Vietnam Pro Wrestling - 2024 Year-End Awards

If our write-up of Vietnam’s hottest night out wasn’t enough, we’ve also got a rundown of the official winners of the VPW Awards for 2024.

Wrestler of the Year: Ares

As mentioned in our review, 2024 has been a year of two halves for Ares. Losing his newly won VPW Openweight Championship to Rocky Huynh in his first defense at Brawl Hallow’s Eve 2024, Ares was spurred on to show an even more aggressive side. Over the next year, he secured wins against Paradise Sports Entertainment’s top guy Sunny Z, Rikyoh The Vinh, Hy Draco (where he became the main man for top manager Phuong Nam), and New Zealander Michael Richards, before dominating Rocky Huynh to reclaim his title a year later.

Unfortunately, Ares’ hot-headedness cost him dearly, as he was quickly defeated by Hy Draco to end his second reign as champion.

Despite this mixed record, Ares delivered a fantastic portfolio of hard-hitting matches. With his size, speed, and dominance, the Mekong-adjacent muscle man has solidified his position as one of VPW’s top attractions.

Tag Team of the Year: The Classic Night

The VPW tag team division has been on fire this year, featuring local teams like Venomshank, The Classic Night, The Saigon Hunters, and the reunited Vung Tau Experience, alongside appearances from incredible regional talents such as the Juicy Boyz and Jack N’ Cheese.

It’s a sweet surprise that Billy and Bobby of The Classic Night earned the top spot. Venomshank had been the standout team at the end of 2023, winning the tag team titles and using their signature mist to dominate opponents. However, at Ultimate Collision, they were unexpectedly defeated in a four-way match by the reunited Vung Tau Experience.

While Venomshank continued to entertain in singles action, VTX found themselves matched against The Classic Night, who were determined to break out from their reputation as just “X Pats’ buddies.”

The turning point came at The Rumble, where VTX and The Classic Night delivered a masterclass in wrestling psychology. Their match, reminiscent of 1980s NWA Tag Team Title bouts, tore the house down. Since then, The Classic Night has blended comedy and action seamlessly, thrilling crowds at Brawl Hallow’s Eve and earning Bobby a memorable singles victory over international terrorizer G Sharpe at Immortal Glory.

Congratulations to the winners and the deserving runners-up in this highly competitive division.

International Wrestler of the Year: Yuki Kamifuku

VPW welcomed numerous captivating stars in 2024, but none dazzled quite like TJPW regular Yuki Kamifuku.

During her time in VPW, Yuki reignited a rivalry that has spanned borders—more than a knockoff VHS of Big Egg Universe in the ’90s. Their match was straight to the point, showcased the immense talent of both athletes, and left VPW fans beaming.

After lifting the VPW Women’s Championship that night, Yuki has yet to return to Vietnam to defend the title. However, she has proudly represented VPW, defending the belt in Japan, the Philippines, and China. In doing so, she has elevated the VPW Women’s Championship to the status of a fully-fledged world title.

Stay tuned for our next issue, where we’ll dive deep into the women shaping Southeast Asian wrestling.

Match of the Year: The Devil’s Playground Match - British Horror vs. Khoa Truong

AND

Holy S**t Moment of the Year: Khoa Truong’s Fall During the Devil’s Playground Match**

We’ve already praised this one enough in our review, but it’s worth repeating—what an absolute banger of a match! Kudos to British Horror and Khoa Truong for delivering an unforgettable contest.

Congratulations to all winners!

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