Minoru Suzuki (Suzuki Minoru, 鈴木 実; stage name 鈴木みのる) is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. During the 1990s he was known as one of the best fighters in the Pancrase promotion, but returned to regular puroresu in 2003, where he has become a perennial top contender for all major Japanese heavyweight championships^{[citation needed]}. Japanese writing Kanji 漢字 Kana 仮名 Hiragana 平仮名 Katakana 片仮名 Uses Furigana 振り仮名 Okurigana 送り仮名 Rōmaji ローマ字 Hiragana ) are a Japanese syllabary, one of the four Japanese writing systems, along with katakana, kanji and rōmaji (i. ... June 17 is the 168th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (169th in leap years), with 197 days remaining. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... Japans tallest building, the Landmark Tower, is in the Minato Mirai 21 district of Yokohama. ... June 23 is the 174th day of the year (175 th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 191 days remaining. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A stage name or a screen name is a pseudonym used by performers - such as actors, athletes, comedians, musicians and clowns. ... ... Victory in MMA is often the result of a knockout or submission. ... See also 1990s, the band The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive, sometimes informally including popular culture from 2000 and 2001. ... Pancrase or Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling as an organization was founded in Japan in 1993 by Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Career

Trained at the New Japan Pro Wrestling dojo, he made his debut in 1988, but pretty soon left with mentor Yoshiaki Fujiwara for the newborn UWF. He then joined Fujiwara's Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi but then formed Pancrase in 1993 with Masakatsu Funaki. In Pancrase he was one of the most successful fighters, winning the King of Pancrase (now KOP Open-Weight) title. Though he dropped bouts to Bas Rutten, Frank Shamrock and Funaki, he twice defeated Ken Shamrock and is the only man to hold two wins over Shamrock in the Pancrase arena. New Japan Pro Wrestling (新日本プロレス, shin nihon puroresu) is a major professional wrestling federation in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in 1972. ... Yoshiaki Fujiwara applying the Fujiwara armbar Yoshiaki Fujiwara (藤原喜明 Fujiwara Yoshiaki) is a Japanese professional wrestler who has worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE, and UWF. // Career Fujiwara was the first graduate of the New Japan Pro Wrestling dojo (Mr. ... The original Japanese-based Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF) was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion from 1984 to 1986, formed by wrestlers who had left New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Group (Purofesshonaru-resuringu Fujiwara-Gumi, プロフェッショナルレスリング藤原組) was a shoot style professional wrestling promotion based in Japan, operating from 1991 to 1995. ... Pancrase or Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling as an organization was founded in Japan in 1993 by Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Masakatsu Funaki is a well-known Japanese professional wrestler who performed in New Japan Pro Wrestling, PWFG, as well as the UWF and its later incarnation, the UWFi. ... Bas Rutten (February 24, 1965 -) is an actor and retired Dutch mixed martial arts fighter. ... Frank Shamrock (born Frank Alisio Juarez III on December 8, 1972 in Santa Monica, California) is an American mixed martial arts fighter. ... Funaki (船木) is a Japanese family name, belonging to: Shoichi Funaki, (1968-) professional wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), formerly of Michinoku Pro Masakatsu Funaki, (1969-) professional wrestler and pride fighter, co-founder of Pancrase Kazuyoshi Funaki, (1975-) ski jumper and Olympic gold medalist This is a disambiguation page: a list... Ken Shamrock (born Kenneth Wayne Kilpatrick on February 11, 1964 in Macon, Georgia) is an American mixed martial arts fighter. ...

He was known as one of the smaller fighters and one that brought an attitude to the ring with him. Suzuki witnessed the transition Pancrase made from the so-called "hybrid wrestling" style to that of regular MMA.

Eventually, Suzuki's body became damaged and worn down from various injuries. He tried to keep working through the gruelling schedule of Pancrase, but the pace coupled with the fact that he had passed his physical prime lead to him losing key matches. He decided to focus on the business and training side of Pancrase. He collaborated with the Tekken series of fighting video games as a motion actor. His last non-worked fight for Pancrase was against a professional wrestler, Jushin Liger, whom Suzuki had known as Keiichi Yamada in his first NJPW stint. At the time he competed in grappling matches almost exclusively. Tekken (鉄拳, lit. ... Screenshot of Kung Fu Master (1984, Irem). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Keichi Yamada (山田恵一 Yamada Keichi) (born November 30, 1964), better known as Jushin Liger (獣神ライガー - Jūshin Raigā) and later, Jushin Thunder Liger (獣神サンダーライガー - Jūshin Sandā Raigā) is a Japanese professional wrestler. ...

