Minoru f*$king Suzuki

[Freezing_Moon]

I love Minoru Suzuki. he was years ahead of his time and I think within five or so years all young puroresu guys will be in the same mould as him, fighting in MMA just to show they can. When I think of Pancrase I don't think of Bas, ken or even Funaki, I think of Minoru with his towel.

I've never known to what extent early Pancrase was worked but I don't want to believe his title fight with Ken was fixed. The one with the leglock from out of no where.

It's a shame he suffered from Pancrase Syndrome (a relatively rare condition where the sufferer acquires a record of 85-36-5 in about three years and then has his body completely give up at the age of thirty. See Yuki Kondo), because he had a lot of fight in him.

I don't know what the point of this thread is. I've had about three cups of coffee in this cafe, I'm job hunting and I suddenly needed to express my love for this giant amongst men.

[Kamatari]

I'm with you on that one, bro. Minoru Suzuki was the coolest fighter around when I was growing up. I think his first win over Ken would be the legit victory, although we'll never know to what extent Pancrase was worked. That said, his body was destroyed by the hectic schedule. In between, he suffered from a herniated disk and a severe case of post-concussion syndrome and that crazy fool kept on competing anyway. I wrote this bio on him like two years ago that detailed most of his career. But as with most junk I've posted it's now lost.

I would have loved to have seen him beat some fellow (masked) pro-wrestlers for another couple of years before an eventual retirement. But I'm content with the fact that he retired with a win. I'm still bitter over the fact that Funaki never jobbed to him. Their "fight" was crazy for the short time that it lasted.

Kaze ni Nare is the greatest entrance theme ever.

[Shiruba]

His fight against El Solar didn't help either.

[Kamatari]

His fight against El Solar didn't help either.
LOL, I hated that fight. At least he won. :rolleyes2

[derUbermensch]

That wierd thing where he beat up some guy who Hikaru Sato was cornering in no time, then proceeded to challenge Hikaru on the spot was entertaining.

[FieldingMellish]

And, for the most shocking event in kakutougi history .................... I'm adding my name to the Suzuki worship list.

Like Freezing Moon said he's the first guy that springs to mind when I think Pancrase, because he was just so insanely charismatic and entertaining.

And Kamatari - don't forget his truly epic win over Jushin Liger. And you haven't lived until you've heard the Eurosport commentator explaining what was going on there, lol.

Such a shame he doesn't get the credit he so richly deserves.

[Kamatari]

Such a shame he doesn't get the credit he so richly deserves.
Well, you know people are stupid.

He's a bigger legend than Sakuraba. And P4P a better fighter than both Mach and KID combined. I mean, this is a guy that sports his trademark cocky smirk in a shoot fight when he's in control. He had the looks of a superstar... Now he just has the hair of a rock star.

Suzuki's also such a fun worker in puroresu.

[FieldingMellish]

Well, you know people are stupid.

He's a bigger legend than Sakuraba. And P4P a better fighter than both Mach and KID combined. I mean, this is a guy that sports his trademark cocky smirk in a shoot fight when he's in control. He had the looks of a superstar... Now he just has the hair of a rock star.

Suzuki's also such a fun worker in puroresu.

I agree up to a point BUT.....

Sakuraba is much more of a legend because he's simply a WAY bigger star than Suzuki could ever hope to be.

LOL at the cocky smirk - that's just awesome.

Not entirely sure about the Sakurai and KID reference as that may just be pushing things a little.

But Suzuki's puroresu is definitely great. I just love the spots where he no sells and gives his opponents this "WTF is that fake shit you're trying? Don't you know who I am?" look.

[Kamatari]

FM, don't make me ban you from this thread. Obviously we have to hype him up to mythical proportions. Distorting a couple of "facts" here and there won't hurt.

(As for the Mach and KID reference - they're the two best fighters Japan has produced IMO)

[FieldingMellish]

FM, don't make me ban you from this thread. Obviously we have to hype him up to mythical proportions. Distorting a couple of "facts" here and there won't hurt.

