10 Wrestlers Who Looked Better Over 40 Than In Their Prime
3. Minoru Suzuki
2018 may only be a few weeks old, but it wouldn't be a stretch to call NJPW's Minoru Suzuki the year's top performer so far. The imposing shoot stylist has been in incredible form, first delivering a brutal war of attrition with Hirooki Goto at Wrestle Kingdom 12, then following up with a methodical, submission-based classic against Hiroshi Tanahashi 23 days later. Sandwiched in-between was an underrated tag barnburner against the UK's Trent Seven and Tyler Bate, showcasing his versatility.
Suzuki has done all this at 49 years old, and shockingly, he's been at it for years. Each of his most critically acclaimed bouts have come after turning 40, and while early-2000s clashes with Yuji Nagata and Genichiro Tenryu still stand up, they're nothing compared to the past few years' body of work.
Style is the key to Suzuki's longevity. His offensive arsenal is brutal, and he looks like a genuine sadist when attacking limbs and throwing strikes, but it places little exertion on his own body. In avoiding big bumps and career-shortening high spots, Minoru has prolonged his excellence well into his third decade as a professional wrestler.