Former GHC Tag Team Champion Atsushi Aoki Passes Away After Motorcycle Accident
It has been confirmed by several outlets that Atsushi Aoki has passed away.
As reported by Nikkan Sports and several other Japan-based news outlets, former 3-time All Asia Tag Team Champion Atsushi Aoki passed away by way of a motorcycle accident. The report from Nikkan Sports notes that at 10:30 PM on June 3rd (JST), Aoki was involved in a accident in the tunnel of the capitol expressway in Tokyo and he later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. It is also noted that he was unable to turn a curve and that is what led to the accident. Aoki was on his way to work before the incident occurred.
プロレスラー青木篤志さん死亡 首都高でバイク事故、壁に激突かhttps://t.co/cZn7qcerCq #青木篤志さん #全日本プロレス
— 日刊スポーツ (@nikkansports) June 4, 2019
Shocked. I’m reading that Atsushi Aoki has passed away in Japan after a motorcycle accident. I had the privilege to share the ring with Aoki many times. Phenomenally talented, good hearted. Damn. This is stunning. https://t.co/xBviFx5005
— KASSIUS (KASH-US) (@KassiusOhno) June 4, 2019
Atsushi was 41 years old and he began wrestling in high school as a part of his school’s wrestling team and then began training at the Pro Wrestling NOAH dojo in 2005. He made appearances for Dragon Gate and Zero-1 MAX early in his career. Atsushi had a run in AAA in 2010 and joined All Japan Pro Wrestling in 2013 and has been with the promotion since. Aoki last wrestled on June 2nd of this year in a tag match for AJPW’s Super Power Series.
Here are more articles and tributes to Atsushi Aoki:
Really Saddened to hear of the tragic passing of Atsushi Aoki.
I had the chance to wrestle him and be around him training and at shows. a top pro who from watching him and training with him made me get the most out of everything.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/Q5QZMl3j8g
— Joe Coffey (@Joe_Coffey) June 4, 2019
2/2
I was hoping somewhere down the road we would have got to lock up and do it again
A pleasure to be around and in the ring with.
Rest In Peace
Atsushi Aoki.— Joe Coffey (@Joe_Coffey) June 4, 2019
Incredibly sad. Sending love to all of Aoki’s friends, family and fans pic.twitter.com/cfwEkP4VGR
— KASSIUS (KASH-US) (@KassiusOhno) June 4, 2019
プロレスラーの青木篤志さん死亡 首都高でバイク事故 https://t.co/tJoOWJsReQ
— 47NEWS (@47news) June 4, 2019
Fightful would like to send our condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Atsushi Aoki.