LOL, fair enough.

And if we're hyping him like crazy without any reference to facts .......... he has a cool haircut.

[Freezing_Moon]

I almost bought the Best of Pancrase Vol2 DVd whilst i was in Kyoto and that has his match against Lyger on it. What did I miss? I also didn't know Eurosport ever showed Pancrase.

[MZN]

Indeed Mellish you got me really interested about those Eurosport comments :p.

And btw Am I unknowing when I think of pancrase I think of Funaki, Rutten and the Shamrocks?

I need to educate myself in Pancrase more as I got a bit sick of watching IVC as of late...



Edit: I found this huge lump of pancrase events that would take me new hardware, a lot of waiting and years of watching but I selected one that has Suzuki defeating a certain Gregory Smit. The one where he fights Liger isn't in the pack though, any other recomomended fights? I thank you in advance

[FieldingMellish]

Here's what you're missing from the Eurosport version of Liger vs. Suzuki:

Commentator identifies himself as Sensei Will Vanders. I don't do martial arts but if I had a sensei like him I'd find another hobby.

He's pronouncing Liger as if its Leeger. Vanders drops a mention of Kendo Nagasaki (the British version) "for those that remember the old days of the wrestling. Saturday afternoons." Good God, he's Ron Manager from the Fast Show [doubt many will get the reference but anyway he does sound like him.]

Liger enters to his familiar entrance music and is wearing a mask (unfortunately a version without the horns as that could have offered endless comedy), a New Japan t-shirt and trainers. Liger wearing just shorts. Such a shame he didn't do this in full costume and MMA gloves. That would have been great. Funny that Liger is much bigger than Suzuki and has a hefty powerlifter type build with huge thighs.

Suzuki makes his entrance. Wearing white, under the towel. Vanders explains "this is as serious as a car crash". Liger looks really, really nervous. "With the towel over his head it looks Minoru Suzuki is not going to be outdone by Jushin Thunder Leeger" [WHAT?? - he's not going to fight wearing the towel surely?]

Everything in Suzuki's body language just screams total confidence. The camerman shows Kensuke Sasaki at ringside. Looks a little concerned. Just like to point out Liger was introduced and pronounced Liger but Vanders still keeps saying Leeger. Suzuki is introduced and, still wearing the towel, he walks across to Liger and gives him this hilarious 'what DO you think you're doing, you idiot' kind of look.

Towel is off and Suzuki just has very short hair. No tufts and weird lines yet. Masakatsu Funaki is shown at ringside and identified as "the Japanese commentator" by Vanders.

Crowd are really into this already. Fight starts:

Liger ducking low, shuffling and jerking his hands around like a chimpanzee imitating a boxing match. He almost lands a left jab though, lol. Liger goes for the KOPPO KICK!!!! much to the joy of the crowd. This of course just means he misses and lands on his back and Suzuki pounces on him. Liger has the world's loosest half guard and Vanders can't believe he pulled off that kick because "he's a big old fella". Yes really.

Suzuki patient, just controlling Liger. Suzuki passes to full mount with total ease and somebody at ringside lets out this really high-pitched giggle. Now THAT was funny. Suzuki sitting astride Liger throws some punches, some good right hands. Liger has his hands up but not blocking the "pound and ground" very well. Couple more punches and Liger flips over onto his stomach, seems to realise how dangerous that was and flops back onto his back. Suzuki has side control which Vanders describes as Liger "turtles up" for some reason. Suzuki passes to full mount again and again sits up high and bashes in somne spiteful short right hands. Liger tries turn away and Suzuki slaps on a classic rear naked choke for a very, very easy win.

"And that's it, in the blink of an eye, 1 minute 48" shouts Vanders, who must blink very, v--e--r--y s-----l----o---w-----l-------y.

