981  | Ashura Hara
Riki Choshu | International Wrestling Enterprise
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1982  | Tiger Mask | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1983  | Akira Maeda
1984  | Super Tiger | Universal Wrestling Federation
1985  | Antonio Inoki | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1986  | Jumbo Tsuruta  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1988
1989  | Yoshiaki Fujiwara | Universal Wrestling Federation
1990  | Genichiro Tenryu | Super World of Sports
1991  | Hiroshi Hase | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1992  | Último Dragón | Super World of Sports
Wrestle Association R
1993  | Masakatsu Funaki | Pancrase
1994  | Kenta Kobashi | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1995  | Yoji Anjo | UWF International
1996  | Yoshinari Ogawa | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1997  | Yuki Kondo | Pancrase
1998  | Yuji Nagata | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1999
2000  | Takashi Iizuka
2001  | Sanae Kikuta | Pancrase
2002  | Satoshi Kojima | All Japan Pro Wrestling
2003  | Jun Akiyama | Pro Wrestling Noah
2004  | Minoru Suzuki | Pancrase
2005  | Taka Michinoku | Kaientai Dojo
2006  | Cima | Dragon Gate
2007  | Daisuke Sekimoto | Big Japan Pro Wrestling
2008  | Shingo Takagi | Dragon Gate
2009  | Kota Ibushi | DDT Pro-Wrestling
2010  | Kaz Hayashi | All Japan Pro Wrestling
2011  | Kenta | Pro Wrestling Noah
2012  | Shinsuke Nakamura | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2013  | Masato Yoshino | Dragon Gate
2014  | B×B Hulk
2015  | Tomoaki Honma | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2016  | Kenny Omega
2017  | Hideki Suzuki | Big Japan Pro Wrestling
Pro Wrestling Zero1
2018  | Tetsuya Naito | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2019  | Kota Ibushi
2020  | Tetsuya Endo | DDT Pro-Wrestling
2021  | Great-O-Khan | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2022  | El Lindaman | Gleat
2023  | Yuma Aoyagi | All Japan Pro Wrestling
2024  | Shinya Aoki | Paraestra

### Best Tag Team Award (最優秀タッグチーム賞, Saiyūshū taggu chīmu-shō)

[edit]

Sometimes this award is given to teams larger than two wrestlers. Four members of the Voodoo Murders won it in 2006. Year  | Winner  | Promotion

|
|

1975  | Antonio Inoki & Seiji Sakaguchi | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1976  | Seiji Sakaguchi & Strong Kobayashi
1978  | Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1980
1981  | Antonio Inoki & Tatsumi Fujinami | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1982  | Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1983  | Genichiro Tenryu & Jumbo Tsuruta  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1985
1986  | Nobuhiko Takada & Shiro Koshinaka | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1987  | Ashura Hara & Genichiro Tenryu  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1989  | Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu
1990  | Keiji Mutoh & Masahiro Chono | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1991  | Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1992  | Akitoshi Saito, Kengo Kimura, Masashi Aoyagi & Shiro Koshinaka  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1993  | Kenta Kobashi & Mitsuharu Misawa  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1994
1995  | Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Masahiro Chono  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1996  | Hiro Saito, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Masahiro Chono
1997  | Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1998  | Stan Hansen & Vader
1999  | Jun Akiyama & Kenta Kobashi
2000  | Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2001  | Jado & Gedo
2002  | Masato Tanaka & Shinjiro Otani | Pro Wrestling Zero1
2003  | Kenta & Naomichi Marufuji | Pro Wrestling Noah
2004  | Minoru Suzuki & Yoshihiro Takayama | Pancrase
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2005  | Akebono & Keiji Mutoh
Ikuto Hidaka & Minoru Fujita | All Japan Pro Wrestling
Pro Wrestling Zero1
2006  | "brother" Yasshi, Shuji Kondo, Suwama & Taru | All Japan Pro Wrestling
2007  | Togi Makabe & Toru Yano | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2008  | Minoru Suzuki & Taiyō Kea | Pancrase
All Japan Pro Wrestling
2009  | Akebono & Ryota Hama | All Japan Pro Wresetling
2010  | Manabu Nakanishi & Strong Man | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
CMLL
2011  | Daisuke Sekimoto & Yuji Okabayashi | Big Japan Pro Wrestling
2012  | Manabu Soya & Takao Omori | All Japan Pro Wrestling
2013  | Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste | Pro Wrestling Noah
2014  | Masato Tanaka & Takashi Sugiura | Pro Wrestling Noah
Pro Wrestling Zero1
2015  | Atsushi Onita & Chigusa Nagayo | Chō Hanabi Puroresu
2016  | Daisuke Sekimoto & Yuji Okabayashi  | Big Japan Pro Wrestling
2017  | Shuji Ishikawa & Suwama  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
2018
2019
2020  | Kazushi Sakuraba & Takashi Sugiura  | Pro Wrestling Noah
2021  | Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2022  | Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
2023  | Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi
2024  | Jun Saito & Rei Saito | All Japan Pro Wrestling