In 2003 Suzuki and Takaku Fuke announced their plan to return to puroresu and invade promotions under the stable name Pancrase Mission. Suzuki began competing for his old turf, NJPW, as a freelancer. He allied with Yoshihiro Takayama and they won the IWGP Tag Team Titles from Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Osamu Nishimura on February 1, 2004. Nevertheless, they were stripped of the title later in the year after Takayama was injured. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Yoshihiro Takayama is a Japanese professional wrestler and a mixed martial arts fighter, who is currently wrestling in the Professional Wrestling Independent circuit in Japan. ... Hiroyoshi Tenzan is an accomplished Japanese Heavyweight wrestler. ... Osamu Nishimura is a Japanese professional wrestler who formerly worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling, and is better known by his ring name Osamu Nishimura. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 2005 Suzuki jumped to Pro Wrestling NOAH to challenge the talent there. He received a shot at GHC Heavyweight Champion Kenta Kobashi but was defeated. Again turning to tag teams, he found an unlikely ally in Naomichi Marufuji, whose style was Lucha Libre rather than shoot-style. Nonetheless, Suzuki taught Marufuji some of what he knew and they clicked, winning the GHC Tag Team Titles from 2 Cold Scorpio and Doug Williams on June 18, 2005. After losing the belts to Muhammad Yone and Takeshi Morishima in October, Suzuki challenged Jun Akiyama for the GHC Heavyweight Title on March 5, 2006, although he failed to win it. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Pro Wrestling NOAH is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2000. ... Kenta Kobashi is a professional wrestler who currently works for Pro Wrestling NOAH as its current GHC Tag Team Champion. ... Naomichi Marufuji with the GHC Junior Heavyweight Title Naomichi Marufuji (丸藤正道) is a Japanese professional wrestler who competes for Pro Wrestling NOAH. // Career Marufuji pursued amateur wrestling during his high school days before joining All Japan Pro Wrestling. ... One of Lucha Libres biggest attractions, El Hijo del Santo. ... Charles Skaggs is an American professional wrestler noted for his high-flying ability and high-risk style. ... Douglas Clayton Durdle (born September 1, 1972 in Reading, Berkshire) is a British professional wrestler best known by his stage name, Doug Williams. ... June 18 is the 169th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (170th in leap years), with 196 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jun Akiyama STERNNESS DVD cover For information about the Japanese videogame programmer, please see Jun Akiyama (videogame programmer). ...

On March 10, 2006, Suzuki made a surprise appearance in All Japan Pro Wrestling, attacking Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion Satoshi Kojima after he had just defended his title against The Great Muta. It is believed that Suzuki could be a possible challenger for Kojima's Triple Crown. All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) (全日本プロレス, zen nihon puroresu) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. ... Satoshi Kojima (小島 聡 Kojima Satoshi) is a Japanese professional wrestler, who currently works for All Japan Pro Wrestling, and holds their heavyweight championship. ... Keiji Mutoh (武藤敬司 Mutō Keiji) was born December 23, 1962 in Yamanishi, Japan. ...

Suzuki participated in the 2006 Champion Carnival, and made it to the semifinals before being defeated by Taiyo Kea. On September 3rd, Suzuki will challenge Kea, who had won the Triple Crown from Kojima in July. Maunukea Mossman is an American professional wrestler better known under his stage name Taiyo Kea. ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years). ...

Despite his shoot-style bad attitude, Suzuki is at heart a traditional wrestler, inspired by the Strong Style that once made Antonio Inoki and Tatsumi Fujinami famous. Antonio Inoki (アントニオ猪木), real name Kanji Inoki (猪木寛至 Inoki Kanji, born February 20, 1943) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides in New York City. ... - A legend of pro wrestling in Japan - Nicknamed The Dragon - Invented the Dragon Sleeper and Dragon Suplex - Wrestled Ric Flair in a re-match at the first ever WCW SuperBrawl in Florida after a controversial match in Japan. ...

Finishing and signature moves

• Saka-Otashi (Inverted Headlock Takeover into Rear Naked Choke)
• Sleeper hold
• Gotch Piledriver (Cradle piledriver)
• Octopus hold
• Ground octopus hold

The rear naked choke (often abbreviated RNC) is a chokehold in martial arts applied from an opponents back. ... Professional wrestling holds include a number of set moves and pins used by competitors to immobilize their opponents. ... A piledriver is a professional wrestling driver move in which the wrestler grabs his/her opponent, turns him/her upside-down, and drops into a sitting or kneeling position, driving the opponents head into the mat. ... Professional wrestling holds include a number of set moves and pins used by competitors to immobilize their opponents. ... Professional wrestling holds include a number of set moves and pins used by competitors to immobilize their opponents. ...

Championships and accomplishments

• New Japan Pro Wrestling

• 1-Time IWGP Tag Team Champion (with Yoshihiro Takayama)

• Pancrase

• 1-Time King Of Pancrase Openweight Champion

• Pro Wrestling NOAH

• 1-Time GHC Tag Team Champion (with Naomichi Marufuji)