Magazine Archive: The Legend of Minoru Suzuki and His 2021 USA Tour

From Fightful Magazine Issue 6

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What does owning a luxury sock boutique, being a Hugo Boss model and inventing the mixed martial art of Pancrase have in common? The enigmatic and legendary Minoru Suzuki of course.

As a fabled heel, Suzuki has a name in wrestling that strikes fear and respect into his competitors and fans alike. It’s not normal to see athletes going into a match knowing they willget hurt. But that is 100% the case when going up against a seasoned wrestler and fighter like Suzuki. If “wrestling is fake”, Suzuki didn’t get the memo because wrestling him is very, very real.

With over 30 years of experience, Suzuki only seems to get more terrifying with age, and when the world shut down due to the global pandemic, Suzuki found himself in an interesting spot: either stay in Japan and perform to half full, silent arenas, or travel the U.S. working with some kick ass talent in venues packed with screaming fans who had never had the chance to see him live inside the ring.

So why did this wrestling legend go from headlining the Tokyo Dome to stunning a sold-out crowd in Atlantic City with deathmatch king and former inmate Nick Gage? Because if there’s one thing Minoru Suzuki loves more than anything, it’s fighting.

Early Inspiration

Surprising to anyone who knows the man today, during his childhood Suzuki was often bullied by other kids. Inspired by the legendary Japanese wrestlerAntonio Inokito become strong and overcome any challenge, Suzuki started training in amateur wrestling in high school, seeing his first bout in 1986. In an otherwise non-descript match, no one could’ve predicted it was the start of a decades long rivalry when Suzuki beat Yuji Nagataas high school seniors. But holding grudges, often for decades, is part of Suzuki’s complex character.

By Suzuki’s own admission, he wanted to enroll with New Japan when he was 15 to wrestleHulk Hogan and avenge Hogan’s defeat of Inoki, but he was rejected for his small size. Suzuki started training amateur wrestling with the hope of being scouted by NJPW in turn, and eventually got in through the famed Victor Koga.

It was early on that the ruthless character of Minoru began to form. In one story, back when he was an apprentice, Inoki always told Suzuki to never give his back during sparring and to attack his opponent’s whenever he had the opportunity. The young Suzuki decided to take this literally, and one day when he saw Inoki standing with his back to him, he punched him from behind with the excuse of simply following orders. Inoki and his other trainers then gave him a beating for the trouble although they apparently never turned their back on him again.

It was these initial lessons that Minoru carried with him into his 30-year career, telling Sports Illustrated – “never lie, never cheat and always work hard – and that is what I do,” a philosophy at odds with his often dastardly in-ring character.

Transitioning to MMA

After debuting in New Japan in 1988, Suzuki only stayed in the promotion for a year and followed his mentor Yoshiaki Fujiwarato the Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF). Only a few years later in 1993, Suzuki and Masakatsu Funaki– another yet to become pro wrestling legend – left Fujiwara’s group due to it deviating too much from the preferred shoot style. Inspired by Inoki’s match against Muhammad Aliin 1976, Funaki and Suzuki realized that Japanese fans would pay to see real matches with non-worked outcomes and founded Pancrase, the second MMA promotion in history, named after the ancient Greek Olympic event Pankration (essentially ancient Greek MMA).

Looking back at some of Suzuki’s best Pancrase battles, it’s interesting to see him dawning a totally different look in his MMA days with a full head of hair and a physique straight out of an underwear catalogue. But looks aside (let’s not forget he was a model for Hugo Boss), MiSu’s brutal striking style in combination with more technical wrestling moves made it impossible to avoid a lashing from the king, even in victory.

Endowed with almost supernatural wrestling ability, Suzuki was known primarily as a grappler, compensating his “non-traditional” size with a highly mobile, position-switching style paired with brutal strikes, wrenching holds and a love of violence second to none. As one of the most dangerous men in MMA, Suzuki became a celebrity in Japan, but never quite achieved the mainstream stardom of other athletes. But Minoru was never as concerned with fame as his counterparts.

Suzuki was the kind of fighter who looked to be the best and never gave up no matter what, which ultimately played against him in the long term. He ended his MMA career with a 30-20 record, which may not sound impressive – but considering Suzuki was one of the smallest men in the promotion and how prone to injuries he became in Pancrase, fans will never forget his unusual but effective offensive arsenal and impenetrable holds.

A Return to Wrestling

Shortly after retiring from MMA, Suzuki returned to pro wrestling as the same character we see him today: super serious, doesn’t play well with others, and more terrifying than ever before. He worked with New Japan and then Pro Wrestling Noah before making a surprise appearance with All Japan in 2006, attacking then Triple Crown Heavyweight ChampionSatoshi Kojima.

Within the year, Suzuki had taken the Triple Crown title and had epic matches against the likes of Masakatsu Funaki and The Great Muta, using an even more aggressive style born from his MMA career. And in 2007 Suzuki embarked on his first tour of Mexico, growing his nearly mythical status as one of the world’s best.

Then everything changed again. At Wrestle Kingdom V in 2011, the legendary Satoshi Kojima lost his title, beginning his fall as leader of villainous heel stableKojima-Gun(Kojima’s Army). This culminated five months later when, after another loss, stable members Taichiand Taka Michinokuturned on Kojima, leading to the shocking return of Suzuki, who cleared house and was declared the new leader of a renamed Suzuki-Gun. Returning to New Japan, the reborn Suzuki began tearing through anyone in his path. He grew his Suzuki-Gun stable, and at one point five out of seven members held titles, striking fear in both Japan and abroad wherever they went.

