Tetsuya Naito has been named Tokyo Sports’ pro-wrestling MVP for 2023, following his victory in the G1 Climax tournament and his match against Keiji Muto, which was Muto’s last official bout before his retirement in February. This is Naito’s fourth overall MVP award and his first since 2020. The awards ceremony also recognized Hiromu Takahashi for his outstanding performance, Bishamon as the Best Tag Team, and Tam Nakano as the female MVP.
Naito expressed his gratitude for receiving the MVP award at a press conference in Tokyo. He reflected on his matches throughout the year, including his singles matches against Kenoh and Shota Umino, as well as his retirement match against Keiji Muto. Naito acknowledged that although he won the G1 Climax, he felt he didn’t stand out as much as he would have liked. He also mentioned his respect for SANADA, who has held the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship since April but received only two votes for MVP.
Despite not having a title match in 2023, Naito emphasized the significance of winning the MVP award. He acknowledged that Hiromu Takahashi, who was expected to win the award due to his involvement in the title hunt, might be disappointed. Naito encouraged Hiromu to continue striving for success. He also commented on the match of the year award, which was won by Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Great Muta at NOAH on January 1. Naito expressed his interest in watching the match and acknowledged the difficulty in determining the best match of the year.
Regarding his fourth MVP award, Naito stated that he is more focused on the present and his current standing in the world of pro-wrestling. He expressed his pride in winning the MVP award and his desire to be the wrestler that comes to mind when people think of pro-wrestling. Naito also downplayed the importance of surpassing Okada and Inoki’s records for MVP awards, stating that he has never given it much thought.
Looking ahead to 2024, Naito shared his goal of becoming a champion and traveling to different venues, with fans chanting “de Japon” alongside him. He expressed his excitement about the upcoming year and hoped that fans would enjoy his journey.
In addition to Naito’s MVP award, Bishamon, consisting of Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI, won the Best Tag Team award. Goto expressed his gratitude for receiving his first-ever award after 20 years in the industry. YOSHI-HASHI also expressed his surprise and appreciation for being recognized as part of the best team. Hiromu Takahashi was recognized for his outstanding performance, and although his publicist prepared a statement, Hiromu’s actual comment was more explicit.
Overall, the Tokyo Sports pro-wrestling MVP awards for 2023 celebrated the accomplishments and contributions of various wrestlers in the industry. Tetsuya Naito’s victory in the G1 Climax and his match against Keiji Muto solidified his position as one of the top wrestlers of the year. As we enter 2024, fans can look forward to witnessing Naito’s journey to become a champion and the continued success of other talented wrestlers in the industry.