### Newcomer Award (新人賞, Shinjin-shō)

[edit]

Saki Akai was the first female wrestler to win this category in 2014 Year  | Winner  | Promotion

|
|

1974  | Tatsumi Fujinami | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1982  | Mitsuharu Misawa | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1983  | Tarzan Goto
1985  | Keiichi Yamada | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1986  | Keiji Mutoh
1987  | John Tenta | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1988  | Hiroshi Hase | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1989  | Kenta Kobashi | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1990  | Masashi Aoyagi | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1991  | Masao Orihara | Super World of Sports
1992  | Jun Akiyama | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1993  | Jinsei Shinzaki
Shinjiro Otani | Michinoku Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1994  | Manabu Yamada | Pancrase
1995  | Daisuke Ikeda
Masato Tanaka | Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi
Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
1996  | Yuki Kondo | Pancrase
1997  | Kazuyuki Fujita | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1998  | Yoshinobu Kanemaru | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1999  | Naomichi Marufuji
2000  | Kenzo Suzuki
Takeshi Rikio | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
Pro Wrestling Noah
2001  | Takehiro Murahama  | Osaka Pro Wrestling
2002  | Kazuhiko Ogasawara  | Pro Wrestling Zero-One
2003  | Shinsuke Nakamura | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2004  | Katsuhiko Nakajima | Kensuke Office
2005  | Akebono | All Japan Pro Wrestling
2006  | HG | Hustle
2007  | B×B Hulk | Dragon Gate
2008  | Atsushi Sawada  | Inoki Genome Federation
2009  | Ryota Hama | All Japan Pro Wrestling
2010  | Yuji Okabayashi | Big Japan Pro Wrestling
2011  | Shinichi Suzukawa | Inoki Genome Federation
2012  | Daichi Hashimoto | Pro Wrestling Zero1
2013  | Konosuke Takeshita | DDT Pro-Wrestling
2014  | Saki Akai
2016  | Chihiro Hashimoto | Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling
2017  | Yuma Aoyagi | All Japan Pro Wrestling
2018  | Utami Hayashishita | World Wonder Ring Stardom
2019  | Strong Machine J | Dragon Gate
2020  | Yuki Mashiro | Ice Ribbon
2021  | Yuki Arai | Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling
2022  | Yuma Anzai | All Japan Pro Wrestling
2023  | Saito Brothers
2024  | Oleg Boltin | New Japan Pro-Wrestling

### Women's Wrestling Grand Prize (女子プロレス大賞, Joshi puroresu taishō)

[edit]

