Minoru Suzuki (鈴木 実 Suzuki Minoru?, ring name: 鈴木 みのる)[1][2][3][4] is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who is currently working for New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) as a freelancer.
Suzuki was the co-founder of Pancrase, one of the first mixed martial arts organizations in the world. During the 1990s, he was known as one of the best fighters in the Pancrase promotion and was the second King of Pancrase world champion. Suzuki returned to regular puroresu in 2003, where he has become a perennial top contender for all major Japanese heavyweight championships. He is also known for his time in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where he is two-time Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, and Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is a one-time GHC Heavyweight Champion.
A MMA pioneer, Suzuki is well noted for his excellence in freestyle wrestling and catch wrestling, and has been praised many times by elite fighters such as Josh Barnett, Bas Rutten, and Ken Shamrock for his outstanding grappling and submission skills.
In wrestling[]
- Finishing moves
- Saka Otoshi (Inverted facelock takeover followed into a rear naked choke)
- Sleeper hold
- Gotch Piledriver (Cradle piledriver)
- Signature moves
- Hard slaps to the opponent's face
- Octopus hold, sometimes to a seated opponent
- Running low-angle dropkick to an opponent seated in the corner