Minoru Suzuki outside of kayfabe

[Deleted]

Obviously, the real life Suzuki is clearly a trained shoot fighter and is tough as nails, that part is indisputable.

But for those who are more ingrained in the Japanese wrestling scene, what's real and what isn't in terms of his demeanor?

I ask because we joke all the time about his abuse of the Young Lions and we still revere him and even give him the nickname of "Murder Grampa", but make villains out of the Steiners and others who took liberties with green talent, as well.

So is Suzuki's whole thing with the Young Lions something of a shtick, or is it just hazing that we just sort of accept because we all like Suzuki?

[ANuclearError]

From what I recall, he had that sorta "trainer form hell" reputation when he was a trainer for Pancrase but he's very much mellowed out nowadays. I imagine that's helped by the fact he's a freelancer and as such really can get to do what he feels like and not really have a lot of stressful responsibilities.

When it comes to Minoru outside kayfabe, the first thing people tend to think of is One Piece, he's very much a celebrity fan of it, even appeared on it once or twice.

Socks is another big thing as well for him, half his Instagram is just pictures of the socks he's wearing that day.

He also runs a shop in Harajuku which people have seen him at, and I've always heard he's quite chill and profressional when fans show up (he wasn't there the time I went there, but the employee there was a chill guy as well).

[Fundertaker]

And he's friends with Ayumi Nakamura, the idol he idolized when coming up through the NJPW dojo.

[Mozenrath]

Real handsome in his day. Obviously intentionally makes himself like scary nowadays, while still being able to perform humor very well. Does kind of give the impression of a man who isn't ruled by his ego.

[Mochi Lone Wolf]

There’s still some stories of Suzuki roughing up Young Lions.

Hirai Kawato(currently known as Master Wato) was on the receiving end of a tough Suzuki grappling session, according to Kevin Kelly and Don Callis.

It’s taken as a sign that he likes them when he does that.

[AwamoriRock]

The young lion stuff is a lot of on screen character stuff, I’m sure he’s not the gentlest when it comes to training and is a tough love guy (he’s talked how he thinks it’s necessary for younger wrestlers to grow) but that’s done for the crowd.

Outside the ring he’s still a bit of a rough rider but like his character turned down 90%. He’s very warm with fans. I’ve been to Piledriver and he was really cool, he might joke about you wearing a rival shirt but is always down to take pics with fans and chat if he has time. I was at a festival show he put on last week and again, just really nice to fans and helps picking up trash after the matches.

[Mochi Lone Wolf]

Another weird irony is that, even with Suzuki’s persona and reputation, he was always the calmer and more level headed of the two Pancrase co- founders. Masakatsu Funaki was the one you didn’t want to cross. He was also the flashier fighter.

Complete inverse of their pro wrestling personalities.

[lucas_lee]

Oct 6, 2022 15:21:35 GMT -5 @hedm2005 said:

Obviously, the real life Suzuki is clearly a trained shoot fighter and is tough as nails, that part is indisputable.

But for those who are more ingrained in the Japanese wrestling scene, what's real and what isn't in terms of his demeanor?

I ask because we joke all the time about his abuse of the Young Lions and we still revere him and even give him the nickname of "Murder Grampa", but make villains out of the Steiners and others who took liberties with green talent, as well.

So is Suzuki's whole thing with the Young Lions something of a shtick, or is it just hazing that we just sort of accept because we all like Suzuki?

Billy Robinson pegged him as the meanest person he's ever trained. If a hardass like Robinson labels you that. You must be a hardass back then.

[Allie Kitsune]

The impression that I get is that he was a miserable hardass in his Pancrase days.

Still a hardass now, but much less miserable (outside the ring) in his advancing age.

If my father is any indication, it's hard to keep up the same levels of rage you had when you were young as you get older.

[Cyno]

I love how much he loves One Piece. To the point where his social media handles are Suzuki D Minoru.

[flowercity]

For what it’s worth, Suzuki is the only wrestler i’ve paid to see in a meet and greet. It was at a ROH Global Wars show. He had no line. We talked a bit. He was more shocked than anything that some young 20 something knew about pancrase in Buffalo. He took a picture. I love Minoru.

[Bo Rida]

He likes fishing.

Going purely on the kayfabe video of Maki Itoh and Chris Brookes visiting his shop he seems pretty chill, soft-spoken and humourous these days. No doubt that wasn't always the case.

He's also willing to embrace comedy which further process he's not an all serious tough guy anymore. I said it on the Bobby Fish thread but actual legit badasses shouldn't feel the need to talk big and/or prove it as they get older.

[Johnny B. Decent]

Oct 6, 2022 19:06:47 GMT -5 Cyno said:

I love how much he loves One Piece. To the point where his social media handles are Suzuki D Minoru.

Or that he cut his hair to match the patterns of a Devil's Fruit.

[lucas_lee]

Suzuki was a madman too. Taking on Maurcie Smith and trading blows with him in Pancrase

[Blade]

An unfortunate truth is that abuse of young talent is often overlooked or even applauded in wrestling, doubly so in Japan.

That doesn't preclude Suzuki having mellowed, been a nice guy to fans, etc, but I have very little doubt he did things to trainees that ought to be (and quite possibly were) illegal.

[Rumble McSkirmish]

Oct 6, 2022 19:06:47 GMT -5 Cyno said:

I love how much he loves One Piece. To the point where his social media handles are Suzuki D Minoru.

He's also a huge fan of Kamen Rider even going so far as making a guest appearance in the opening episode of last year's series (ReVice) as the human form of the Monster of the Week.

[AwamoriRock]

Oct 7, 2022 19:26:06 GMT -5 Blade said:

An unfortunate truth is that abuse of young talent is often overlooked or even applauded in wrestling, doubly so in Japan.

Have any examples of how applauded it is in Japan?

[Super Duper Dragunov]

Oct 6, 2022 16:31:26 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Real handsome in his day. Obviously intentionally makes himself like scary nowadays, while still being able to perform humor very well. Does kind of give the impression of a man who isn't ruled by his ego.

Y'all can feel free to judge me if you want, but I'm just gonna say that yeah, Suzuki was super handsome in his younger years, but.....erm......he could still get it today.
Dude has an aura about him, and well....yeah....

I'm going to run away and hide in embarrassment now.

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

Oct 6, 2022 16:31:26 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

Real handsome in his day. Obviously intentionally makes himself like scary nowadays, while still being able to perform humor very well. Does kind of give the impression of a man who isn't ruled by his ego.

God. Damn.

[Mozenrath]

Oct 8, 2022 7:12:49 GMT -5 AwamoriRock said:

Oct 7, 2022 19:26:06 GMT -5 Blade said:

An unfortunate truth is that abuse of young talent is often overlooked or even applauded in wrestling, doubly so in Japan.

Have any examples of how applauded it is in Japan?

Right, that's definitely an unfair statement given there have been multiple scandals about that kind of thing, and not even just when someone has died during training, which is also not something exclusive to Japanese wrestling.