10 Wrestlers Who Looked Better Over 40 Than In Their Prime
6. Tomohiro Ishii
Though nowhere near as well known as NJPW counterparts Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega, it'd be a stretch to call Tomohiro Ishii underrated. Anyone who's ever seen the man perform recognises how brilliant he is. He's underexposed, certainly, but it's hard to shake the impression that the 'Stone Pitbull' is one of the best in the world after experiencing one of his trademark underdog performances.
Standing at just 5'7", Ishii looks like a manual labourer, but might be the most spirited underdog on the planet. Nobody else is as adept at drawing a crowd into his struggle. His selling is flawless, he's as tough and gritty as they come, and when Ishii takes a big move, he conveys hurt like no other.
These skills have taken him to countless classics with Omega, Okada, Katsuyori Shibata, and recently, Keith Lee. He never fails to shine in big singles matches, and if he were positioned as a main eventer, there's no doubt he'd draw wider critical acclaim from NJPW's growing western audience.
Not bad for a man who recently celebrated his 42nd birthday, but has never looked better in the ring.