254. Minoru Suzuki
We like to think of Minoru Suzuki as the Chuck Norris of professional wrestling. The older he gets, the more the legend of his toughness grows.
Minoru Suzuki was trained in the New Japan dojo, but he branched off to mixed martial arts and was the co-founder of Pancrase the shoot wrestling promotion that remains in existence to this day. Suzuki stayed in Pancrase for a decade but returned to Professional Wrestling in 2003 as a freelancer, which as of this writing he is still doing today. Suzuki has collected championships in Pro Wrestling Noah, All-Japan and New Japan and despite being in his early 50’s is one of the scariest and most over wrestlers in the country.
The Bullet Points
- Billed From: Yokohama, Japan
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Key Championships Held:
King of Pancrase
IWGP World Tag Team w/Yoshihiro Takayama
GHC Tag Team w/Yoshihiro Takayama
All Japan Triple Crown (2)
All Japan World Tag Team w/Taiyo Kea
All Asia Tag Team w/Nosawa Rongai
Champion Carnival (2009 & 2010)
G1 Tag League w/Lance Archer
GHC Heavyweight
GHC Global League
IWGP NEVER Openweight
IWGP Intercontinental
Rev Pro British Heavyweight
Rev Pro Undisputed British Tag Team - Why they will get in: If the WWE HOF cares about innovation, Minoru Suzuki is a lock.
- Why they won't get in: Much of the usual. He never competed in the WWE
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Five Greatest Matches/Moments:
- Defeated Ken Shamrock for the King of Pancrase Title 5/13/95
- Beat Taiyo Kea for the All Japan Triple Crown Championship 9/3/06
- Challenged Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title. He lost, but it was named the Match of the Year by the Observer 10/8/12
- Won the GHC Heavyweight Title from Naomichi Marufuji 3/15/15
- Defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship 1/27/18
Should Minoru Suzuki be in the Hall of Fame?
Definitely put him in! - 55.6%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 22.2%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 0%
No opinion. - 0%
No way! - 22.2%
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