Io Shirai is a record three-time winner of the category, having additionally won all awards consecutively Year  | Winner  | Promotion

|
|

1995  | Shinobu Kandori | Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling
1996  | Kyoko Inoue | All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
1997  | Eagle Sawai
Lioness Asuka
Shark Tsuchiya | Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling
JDStar
Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
1998  | Shinobu Kandori | Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling
1999  | Lioness Asuka | Gaea Japan
2000  | Etsuko Mita and Mima Shimoda | Arsion
All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
2001  | Kaoru Ito | All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
2002  | Momoe Nakanishi
2003  | Ayako Hamada | Gaea Japan
2009  | Emi Sakura | Ice Ribbon
2010  | Nanae Takahashi | NEO Japan Ladies Pro Wrestling
2011  | Yuzuki Aikawa | World Wonder Ring Stardom
2012
2013  | Meiko Satomura | Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling
2015  | Io Shirai | World Wonder Ring Stardom
2016
2017
2018  | Tsukasa Fujimoto | Ice Ribbon
2019  | Mayu Iwatani | World Wonder Ring Stardom
2020  | Giulia
2021  | Utami Hayashishita
2022  | Syuri
2023  | Tam Nakano
2024  | Sareee | Dream Star Fighting Marigold

### Topic Award (話題賞, Wadai-shō)

[edit]

The Great Sasuke and his Michinoku Pro Wrestling promotion won the category in 1993 Year  | Winner  | Promotion

|
|

1990  | Kōji Kitao | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1991  | Atsushi Onita | Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
1993  | The Great Sasuke and Michinoku Pro Wrestling
1997  | Naoya Ogawa | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1998  | Alexander Otsuka | Battlarts
2002  | Hidehiko Yoshida | Pride Fighting Championships
2004  | Akira Hokuto | Kensuke Office
2005  | Yinling | Hustle
2006  | Mecha Mummy  | Union Pro Wrestling
2024  | Dump Matsumoto
Bull Nakano
Mayu Iwatani | --

## Inactive awards

[edit]

### Lifetime Achievement Award (特別功労賞, Tokubetsu kōrō-shō)

[edit]

Mitsuharu Misawa was awarded the category following his death in 2009 Year  | Winner

|

1978  | Isao Yoshihara
1979  | Joe Higuchi
Kotetsu Yamamoto
Masafumi Suzuki
1983  | Hisashi Shinma
Terry Funk
1988  | Bruiser Brody
1989  | Antonio Inoki
1990  | Seiji Sakaguchi
1991  | Dynamite Kid
1999  | Giant Baba
2000  | Jumbo Tsuruta
Stan Hansen
2009  | Mitsuharu Misawa
2010  | Joe Higuchi
Kantaro Hoshino
Kotetsu Yamamoto
Rusher Kimura
2013  | Kenta Kobashi
2019  | Atsushi Aoki
2021  | Rumi Kazama
2022  | Antonio Inoki

### Wrestling Special Award (レスリング特別賞, Resuringu tokubetsu-shō)

[edit]

A special award, this award is typically given to Japanese champions in United World Wrestling World Wrestling Championships, or in the Olympic Games.

