NJPW Star To Retire Next Month

Suzuki-gun's Takashi Iizuka is calling it quits at the end of February.

by Benjamin Richardson
Takashi Iizuka
By ゾーヒョー (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Suzuki-gun's 'Great Traitor' Takashi Iizuka is set to hang up his plastic axe for good at the end of next month, it was announced last night.

NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi confirmed that Iizuki, who turns 53 this August, will hold his retirement ceremony on 21 February's New Japan Road event at Korakuen Hall, though at this point we have no word on his opponent.

Iizuka, a three time IWGP Tag champ wihth NJPW and one time GHC Tag Team Champion in Pro Wrestling NOAH, made his debut all the way back in 1988 under his real name Takayuki Iizuka. A few years later, he slightly adjusted his moniker to his modern handle, and began regularly tagging with Yuji Nagata.

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In April 2008, Iizuka radically altered his image, turning on teammate Hiroyoshi Tenzan before joining the brilliantly named Great Bash Heel stable. He soon shaved his head, grew a menacing beard, and began acting in an unhinged manner not a million miles away from Bruiser Brody's Japanese persona.

Since 2014, Iizuka has been a member of Minoru Suzuki's Suzuki-gun stable. His retirement comes after an incredible 33 years in the company, making him one of New Japan's most tenured performers by far.

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Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.