(NOAH/TOKYO SPORTS PRO WRESTLING AWARDS) "I guess I've become a respected wrestler", The Fighting Spirit Award goes to Noah's GHC Heavyweight Champion, Kenoh

13th December 2023 

Tokyo Sports

The selection committee for the "2023 Pro Wrestling Awards" established by Tokyo Sports, which celebrated its 50th anniversary, was held on the 12th, and Noah's GHC Heavyweight Champion, Kenoh (38), won the Fighting Spirit Award for the first time. Last year, he was furious that there was no winner from Noah and called the award itself the "Sontaku Grand Prize", and criticized the then GHC Heavyweight Champion Kaito Kiyomiya as a "Inconsiderate champion*" (rough, see notes). One year has passed since then and he couldn't hide his joy at being selected for a Pro Wrestling Award for the first time, saying, "I guess I have finally become a respected wrestler, and the number of people in the media who are trying to make a living out of me has increased". The selection committee also praised him for his pro-active approach to working with other promotions. Kenoh analyzed this as, "I'm happy because it means that the media has praised me for not only Noah, but All Japan Pro Wrestling and DragonGate as well, so I guess the media is evaluating me more than Noah". Also, the power of communication of his using his YouTube channel, has also attracted attention. Kenoh recalled that "To some extent, I feel like I was able to get people who don't know about pro wrestling interested. I was happy to hear that people who watched my YouTube videos got interested and went not only to see me, but other promotions as well". 

At the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on January 2nd next year, the main event will be given over to Naomichi Marufuji vs Kota Ibushi, and his first defense match will take place in the semis against Manabu Soya. Kenoh clenched his fist and said, "Next year, I have to become a wrestler than even Noah respects and to that end, I definitely want to win on January 2nd". 

Note (I have left these two words in Japanese due to translation difficulties)

"Sontaku": Original phrase does not translate well into English. In Japanese this means something like trying to carry out and interpret someone's intentions, this is usually used in business circles when it comes to underlings and seniors

"Sodon": Guessing the other persons feelings and trying to be considerate. Again, translation is difficult in English.  

Translated from Tokyo Sports

Picture credit: Tokyo Sports