Kaori Icho is a record eleven-time winner of the category Year  | Winner

|

1998  | Atsuko Shinomura
Kyoko Hamaguchi
Miyu Ikeda
1999  | Ayako Shōda
Kyoko Hamaguchi
Seiko Yamamoto
2000  | Hitomi Sakamoto
Katsuhiko Nagata
Seiko Yamamoto
2001  | Hitomi Sakamoto
Seiko Yamamoto
2002  | Kaori Icho
Kyoko Hamaguchi
Saori Yoshida
2003  | Chiharu Icho
Kaori Icho
Kazuhiko Ikematsu
Kyoko Hamaguchi
Saori Yoshida
Seiko Yamamoto
2004  | Chiharu Icho
Chikara Tanabe
Kaori Icho
Kenji Inoue
Kyoko Hamaguchi
Saori Yoshida
2005  | Ayako Shōda
Hitomi Sakamoto
Kaori Icho
Kyoko Hamaguchi
Makiko Sakamoto
2006  | Ayako Sanada
Chiharu Icho
Hitomi Sakamoto
Kaori Icho
Kyoko Hamaguchi
Noriyuki Takatsuka
Saori Yoshida
2009  | Mio Nishimaki
Saori Yoshida
Tatsuhiro Yonemitsu
Yuri Kai
2011  | Hitomi Obara
Kaori Icho
Saori Yoshida
2012  | Hitomi Obara
Kaori Icho
Saori Yoshida
Tatsuhiro Yonemichi
2013  | Eri Tosaka
Kaori Icho
Saori Yoshida
2014  | Chiho Hamada
Eri Tosaka
Kaori Icho
Saori Yoshida
2015  | Eri Tosaka
Kaori Icho
Saori Yoshida
2016  | Eri Tosaka
Kaori Icho
Risako Kawai
Sara Dosho
2017  | Haruna Okuno
Kenichiro Fumita
Risako Kawai
Sara Dosho
Yui Susaki
Yuki Takahashi
2018  | Haruna Okuno
Takuto Otoguro
Mayu Mukaida
Risako Kawai
Yui Susaki
2019  | Risako Kawai
Shinobu Ota
Kenichiro Fumita

### Best Foreigner Award (最優秀外人賞, Saiyūshū gaijin-shō)

[edit]

Hulk Hogan is a one-time winner of the category Year  | Winner  | Promotion

|
|

1982  | Stan Hansen | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1983  | Hulk Hogan | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1985  | The Road Warriors | All Japan Pro Wrestling

### Best Referee Award (優秀レフェリー賞, Yūshū referī-shō)

[edit]

Year  | Winner  | Promotion

|
|

1986  | Kyohei Wada | All Japan Pro Wrestling

### Effort Award (努力賞, Doryoku-shō)

[edit]

Year  | Winner  | Promotion

|
|

1974  | Isamu Teranishi
Koma Mashimo
Kotetsu Yamamoto | International Wrestling Enterprise
All Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1975  | Akihisa Takachiho
Snake Amami
Yoshiaki Fujiwara | All Japan Pro Wrestling
International Wrestling Enterprise
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1976  | Masanobu Fuchi
Ryuma Go
Shoji Kai  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
International Wrestling Enterprise
1977  | Goro Tsurumi
Riki Choshu
Rocky Hata | International Wrestling Enterprise
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
All Japan Pro Wrestling
1978  | Kazuharu Sonoda
Keiji Ishikawa
Kuniaki Kobayashi
Snake Amami  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
All Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
International Wrestling Enterprise
1979  | Atsushi Onita
Makoto Arakawa
Masahiko Takasugi  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
International Wrestling Enterprise
1980  | George Takano
Mach Hayato
Prince Tonga | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
International Wrestling Enterprise
All Japan Pro Wrestling
1981  | Akira Maeda
Animal Hamaguchi
Keiji Ishikawa  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
International Wrestling Enterprise
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1982  | Shiro Koshinaka
Yoshiaki Fujiwara  | All Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1983  | Masanobu Fuchi
Nobuhiko Takada | All Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro-Wrestling

### Popularity Award (大衆賞, Taishū-shō)

[edit]

The Destroyer is a one-time winner of the category Year  | Winner  | Promotion

|
|

1975  | The Destroyer | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1976  | Giant Baba
1978  | Abdullah the Butcher
Umanosuke Ueda | All Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1979  | Terry Funk | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1980  | Abdullah the Butcher
Stan Hansen | All Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1981  | Tiger Mask | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1983  | The Great Kabuki | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1988  | Giant Baba
Rusher Kimura

### Service Award (功労賞, Kōrō-shō)

[edit]

