10 Wrestlers We're Most Thankful For In 2020

5. Minoru Suzuki

Minoru Suzuki
NJPW

2020 has not been a banner year for New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Wrestling's last truly great multi-year run came to an end after Wrestle Kingdom 14 - a two-night affair that wasn't lacking in outstanding matches, but drew a line under Gedo's eight-year streak as the undisputed best booker in the game. The contrived setup to the two-night IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Title tournament sounded the first set of alarm bells. Since then, NJPW has defied its 'King of Sports' tag with the increased use of tired, tedious western shortcuts.

Currently, no NJPW main event passes without interferences, ref bumps, and other kinds of shenanigans. Heels can no longer within without shortcutting. While the promotion has never been entirely clean in this regard, they are now spammed to a ruinous extent, shredding New Japan's identity in the process.

It is for these reasons that we are thankful for Shingo Takagi, Tomohiro Ishii, and particularly Minoru Suzuki, as their bruising, spirited approach to professional wrestling remains untainted by Gedo's increasingly clumsy hand away from the main event picture.

Suzuki has had one of the best years of his career, rebounding from a middling 2019 to deliver tooth-rattling encounters with Takagi, Kota Ibushi, Yuji Nagata, and more. As NJPW creative declines, MiSu the one guy fans can rely on to still hit the right notes.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.