AJPW Wrestler Atsushi Aoki Passes Away After Motorcycle Accident
He was 41 years old.
All Japan Pro Wrestling's Atsushi Aoki has passed away following a motorcycle accident in Tokyo. He was 41 years old.
The story was originally reported by Japan's Kyodo News, then translated by Chris Charlton. Aoki was riding his bike near Kitanomaru Park in Tokyo's Chiyoda ward when the vehicle failed to take a curve, resulting in him colliding with the side wall around the expressway. Though the cause of death is yet to be revealed, Aoki, who was wearing a helmet, passed away at the hospital.
The Jun Akiyama-trained wrestler got his start in the business in 2005. Pro Wrestling NOAH was his first home, and he became a two-time GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion there, before departing for AJPW with Akiyama and three others in January 2013.
The NOAH invaders formed a stable named Burning, and Aoki would go on to reign as a three-time All Asia Tag Team Champion and a three-time Junior Heavyweight Champion, with his last title win coming on 20 May. He was still holding the singles belt at the time of passing.
We here at WhatCulture offer our deepest condolences to Aoki's friends and family during this difficult time.