His own sights set on gold, Suzuki started teaming with Yoshihiro Takayama, and they won the IWGP Tag Team Championship. Unfortunately, in 2017 an injury left Takayama paralyzed from the shoulders down.  Suzuki then founded and promoted “Takayamania”, a foundation created to help Takayama with medical costs. Suzuki to this day still personally collects funds at shows in a tin can, and brings it back home to donate in person, showing a humility and respect often lost in today’s wrestlers. In fact, his charitable streak goes back throughout his career, organizing relief for earthquake and tsunami survivors over 20+ years.

Even though Minoru is feared by many (even when facing off against other heels) – and by all accounts, he’s a rough and terrifying opponent to work with in the squared circle – Suzuki is also humbler than most, very charitable with a big heart, which adds even more depth to him as a wrestling character, and as a person.

Coming To America

Passing up the opportunity to participate in the 2021 NJPW G1 Climax tournament isn’t something many wrestlers would dare do –unless you are one of the rare New Japan freelancing icons like MiSu, who popped up all over the U.S. over a few months span this year.

Due to complicated COVID quarantine requirements, it was revealed in an interview with New Japan Strong that he wasn’t contracted with NJPW anymore and let fans know exactly why he was heading to the U.S. instead of remaining in Japan for Climax. “When it came down to it, going to America was the bigger challenge and adventure to me personally than the G1,” Suzuki said. “That’s why I chose the US. It’s not a value judgement. I said before, right? I’m not contracted. I’m not a New Japan guy. I choose all my own paths, take responsibility for all my own actions and live the way I want.”

Landing state-side during AEW’s hot-streak of “forbidden door” appearances, Suzuki made his AEW debut at All Out, then appeared on Dynamite and Rampage, battling Jon Moxleyand later Bryan Danielson in must-see, hard-hitting matches.

While entrance music isn’t usually enough to fight over, the sorrowful “Kaza Ni Nare” is part of Suzuki’s old-school charm, presented without a shred of irony.  Its emotionally wrought chorus has had fans singing at the top of their lungs in stark contrast to the methodical violence Suzuki inflicts on his unfortunate opponents. As Suzuki walked to the ring to face Moxley at All Out, his song was cut short, thereby (inadvertently?) adding more fuel to that fiery match up that had already been brewing since Moxley defeated Suzuki for the IWGP U.S. Title in New Japan.

Keen to perform as much as possible, Suzuki also worked NJPW Strong tapings in Texas and Philadelphia, part of his philosophy to take on anyone, anywhere, regardless of promotion. His endless work ethic led a series of impressive appearances in indie promotions against the likes ofJonathan Gresham, Nick Gage, Dominic Garrini, Joey Janella and others – which for a 53-year-old veteran was staggering.

Don’t think these were “legends” style, two-minute matches either. Suzuki put on clinics in every style he’s mastered over his career. In battling Gresham at Game Changer Wrestling (GCW)’s Highest in the Room in Los Angeles, the former ROH Pure Champion’s technical wrestling skills led to some striking stylistic parallels between these two shared in the ring. Suzuki then faced off against fellow wrestling legend Homicide at GCW’s Get Lost Alot a week later in New York, captivating the audience yet again with a “bit of the old ultra-violence” as they say.

Perhaps Suzuki’s most shocking appearance in GCW was at War Ready back in LA against the now uber popular Nick Gage, who was obviously more than willing to take an absolute beating from Minoru. Even the infamous bad boy himself Joey Janella proudly took some of the most brutal chops and straight up shoot fight style moves, culminating in one of Janella’s best matches of the year at GCW’s The Aftermath in New Jersey.

Other promotions that were graced with MiSu during his U.S. tour included Glory Pro Wrestling (GPW) in St. Louis, Timebomb Pro Wrestling (TPW) in Minnesota, Premiere Wrestling Xperience (PWX) in St. Louis, and even a trios match alongside Mooseand W. Morrisseyagainst Josh Alexander, Eddie Edwardsand Matt Cardonaat IMPACT in Las Vegas.

This ‘80s-movie like string of wildly different opponents proved one thing: even though “Murder Grandpa” may not be in the same shape he once was in Pancrase, he’s still more than willing to travel across the globe to go head-to-head against anyone in his way.

The world knows Minoru Suzuki as a man addicted to violence; a remorseless heel who strikes down anybody in his path, or makes victorious foes pay in bruises and blood. A scowling, unrelenting monster who delights in abusing his opponents. A true villain.

But his 2021 U.S. tour proved Suzuki to be much more.

Though his career achievements are more than enough for many, he was willing to travel across the USA during a pandemic, showing fans that beneath the surface lies a fascinating man whose love of the sport transcends the ego too many wrestlers acquire in their “legendary” years. A man who holds grudges for decades, but who will also personally collect donations for friends. A man who lives to inflict violence, but who needs the uplifting words of a sorrowful ballad before he fights. A hard hitter, but a harder worker. A man who will do anything to win, but who will give up everything for the fans so they can see him wrestle. And of course, a man who above anything else loves a great pair of high thread count luxury socks.

All of these are Minoru Suzuki.

By staying true to his love of the business and the fans, Suzuki may finally become the hero in his own story.