Minoru Suzuki, Japanese wrestler and mixed martial artist
Minoru Suzuki (鈴木 実, Suzuki Minoru, ring name: 鈴木 みのる) (born June 17, 1968) is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist, currently working for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) where he is the provisional KOPW in his first reign. In NJPW, Suzuki has held the IWGP Intercontinental Championship as well as the NEVER Openweight Championship twice. He is also a former British Heavyweight Champion and co-holder of the Undisputed British Tag Team Championship alongside fellow Suzuki-gun stablemate, Zack Sabre Jr. in Revolution Pro Wrestling (RPW).
Suzuki was the co-founder of Pancrase, one of the first mixed martial arts organizations in the world. During the 1990s, he was widely considered one of the best fighters in the world and was the second King of Pancrase world champion. Suzuki returned to regular puroresu in 2003, when 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 former GHC Heavyweight Champion and a former GHC Tag Team Champion along with Naomichi Marufuji.
A mixed martial arts 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.