[AJPW] Atsushi Aoki Passes Away Following Motorcycle Accident

The current AJPW World Jr. champion, Atsushi Aoki, has passed away at the age of 41. Aoki was involved in a single-vehicle motorcycle accident in Tokyo Monday night.

New Japan color commentator, Chris Charlton has been providing English translations of local media coverage.

From Kyodo, Atsushi Aoki’s accident happened in the Chiyoda area of Tokyo last night. His bike failed to take a curve and hit the wall of a tunnel.

— chris charlton (@reasonjp) June 4, 2019

His passing was noted by New Japan Pro Wrestling earlier this morning:

New Japan Pro Wrestling was deeply saddened today by the tragic passing of All Japan Pro Wrestling's Atsushi Aoki. Our deepest sympathies go to his friends, family and fans.

— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) June 4, 2019

Atsushi Aoki Pro-Wrestling Career

Aoki had spent the last 6 years with All Japan Pro Wrestling. He started his career in Pro Wrestling NOAH. He was trained by Jun Akiyama, who he would follow to AJPW from Pro Wrestling NOAH in 2013 as part of the “Burning” stable.

In All Japan, Aoki is a former 3x All Asia tag team champion along with Hikaru Sato (2x) and Kotaro Suzuki (1x). Aoki is a former 4x World Junior Heavyweight champion in the promotion, won the Jr. Battle of Glory in 2016 and has won the tag team version of the tournament 3x with Hikaru Sato.

In Pro Wrestling NOAH, Aoki is a 2x former GHC junior heavyweight tag champion along with Naomichi Marufuji (1x) and Kotaro Suzuki (1x).

In 2006, Aoki was voted as the Rookie of the Year by the readers of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.