Year  | Winner

|

1981  | Motoyuki Kitazawa
Snake Amami
1982  | Mr. Hayashi
Yonetaro Tanaka
1987  | Animal Hamaguchi
Great Kojika
Sonoda Haru
1988  | Masanobu Kurisu
Shunji Kosugi
1989  | Takashi Ishikawa
1993  | Motoshi Okuma
1994  | Ashura Hara
1995  | Kantaro Hoshino
1997  | Joe Higuchi
Megumi Kudo
Riki Choshu
1999  | Hiro Matsuda
Jackie Sato
Jumbo Tsuruta
Masa Saito
Yoshinosato
2000  | Kuniaki Kobayashi
Masakatsu Funaki
2001  | Osamu Kido
Yoshihiro Momota
2002  | Motoko Baba
Thunder Sugiyama
2003  | Kodo Fuyuki
Mitsu Hirai
2006  | Black Cat
Haruka Eigen
Kintarō Ōki
Rusher Kimura
2007  | Karl Gotch
2008  | Great Kusatsu
2009  | Takashi Matsunaga
Ted Tanabe
2016  | Hayabusa

### Special Award (特別賞, Tokubetsu-shō)

[edit]

Animal Hamaguchi won the category for his training in 1997 Year  | Winner  | Promotion

|
|

1974  | Mighty Inoue | International Wrestling Enterprise
1986  | Hiroshi Wajima | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1989  | Atsushi Onita
The Great Muta | Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
1993  | All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
1994  | Akira Hokuto | All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
1997  | Animal Hamaguchi | Hamaguchi Gym
2001  | Tajiri | World Wrestling Federation
2003  | Seiji Sakaguchi | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
2017  | Jurina Matsui | Tofu Puroresu

### Special Grand Prize (特別大賞, Tokubetsu taishō)

[edit]

Year  | Winner  | Promotion

|
|

1983  | Antonio Inoki
Giant Baba | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
All Japan Pro Wrestling
1987  | Antonio Inoki vs. Masa Saito (October 4)  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling
1988  | Akira Maeda | Universal Wrestling Federation
1992  | Mitsuharu Misawa | All Japan Pro Wrestling
1995  | New Japan Pro-Wrestling vs. UWF International (October 9)

## See also

[edit]

* List of professional wrestling awards

## References

[edit]

General

* "Winners 1974–1979". Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 3, 2022.
* "Winners 1980–1989". Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 31, 2021.
* "Winners 1990–1999". Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 26, 2022.
* "Winners 2000–2009". Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 30, 2022.
* "Winners 2010–2021". Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 3, 2022.

Specific

1. ^ Meltzer, Dave (December 20, 2004). "Wrestling Observer Newsletter". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California. p. 3\. ISSN 1083-9593.
2. ^ 諏訪魔選手、石川修司選手が2017年度 東京スポーツ新聞社制定「プロレス大賞」最優秀タッグチーム賞 受賞!!. All Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). December 14, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
3. ^ 「2017年も、我々が様々な話題を提供します！」“MVP”内藤哲也が東京スポーツ『プロレス大賞』受賞式で、さらなるL・I・J旋風を宣言！【報告】. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). January 19, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
4. ^ 東京スポーツ新聞社制定 2011年「プロレス大賞」受賞に際し各選手コメント. Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). December 14, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
5. ^ 東京スポーツ プロレス大賞. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). Retrieved December 14, 2017.
6. ^ 【プロレス大賞】創設以来初の「新人賞該当者なし」. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). December 8, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
7. ^ 【プロレス大賞】ＭＶＰ内藤 ベストバウト級の好試合を連発した“新日プロの救世主”. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). December 14, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
8. ^ Meltzer, Dave (December 15, 2014). "Dec. 15, 2014 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: CM Punk to UFC 181, Tokyo Sports Awards, Jimmy Del Ray bio and much more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California. p. 18\. ISSN 1083-9593.
9. ^ 女子プロレス大賞 ６年ぶり該当者なし. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). December 9, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
10. ^ Meltzer, Dave (December 18, 2017). "December 18, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: The metamorphosis of Chris Jericho, GSP vacates title, more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California. p. 10\. ISSN 1083-9593.