Suzuki celebrates in this happy/enraged looking way as if he just did something impressive.

[majorcunningham]

funniest fight ive ever seen was suzuki vs jushin 'thunder' liger. shame he was past it by then, but he was great in his day.

[Shiruba]

I almost bought the Best of Pancrase Vol2 DVd whilst i was in Kyoto and that has his match against Lyger on it. What did I miss? I also didn't know Eurosport ever showed Pancrase.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri0cxWVr7XA

[FieldingMellish]

LOL, never even thought to check if it was on there.

[MZN]

this has the actual omnious commentating http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJtYUe9Q-y0&mode=related&search=


Edit: and after watching it, you were spot on Mellish! :)

[Freezing_Moon]

Cheers mate. i got the Ron Manager reference, no worries.

I never understood that one period of NJPW history when they became obsessed with shoots. It was a case of humiliating their roster very publicly, very slowly. It's like, Alexander Otsuka will be able to garner cult appeal through surviving three rounds with Igor Vov; that's because he knows how to pull guard and hold on for dear life for twenty minutes. Yuji Nagata however WILL DIE when left in a ring with Cro Cop for twenty seconds. What were they expecting?

[Freezing_Moon]

"He's uh... ranked very highly.... in the Pancraseism... ratings."


Good lord.

[FieldingMellish]

Cheers mate. i got the Ron Manager reference, no worries.

I never understood that one period of NJPW history when they became obsessed with shoots. It was a case of humiliating their roster very publicly, very slowly. It's like, Alexander Otsuka will be able to garner cult appeal through surviving three rounds with Igor Vov; that's because he knows how to pull guard and hold on for dear life for twenty minutes. Yuji Nagata however WILL DIE when left in a ring with Cro Cop for twenty seconds. What were they expecting?

My theory on the New Japan shoot obsession era is that it all stems from Inoki (surprise surprise). New Japan in the 70s biggest matches were often based around Inoki representing pro wrestling against other fighting arts. With the rise of MMA and the fact NJPW had done great business in the feud with UWF-I, I think it was simply a case of them going back to those roots and trying to recreate that era. Of course, if they'd thought about it properly they'd have realised that

a.) all but one of Inoki's matches were worked, and even that was never originally meant to be a legitimate fight

b.) the world had changed while NJPW hadn't

Once they dug themselves into a hole with one fighter after another they just kept digging and throwing more and more guys out there. I can only think of a few who actually benefitted from this. Tadao Yasuda (after the JLB fight and that was only a temporary benefit), Shinsuke Nakamura (very briefly) and Kazuyuki Fujita (and given how he later did things in pro wrestling that was no benefit at all to NJPW).

[Freezing_Moon]

I thought Shinsuke was legit? That was the only reason I could come up with for him getting massive exposure very quickly?

And what was Fujita doing that didn't benefit NJPW?

[FieldingMellish]

I thought Shinsuke was legit? That was the only reason I could come up with for him getting massive exposure very quickly?

And what was Fujita doing that didn't benefit NJPW?

Well Nakamura is but the loss to Ignashov busted his face up pretty badly and forced him to drop the IWGP belt, put him out of action for a few months and badly hurt his momentum. Good wrestler witth some decent fighting instincts though.

Is more Fujita's behaviour since he became a big deal in MMA - refusing to lose to people in New Japan etc. The abysmal finish to his IWGP title loss to Kensuke Sasaki last year BADLY hurt them. And it all happened because of Fujita's attitude.

[Kamatari]

To top it off, they get an even better champion shortly after that. That's right, Brock Lesnar!

I can't believe some actually applauded the move.

[Kamatari]

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/minorusuzuki_kaze

Minoru Suzuki's blog is the bomb.

[FieldingMellish]

Minoru f*$king Suzuki indeed:

[Kamatari]

Suzuki fans, rejoice! He won the Triple Crown over at All Japan Pro Wrestling by choking out Taiyo kea.