10 Best Wrestlers Over 45 Years Old In The World Today

3. Yuji Nagata

In Japan, veteran wrestlers are typically shown a great deal of loyalty by the companies for which they compete. This usually means that old-timers are relegated to tag matches early in the card - while they don't typically challenge for titles or compete in important bouts, they're able to keep on performing, hearing the roar of the crowds and making money doing what they love. This role doesn't always take into account just how much gas these men have left in the tank, though. Case in point: Yuji Nagata. While men like Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Manabu Nakanishi can't compete at the levels they once could, Nagata - who turns 48 in April - is still the envy of men two decades his junior. Nagata, who was a competitive Greco-Roman wrestler prior to turning pro, uses a technical, submission-influenced style as his base, peppered with hard strikes and a fierce attitude and intensity. With the company suffering from a shortage of talent these days, a push for Nagata may be part of the solution. After all, he had a classic match with Kazuchika Okada in last year's G1 Climax - a rematch for the title could easily headline a pay-per-view, regardless of the fact he's pushing fifty.